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ProMedica provides updates on Toledo Community Investment
TOLEDO: In November, 2020,
ProMedica
[a
mission-based, not-for-profit health and well-being
organization] announced two updates regarding its ongoing
commitment to investing in the communities it serves. The
updates involve community projects in Toledo, Ohio, where the
national organization is headquartered.
The first update involves a gift ProMedica recently
committed to Metroparks Toledo to help support the Glass City
Metropark & Riverwalk development. ProMedica agreed to
donate $10 million to the project over the next six years. The
gift will help create a well-designed public green space with a
range of activities in the city’s core where people can connect,
recreate, exercise, relax, discover, learn, and experience the
health benefits of nature.
The park project is also expected to benefit the community by
attracting visitors, creating jobs, driving economic growth, and
conserving and preserving its most important natural resources.
“With the need to socially distance ourselves much of this year,
many of us have developed an even greater appreciation for
Metroparks Toledo and the role it plays in our community,” said Robin
Whitney, Chief Strategic Planning and Real Estate Officer, ProMedica.
“ProMedica has long been aware of the health and well-being
benefits associated with outdoor activity and being in nature.
So, we are excited to join our community in supporting a
world-class park project that will bring the positive physical
and mental health benefits of being outdoors to our most urban
setting. We expect this to be a truly transformative project
that revitalizes our waterfront, unites multiple neighborhoods
from both sides of the river, and attracts others to our
community to create opportunities and support ongoing economic
development.”
“This gift
to the community, through the Metroparks Toledo Foundation, will
help Metroparks keep its promise to leverage the taxpayers’
investment and transform our waterfront into the showpiece of
our region,” said Joe Napoli, president of the
Foundation. “Having ProMedica as a lead partner in this
philanthropic effort makes a strong statement about the value of
Riverwalk to our community.”
“Randy Oostra's vision and ProMedica's leadership in
creating the Downtown Master Plan and their partnership with
Metroparks to acquire the Marina District got us to where we are
today," said Scott Savage, president of the Board of Park
Commissioners. "Today's announcement is another significant
contribution to making the Toledo region a healthier, more
vibrant place to live."
The second project for which
there is an update relates to
ProMedica’s 2019 announcement about its gift to help with the
redevelopment of the SeaGate Convention Centre. As an
acknowledgment of ProMedica’s early commitment to the project, the
Toledo-Lucas County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau granted
ProMedica the exclusive right to name the convention center. The
name chosen by ProMedica is the Glass City Convention and
Event Center.
“We chose a
name that reflects our community’s unique history, current
accomplishments, and hope for an even brighter future, said
Whitney. “The ‘Glass City’ moniker is not original, but it
emphasizes a major point of pride in our community, with glass
having long been part of our industry, art and architecture. As
we eventually move beyond the pandemic, we look forward to our
community being able to promote a thoughtfully redeveloped
convention and event center with a name that evokes pride
locally and sparks interest nationally.”
“We are
grateful to ProMedica for being our naming rights partner for
the convention center as we begin a new era to attract
high-caliber events and attractions to the region. The Glass
City Convention and Event Center will play a key role in a
reenergized downtown Toledo. We look forward to a continued
relationship with ProMedica and we are excited for this new
partnership, new direction, and new name,” said Tina Skeldon
Wozniak, President of the Board of Lucas County
Commissioners.
“During this
national public health crisis, we have learned the value that
our residents place in the outdoor experience and their
appreciation of our Metroparks. The Glass City Metropark and
Riverwalk will create new opportunities for our community to
improve their health and explore the outdoors - and it truly
complements the new ballroom and renovated convention center. We
congratulate the ProMedica leadership for making these
incredible contributions to our community,” said Commissioner
Gary L. Byers.
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