Lucas County plans pose threat to quarry, some worry

10/11/2001

Some Sylvania officials are concerned that county plans for a redesigned Lucas County Recreation Center may take customers away from Centennial Quarry, operated by the Sylvania Joint Recreation District.

Lucas County commissioners recently introduced plans for new attractions at the center, including an aquatic park.

The center, on Key Street in Maumee, will no longer have Ned Skeldon Stadium when the Toledo Mud Hens baseball team moves to its new downtown Toledo baseball stadium, and the county is looking for a new home for the Lucas County fair as well.

Sylvania city council member John Billis said at a meeting of the council's finance committee that commissioners should have conducted an impact study on what effect the plans would have on Centennial.

Mr. Billis said that if people have a choice, most will choose the new facility.

“There should have been an impact study and they should have contacted us,'' he said.

Council member Judi Young said it was an example of a lack of communication between commissioners and suburban entities.

Ken Katafias, manager of the joint recreation district, said last swimming season was the most successful since the district began to operate the site.

Slightly more than 15,300 people paid for swimming compared to the previous year's paid attendance of 9,300. He said attendance is primarily driven by weather, no matter what attractions are offered.

He noted that the county commissioners have helped support Centennial operations by granting $20,000 per year and that it leases the site to the district for $1 per year.

Sandy Isenberg, president of the county commissioners, said that the Maumee complex will be more attuned to family recreation and many of those who go swimming at the quarry are young singles.