CLEVELAND, OH (BRAIN)—Fast Track Cycling, Inc., a Cleveland-based, non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, has entered into a real estate purchase option agreement with the city of Cleveland to acquire a nine-acre vacant site formerly occupied by St. Michaels Hospital in Slavic Village.
Fast Track plans to develop and operate an indoor recreational facility which will include a velodrome—a custom-built, banked bicycle track—as part of its mission to support track cycling and other recreational opportunities and promote health and wellness as well as youth programming.
Cleveland’s velodrome will be only the third indoor velodrome of the 25 in the United States, along with those in California and Colorado.
The project will help to revitalize the Slavic Village neighborhood as well as provide recreation, wellness and other services to children and adults. Current plans are to construct a 150,000-square-foot, air-supported dome structure that will house a 250-meter wood track, 75,000 square feet of turf field, 20,000 square feet of sport court and other amenities. In addition to cycling, the facility will accommodate a multitude of recreational and sports activities including soccer, track and field, football, baseball, volleyball, basketball, running, walking, among many others. Fast Track has established strategic relationships with Sports Facilities Marketing Group (corporate sponsorships), Edward Howard (public relations), GPD Associates (project engineer) and Vocon Partners (project architect).
A detailed budget and operational projections have been developed. Overall project costs are estimated at $6,500,000. Fast Track is seeking naming rights sponsors, corporate sponsors, foundation grants, federal/state/local grants, and charitable donations from the cycling community.
To date, Fast Track has been funded by a $30,000 grant from Civic Innovation Lab and other donations totaling $7,000 while another $45,000 has been pledged for the capital campaign.
Fast Track is collaborating with Slavic Village Development Corporation and has received positive responses from the Mayor’s Office, members of City Council, and the Cleveland Planning Commission. Fast Track plans to work closely with various neighborhood groups including Sokol Greater Cleveland.
“The sale and use of this vacant City Land Bank property for a Sports/Olympic-style cycling training center is a welcomed economic opportunity and major boost for Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood,” said mayor Frank G. Jackson. “With the makings of both a regional and national draw, the proposed cycling center will cast a new light on Slavic Village by generating a sense of pride with benefits that will include job creation, business opportunities, health benefits and more.”
“Bringing a velodrome and recreational facility to the Broadway/Slavic Village community will not only add an important recreational amenity for residents,” said Ward 5 Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland, “but it will also bring in visitors and economic growth to the area.”
“This is a terrific opportunity for Slavic Village,” said Marie Kittredge, executive director of Slavic Village Community Development Corporation. “The velodrome is a perfect fit for us, because of our central location, and our community’s commitment to active lifestyles and physical fitness. The velodrome will complement our two new athletic fields, the First Tee Golf Course and our Morgana Bike Trail.”
The Slavic Village site is located at McBride Avenue and Broadway Avenue (southeast of the intersection of East 49th Street and Broadway) and offers proximity to all of greater Cleveland, with excellent freeway access to I-77, I-90, I-71, I-490 and I-480.
