Y May Take Over Ohio City’s Rec Programming

An Ohio city may hand over the management of its recreation programming to the local YMCA in an effort to save money.

The Central Ohio YMCA began managing the city of Delaware’s recreation operations last December under a trial agreement to test the feasibility of a public-private partnership, according to several media outlets. This week, Delaware’s city council voted to let residents decide whether to turn over the management of the city’s recreation programming to the nonprofit group on a permanent basis.

The partnership is being proposed as a cost-saving measure. The city, which currently subsidizes its recreation department by about $350,000 a year, will see its state local government fund cut by about $500,000 over the next two years, according to The Delaware Gazette. If the deal is approved, officials estimate that the city stands to save around $70,000 per year, according to the newspaper.

The Central Ohio YMCA and the city of Delaware already have partnered on the city-owned $14 million Delaware YMCA Community Center, which is slated to open under YMCA management this fall. Delaware residents voted in 2008 to raise the city income tax by 0.15 percent in order to fund its construction. When completed, the 72,300-square-foot facility will have a fitness center, multipurpose gym, two pools, group exercise studios and athletic fields.