First Tee – Cleveland, Cleveland Metroparks and partners today celebrated the grand opening of the Woodworth Activity Center with a celebratory “First Putt.”
First Tee – Cleveland serves youth ages 6 to 18 on the golf course, in schools and through partnerships with other youth-serving agencies. The reimagined 12,000 square foot building located in Cleveland Metroparks Washington Reservation, adjacent to Washington Golf Course in Newburgh Heights (3883 Washington Park Blvd.), will serve as a hub for instilling life skills through the game of golf to local youth. The project was made possible with generous support by Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s contribution of a former education building.
“This has been a project in the making for the past three years, and I am so proud of what we have created for the kids throughout the community,” said Patricia LoPresti, Executive Director of First Tee – Cleveland. “We’re grateful to Cleveland Metroparks, Turner Construction Company, DS Architecture, our board and donors for making our dream a beautiful and exciting reality.”
The Woodworth Activity Center will allow for year-round programs, providing kids with a safe activity-based environment for years to come. Formerly a Cleveland Metropolitan School District environmental sciences high school building, the Center features a 4,500 square foot activity area, learning studio, three Full Swing golf simulators, a teaching kitchen for the Fit to A Tee culinary program, community room, office space and an outdoor pavilion. The project is an extension of the successful partnership formed more than 20 years ago.
In 1999, former Cleveland Indians player André Thornton took the lead to form a First Tee chapter in Cleveland, and in 2003, First Tee – Cleveland, in cooperation with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), the City of Cleveland and Cleveland Metroparks, secured 60 acres of land at the Washington Park Horticultural Center to construct the nine-hole Leonard Krieger Golf Course, practice facility, clubhouse, and the Iris S. & Bert L. Wolstein Life Skills Education Center. Cleveland Metroparks now operates Washington Golf Course, while youth programming is managed by First Tee – Cleveland.
“Cleveland Metroparks congratulates First Tee – Cleveland on their continued success with the opening of the Woodworth Activity Center at Washington Reservation," said Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian M. Zimmerman. "Cleveland Metroparks long term partnership with First Tee – Cleveland has transformed Washington Golf Course and impacted the lives of countless youth in their development. As First Tee – Cleveland continues to grow, we look forward to playing a part in furthering connections to the game of golf and to Cleveland Metroparks.”
First Tee’s life skills programming is delivered in all 66 CMSD K-8 schools. “I’m proud of our long-term partnership with First Tee – Cleveland,” said Desiree Powell, Executive Director of Athletics, Student Activities, Health, Wellness & Physical Education, Cleveland Metropolitan School District. “Our students have enjoyed a positive experience with exposure to golf, fun and life skills in our physical education classes and through field trips at Washington Golf Course. The Activity Center will allow us to expand programs year-round both indoors and outdoors on their campus.”
The project was funded through First Tee – Cleveland’s successful $3.5 million More Than A Game Capital Campaign. Campaign Leadership included: Rick Buoncore, Daryl Deckard, Ronna McNair and Enid Rosenberg.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the foundations, individuals and corporations who helped us achieve our campaign goal and embraced this important project,” said Ronna McNair, First Tee – Cleveland Board Chair and Capital Campaign Co-Chair. “These gifts will enable First Tee to provide countless opportunities for more deserving youth to build life and leadership skills.”
The project team consisted of: Cleveland Metroparks – Project Manager; Turner Construction Company – Construction Manager; DS Architecture – Architect; Osborn Engineering – Engineer; RCF Group - Furniture; and Natalie Ata – Signage Design.
The building is named in honor of Lou Woodworth. Lou and his wife, Heidi Charleson, have been longtime supporters of First Tee – Cleveland. With a challenging childhood, Lou spent 14 hours a day at the local golf course, and with support from the golf pro, he worked odd jobs, learned how to golf and how to caddie. That mentorship helped Lou earn an Evans Scholarship to Northwestern University and created a strong foundation for success. Lou’s advice to young people is: “Work hard and stay diligent and focused on your goals every day, treat everyone with courtesy and respect; that combination will pay dividends for a lifetime.”
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