ASHLAND — The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Ashland celebrated the completion of its expansion project on Saturday, Nov. 13 with a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony.
Ashland-area elected officials and community leaders including Mayor Matt Miller were in attendance, as well as representatives from The Salvation Army’s divisional and territorial headquarters (located in Cleveland and New York City, respectively).
The heart of the expansion is an indoor waterpark with features designed to entertain the entire family, from the very small to the very tall. The waterpark includes a 4.5-foot-deep pool with basketball hoops, lazy river, lily pad crossing activity, tube slide and body slide, and a zero-depth playground structure and splash area for younger children.
Also included in the expansion is a state-of-the-art fitness center complete with elliptical machines, treadmills, recumbent bikes, exercise bikes, weight machines, and free weights. The fitness center faces the waterpark, providing parents with older children the ability to exercise while keeping an eye on their children in the waterpark. Parents with younger children can take advantage of the child watch area while they work out.
In total, the expansion cost $7.7 million, which included funding from the Joan B. Kroc Foundation as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in local support.
The expansion goes far beyond meeting the physical and entertainment needs of members of the community. Membership dollars generated by the expansion will be used to fuel efforts to provide for the social and economic needs of individuals and families in the Ashland community.
In addition to dedicating and celebrating the opening of the fitness center and waterpark, the Kroc Center also made a special announcement for Summer 2022, when the outdoor spray pad will return fully operational to provide a source of summer fun to area residents, free of charge. The outdoor spray pad was made possible by support from The Norma Foundation and the Archer family.
Members of the community are invited to see the waterpark and fitness center for themselves and learn more about all that a Kroc Center membership provides by signing up for an open house from Nov. 14 through the end of the month. Memberships are available now at a reduced rate for the grand opening of the expansion, which will take place on Dec. 4.
Sponsored memberships are available for individuals and families seeking assistance.
Major Annalise Francis summed up the addition saying, “In hindsight, the Lord’s hand has so clearly guided this project. It has been amazing to see His work done through people in this community coming together at key moments to make things special for the people of Ashland.”
Membership makes a difference in the lives of people in Ashland. Membership is for everyone. Become a member at the Kroc Center by visiting ashlandkroc.org.
About The Salvation Army Kroc Center
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 126 years in the United States. Over 31 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children.
About 83 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.
