FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2008
Contact:
Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission: Jessica Fagan – 614.995.7552; jfagan@culture.ohio.gov
Franklin County: Hanna Greer – 614.462.5848; hmgreer@franklincountyohio.gov
Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission Approves $7 Million for Huntington Park Project
Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission approved $7 million at its quarterly meeting today for Huntington Park.
Huntington Park will be the new home of the Columbus Clippers minor league baseball team and will house the team’s administrative offices. Located on a site adjoining the Nationwide Arena complex, Huntington Park will complement an already dynamic area of downtown Columbus. The 10,000-seat, county-owned ballpark will be located on the northwest corner of Neil Avenue and Nationwide Boulevard. The 200,000 square-foot, three-level brick and steel building has been designed to incorporate “green” features to increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
The Commission approval, coupled with the signing of legal agreements, allows Franklin County to be reimbursed on a pro rata basis with funds appropriated in Am. Sub. H.B. 699 of the 126th General Assembly. Franklin County General Assembly members who voted in favor of the bill include Senators David Goodman, Ray Miller and Steve Stivers; Representatives Joyce Beatty, Larry Flowers, Jim Hughes, Jim McGregor, Dan Stewart and Larry Wolpert; and former Representatives Mike Mitchell, Linda Reidelbach, and Geoffrey Smith.
The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission is a state agency that helps enhance the quality of life for Ohioans by improving the state’s cultural facilities. Since 1988, the Commission has disbursed nearly $400 million of capital funds appropriated by the legislature and Governor for facility improvement projects at non-profit theaters, museums, historical sites and publicly owned professional sports venues.
The Commission partners with non-profit groups and local governments on nearly 250 projects in 65 of Ohio’s 88 counties. For more information on the Commission, visit www.culture.ohio.gov.
