The emerald city: partnering with schools saves taxpayers millions

Parks & Recreation, June, 2004

A little more than a year ago, the city of Mason, Ohio, opened the 158,500-square-foot Mason Community Center one of the largest community centers in Ohio and the only city/school joint provision recreation facility to be built in the Cincinnati-Dayton area.

The partnership yielded millions of dollars in savings to taxpayers, and created unity amid the community: The center is the result of an agreement between Mason and the Mason City School District, built by the school district on land owned by the city, while managed by Mason Parks and Recreation Department.

"It has brought a sense of community to Mason," says Michael Hecker, Mason Parks and Recreation Department director.

The idea for a community recreation center began in the early 1990s, when residents started working on planning sessions for a new outdoor pool and park. In 1999, the Mason city manager and school superintendent discussed the need and feasibility of a joint provision high school/community center.

The project used school facility resources. Because of an earlier city purchase of 73 acres to build a new municipal center, the city council was instead able to use the acreage to encompass a municipal center and a community center/high school as well. In return, residents of the school district pay city resident prices for using the community center. For their involvement, the Mason Parks and Recreation Department now owns an indoor gymnasium.

"We were limited to what we can do," says Mason City Manager Scot Lahrmer. "Now, we've been able to enhance the area."

Construction soon began after the approval of a $71.9 million school bond issue, passed in March 2000. The bond campaign emphasized the need for a shared facility and produced a cost savings to the community of about 42 cents per square foot.

More savings occurred from reductions in external walls, site works, circulation areas and car parking lots. Common areas such as lockers room, public spaces, mechanical equipment and landscaping are shared, as well as the central heating and air-conditioning systems. Between all of these cost savings and the added bonus of existing athletic facilities from a nearby high school, the joint partnership saved taxpayers about $12 million.

"It really is the emerald in the city in terms of bringing the city together," says Lahrmer.

The old high school has now become a middle school within easy walking distance to the community center. The accessibility of the community center, and its availability of programming for the majority of local school goers, presents opportunities and economic efficiencies that outweigh the challenges staff face with a large volume of students.

The economic case for a city and school district collaborating to design, construct and manage a community recreation center is compelling. Providing one set of facilities that both school and community constituencies can share is, in essence, using the same tax dollar twice. The Mason Community Center is a recipient of the NRPA Great Lakes Region 2003 Partnership Award.