If We Build It, They Will Come

There are times when a life event leaves you with such an indelible mark that it resonates long after it actually happened.  I am certain that we all have experienced this.  Equally, there are quotes that carry such historic significance that they make their way into the history books.  Unfortunately, because few of us possess the unlimited amount of disk space necessary to remember it all, we rely on a combination of means to bring the past into the present.  Well, for a group of visionaries from Delaware, Ohio, the stars aligned perfectly for the passage of a tax levy which left a community no longer asking why but instead realizing their vision of "Y not", and let me explain.

Delaware, Ohio is located at the center of the county that bears its name and is one of the fastest growing counties in the country, immediately north of Columbus.  It is the birthplace of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States, home of harness racing's, Little Brown Jug and Ohio Wesleyan University, just to highlight some of its rich heritage.  When I lived there, a burning question that had been raised long before my arrival was, "why doesn't Delaware have its own indoor pool complex?"  Over the years, a variety of explanations had been voiced, but eventually, the need became more apparent.  The high school swim team called the pool at OWU its home, and the community was fortunate to have access to the facility too, but there were growing  limitations.  The time had come to mobilize on this opportunity.

There had been several citizen groups researching the prospects of developing such a space, and those proposals fell short of being realized.  In 2000, CIRCA 2000 was spawned and picked up this noble cause again, without success; but the group, CPR, Citizens to Promote Recreation, gained the traction and inertia needed to make the project happen.  First, it took gathering signatures to show the support, and that happened.  Second, CPR continued to promote its agenda and presented it to the community's elected officials.  The spokesperson delivered an eloquent summary of the proposal and concluded his statements by saying, "the tax is minimal, the need is great, and the time is now."  That compelling argument struck a chord with the board members who supported the measure, and thus this initiative was allowed on the ballot of the special election.  Third, it would be up to the voters to decide the fate of the proposed tax increase, and on August 5, 2008, that tax levy passed.  Three for three, a hall of fame batting average in my book, but more importantly, a giant step forward that would favorably change the landscape of the city and county for generations.

Now, 10 years later, the "Y" at Delaware has definitely become a reality and is one of central Ohio's busiest.  The coexistence with the National Guard has become a model for other communities around the country.  However, what makes this so special is the vision of a few has benefited the many who have passed through its doors.  The words, "if we build it, they will come" couldn't echo more loudly in the "Y" at Delaware today, and why not? It has become all that was envisioned and more.  No recount needed on this vote, the "YEAs" have it!