Mary Alice Reporting –
The Carroll County Board of Commissioners announced a project included in the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association (OMEGA)’s regional Appalachian Community Grant (ACG) Program application called Destination Appalachia: Pathway to Prosperity.
Among the 41 regionally transformative projects from across the 10-county OMEGA region, the Carroll County Veterans Memorial Pool and Community Wellness Center, represents a unique opportunity for Carroll County and the surrounding region, said Commissioner Christopher Modranski.
“Reopen that facility and provide a means for veterans and first responders, active and retired veterans, a way for them to relax with the pool and provide different therapies.”
The project area is owned by Save22, a 501C3 private non-profit organization focused on fighting veteran, active duty, and first responder suicide. In addition to the counseling, aquatic therapy, and mental health resources, the project will provide space for a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) to serve the healthcare needs of everyone in the greater Carroll County area.
The application was submitted on Friday, December 8th and is now under review by the Governor’s Office of Appalachia for potential funding.
“We’re very excited about it. We hope to hear some good news from the state of Ohio that they’ve approved our application. It’ll be a quick turnaround because this Appalachian Regional programing uses ARPA money, so once approved, we’ll enter into the design stage and then the construction has to be completed by 2026.”
The renovation, expansion, and repurposing of the shuttered Veterans Memorial Pool facility along with the modernization of the adjacent Veterans Memorial Park will provide mental health, physical fitness, and recreation opportunities for all ages.
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