Facility to serve as new municipal recreation center.
On November 16, 2021, Mentor City Council approved the purchase of the Mentor Heisley Racquet & Fitness Club (MHRFC) located at 6011 Heisley Road for $5.15 million. The purchase includes the building, equipment, and approximately 8 acres of property.
The 128,297 square foot complex is one of the largest facilities of its kind in Northeast Ohio and includes an indoor soccer field, basketball, tennis, racquetball, and pickleball courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, cardiovascular and weight training areas, group exercise rooms, a childcare room, and other amenities. MHRFC was an innovator in Lake County by developing one of the first successful lifestyle center that has offered a broad range of health and fitness options to its members for nearly fifty years.
The purchase fulfills a long-standing goal of the City to provide flexible indoor space to expand and enhance health, wellness, and recreational opportunities for residents of all ages.
“The City has long held an interest in expanding its ability to offer indoor programming that could serve a large number of participants, including basketball, tennis, volleyball, soccer, indoor swimming, track, and general fitness,” said Mentor City Manager Kenneth J. Filipiak, “This is a milestone event for the City that will add even more access to quality programming and facilities at an affordable price for families.”
Mentor City Council President Bruce Landeg reinforced the significance of the legislation and the investment, reiterating the desire of past Councils to expand recreational opportunities in the city, which has now come to fruition. Over the past several decades, Council leadership has evaluated options for the construction of a new recreation center, which to this point have been cost prohibitive. Some City programs in the past were conducted in Mentor school facilities, but school policy changes mostly ended that practice several years ago. More recently, the City explored opportunities to partner with other organizations, including LakeHealth and the Lake County YMCA, without success. When MHRFC ownership approached the City in 2019 to explore the City’s interest in the property, it created an opportunity to fill the gap in the city’s recreation needs cost effectively.
The City intends to move forward with a robust and broad offering of indoor programs that will appeal to Mentor residents and guests in all age categories and hopes to continue to appeal to many of the same persons and groups who have used the facility over the years. Parks and Recreation Director Kenn Kaminski shared his excitement about the facility, “We finally have the space we need to bring the type of indoor recreation programming Mentor deserves. It’s our intention to offer as many as 1,000 programs annually for infants through older adults.”
Currently, the MHRFC has over 1,200 combined (individual and family) memberships. The City estimates that the facility can attract in excess of 3,500 memberships based on metrics obtained from similar recreation centers in Northeast Ohio.
It is anticipated the facility will undergo renovations after the City takes possession and may be closed for a period of time to complete such work, as well as to develop programming, hire personnel, and establish a membership structure. Those interested in job opportunities at the facility should contact the Mentor Parks and Recreation Department.