Fall 2025 Activity Guide

Welcome

EXPERIENCE

EXPLORE

ENRICH

Greetings, On April 6, 2025, the Upper Arlington community celebrated the opening of the Bob Crane Community Center with much excitement, energy and enthusiasm. Over 1,600 people attended the opening day celebrations, touring and trying out the many features within this state-of-the-art facility. People were amazed and overjoyed with the design, the multiple gathering areas, recreation spaces and partner services. A community center was decades in the making for some residents, and we heard from many that this historic facility has surpassed their hopes and expectations. I am grateful to everyone that played a role in making this dream a reality for the Upper Arlington community. The community has also shown its support through strong membership sales and daily visits. It is incredible to see people of all ages visiting the center for a variety of uses – exactly as it was designed to serve our community. Since opening day, our dedicated team has been monitoring all manner of operations within the facility, making adjustments as we receive customer feedback or as our team members see opportunities for improvement - and our evaluation processes are ongoing. Adjustment examples include removing a pre-reservation system for child watch, developing a membership pass add-on option for e-sports, providing a membership discount for older veterans who do not qualify for the SilverSneakers® program, and removing the non-resident one-visit restriction for daily admissions. We prioritized resident access as we prepared to open the facility and have found that average hourly attendance numbers are at acceptable levels, thereby allowing for more non-resident visits. As we enter the Fall, this is a great time to explore the center and seek out our many indoor programs, swim lessons and rental opportunities. For detailed information on Bob Crane Community Center amenities, hours, memberships, rentals, services, and programs, visit uacommunitycenter.com .

The City and our department’s websites have been redesigned with the user perspective in mind. These pages feature quick access links, drop-down lists, highlights and calendars to illustrate events and meetings with pertinent details. This year, we also celebrated completion of the penultimate phase of improvements in Northam Park, which includes the renovated Northam Tennis courts and brand new Pickleball courts. The tennis courts are top quality, and play better than the previous courts in UA. The first dedicated pickleball courts in our community offer both reservations and drop-in play. The new service building includes restrooms that are open year-round, and the project also included two small shelters for park users. This Spring, over 600 people provided input for a second round of community engagement that is helping to guide our staff and consultants as they finalize the Fancyburg Park Master Plan. The updated plan was shared with the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board and City Council in June, the highlights of which are shared on page 3. As you visit the parks, be sure to stop by Northwest Kiwanis Park to enjoy a temporary art installation, created by artist and UA resident Marcia Armstrong, utilizing natural materials. The installation is a goal of the Cultural Arts Division and Commission. As you read through this guide, you will find facilities to explore, events to experience and programs to enrich your lives. Our team is proud to offer a full array of services for you to enjoy, make connections and create lasting memories. Sincerely,

Debbie McLaughlin, CPRP Parks & Recreation Director

parks.uaoh.net | 614-583-5300 | @CityofUAPR

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