Rest doesn't come easy to a company who crafts the world's greatest thrills, and this year’s Days of Development series is evidence that no pause is coming soon to Cedar Fair. They opened our email series with a commitment to the BGSU RAAM school and now help us wrap up the series with their completion of a 145,000 sq. ft. indoor sports complex. It was just two years ago that our email series wrote about the launch of Cedar Point Sports Force Parks, now known as Phase One of the Cedar Point Sports Center. Phase 2, an indoor complex, was announced shortly after build out of the impressive outdoor fields, and thanks to an aggressive 15-month construction schedule, the indoor center will be operational in January 2020.   

 

A community's progress is a series of natural, purposeful and spontaneous changes, and Cedar Point’s developments at the former Griffing Sandusky Airport property perfectly capture this sentiment. Six years ago, Griffing flying service relocated to the Erie-Ottawa International Airport, bringing new life to their business and to a regional transportation asset, but leaving 57 waterfront acres idle in Sandusky. Today, the site is anything but idle. More than $50 million of capital investment has created a dynamic waterfront that calls lively families and teams to our area. The site captures the vision of Cedar Fair and many local officials to amplify economic development for the Sandusky area as America’s Sports & Family Fun Capital, while preserving a valuable natural resource for area residents and visitors to enjoy. 

Phase 2 of the Cedar Point Sports Center ensures the ability to host large tournaments for every major youth sport. Since Cedar Point is in the business of oversized fun, this facility will prove no different with:

This was no small feat of creation, especially during a rainy construction season. Scroll through the photos below to get an idea of how it came together.

While attracting guests from outside the area is the main focus of a tourism business, partners involved in the Cedar Point Sports Center have actively looked for ways to provide community access alongside community impact. Local leagues have signed on to use the fields and courts. A 1/8 mile indoor walking track will be free for the public to use. Our community hospital, Firelands Regional Medical Center, partnered to build the Lee C. Jewett Sports Medicine Center (Mr. Jewett was a longtime Cedar Fair executive, philanthropist and FRMC board member). The privately funded facility will provide state-of-the-art treatment and enhancement programs to both local residents and visiting athletes, including tools reflex training, athletic performance and strength conditioning, SwimEx therapy pools, underwater treadmills and plunge pools. And there’s even more sports and fun in this facility’s future. Cedar Fair has already disclosed Phase 3 of this project - creating a waterfront experience that will transform the land behind the fields and indoor complex into a space for biking, walking trails, scenic spaces to relax, and unparalleled views of Lake Erie and Cedar Point in the distance. 

This Facility Like No Other took a team of many public and private partners, an important part of its success story – Erie County, The City of Sandusky, Lake Erie Shores & Islands, Firelands Regional Medical Center, Lee C. and Sandra Jewett, CBRE, OSports, Mosser Construction, Sports Facilities Advisory just to name a few. It is a one of a kind collaboration to bring us a collection of first-class facilities that will drive year-round tourism in north central Ohio. 

The 12 Days of Development email series recognizes and celebrates another year of progress in Erie County, Ohio. Throughout the weeks of December, you will receive email spotlights on a company investing, improving and innovating in our community. We can't capture it all, so let us know a neighbor we missed or what activities you've got planned to make the 2020 list! #ErieCounty12Days