New Findlay Community Center Boosted by Charitable Contribution

Project’s Private Fundraising Gap Nearly Closed as Construction Progresses

CINCINNATI (August 20, 2025) – A $1 million philanthropic pledge is the latest tailwind for the new Findlay Community Center project, a development stimulating revitalization efforts in the North Over-the-Rhine (OTR) neighborhood. The generous gift helps ensure that the critical community asset will be completed on time, delivering needed resources to the neighborhood beginning in fall 2026.

The Findlay Community Center project, which broke ground in May, is a $46 million investment in North OTR that will transform Findlay Playground, a formerly underutilized park, into a 60,000 square foot (SF) state-of-the-art recreation facility and 8,400 SF childcare center. Its construction is a catalytic step in a $100M effort to uplift the OTR neighborhood north of Liberty Street.

Features of the new community center will include the first-floor childcare center for children ages six weeks through preschool as well as an indoor pool, roller rink, gym, locker rooms, multipurpose rooms, and a child-watch area. The second-floor layout features a track, a fitness area with cardio and stretching equipment, a free weight area, group exercise rooms, and a rooftop field. The facility’s outdoor space is set to have a new playground, dog park, and community gathering area.

A careful selection process is underway to name third-party operators for both the community center and childcare center. These specialized organizations will share in the commitment of the City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) and Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) to ensure that the new facility, along with its amenities and programs, is accessible to the entire community regardless of socioeconomic status. The future membership plan will be modeled after Ziegler Park’s Everybody In program, offering affordable membership and admission via a sliding scale based on income level, as well as diverse programming.

The project’s purpose to deliver needed resources to the community and commitment to accessibility have earned support from Cincinnati’s philanthropic community. The project’s latest financial boost comes from Harry and Linda Fath. The Fath’s $1 million gift puts them in the company of generous organizations and donors that have already contributed to the project, including The Haile Foundation, Union Savings Bank and Guardian Savings Bank, The Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust, The P&G Foundation, The Farmer Family Foundation, and Fifth Third Foundation. The project has approximately $750,000 left to raise toward its $10 million fundraising goal.

“We’re incredibly grateful to all of the philanthropic leaders who have stepped up to support the Findlay Community Center project,” Steve Leeper, President and CEO of 3CDC, said. “Their generosity is helping us create a space that will serve the community for generations. We’d especially like to thank Harry and Linda Fath, whose remarkable contributions to projects throughout Cincinnati continue to inspire and uplift our community. Their support of this initiative is yet another example of their enduring commitment to making a meaningful difference.”

3CDC is the developer for the new Findlay Community Center, working on behalf of the City of Cincinnati and CRC, and in collaboration with Skanska as the construction manager. Moody Nolan is leading project design, working with Human Nature and Bayer Becker.

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