Fran Ryan Center Named to Honor Former Councilmember’s Commitment to Senior Community
Columbus
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther today announced that the Broad Street Arts and Senior
Campus will be named The Fran Ryan Center. The new building’s designation honors
former councilmember Fran Ryan, a City of Columbus Hall of Fame member and
champion for Columbus’ older adult community. The name was unveiled today at a
groundbreaking event, which featured current and former city officials as well
as Ryan’s friends and family.
“It is only fitting that a facility designed to support our older adult
community be named after someone who has dedicated so much of her distinguished
career to improving quality of life for seniors across Columbus,” said Mayor
Ginther. “I can think of no one more deserving of this honor than Fran Ryan who
has exemplified, time and again, what it means to be an extraordinary and
compassionate public servant.”
Ryan co-founded and remains acting chairwoman of the Senior Services Roundtable
of Columbus and Franklin County. Ryan held multiple government positions during
her career, including serving as a member of Columbus City Council, serving as
a Franklin County Commissioner and working as the city clerk. Ryan was
appointed Midwest Regional Representative to the U.S. Department of Labor by
then-President Jimmy Carter. She also holds the distinction of being the first
woman to chair the Franklin County Democratic Party.
“It is an honor to break ground on a new facility dedicated to serving our
residents aged 50 and older,” said Columbus Recreation and Parks Department
Director Bernita A. Reese. “This state-of-the-art facility will house creative
programming and wellness activities for Columbus’ older adult community while
providing them with a place in which they can gather to share and create new
experiences.”
The
Fran Ryan Center, located at the site of the former Douglass Elementary School in
the Olde Towne East neighborhood, is set to be the new home for the Golden
Hobby Gift Shop and house programs previously offered at the Martin Janis
Community Center. The site will feature a community park in addition to
providing expanded creative arts programming and wellness activities for Columbus’
older adult community.
The Fran Ryan Center is slated to open fall 2024. For additional project
details and key dates, visit the Fran Ryan
Center’s webpage.