The ASH Centre (Fort Wayne, Indiana)

 gym / gymnasium - sports, fitness centre / center, baseball park / stadium

Website: www.ashcentre.org/
Phone: (260) 436-1507

The Academy of Sports and Health (ASH) Centre became the official name of the property formerly known as Tahcumwah Sports and Recreation in January 2007. The mission of this community project is an exciting one that brings great opportunities to Northeast Indiana.

The former Tahcumwah Sports and Recreation Facility is a 26 acre complex located at the Freeman/Taylor Street intersection on Fort Wayne's west side.

When the facility was constructed in the 1960s, it included an outdoor adult softball complex, indoor soccer field, and a concession stand area. Tahcumwah was a major tournament site for regional softball events that attracted teams from throughout the Midwest for nearly twenty years. When the ownership was transferred in the early 1980s, a gymnasium was constructed and a full restaurant operation was introduced. However, through a series of events and lack of reinvestment into the project, the property was not maintained at a quality level and business at the complex diminished.

Anthony Wayne Services became the owner of the Tahcumwah property in 1990, using the facility for several of their community programs that provide service for those with disabilities. Plans were developed to renovate the facility into a major recreational/day care operation; however, costs did not merit these efforts. As a result, the facility did not receive much needed maintenance and upgrades.
In 2004, a non profit organization began working with Anthony Wayne Services to identify ways the facility could be used to effectively serve the community. Through this research and assessment, it was determined that the facility had great potential to become a multi-purpose facility that could be used for diverse, community-based programs within the community.

The focus of this project has been to assist service organizations in developing and expanding their service to the community through collaborative efforts. The facility had many infrastructure, safety, and building code issues that were identified and remedied. A needs assessment quickly determined that this facility could meet the needs of programs for seniors, youth, and special needs. This gave purpose and mission to the project.