How quickly things can change.
Last year at this time, the city had just closed the intersection of Market and Main streets to
traffic, our 55,000-square-foot Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany was still under
construction and neither Mellow Mushroom nor Hudson 29 Kitchen + Drink was open to the public yet.
Less than a year later, the streetscape along Main Street between Market Street and Village Hall Road has been transformed.
Our Market and Main roundabout has been open for nearly ten months now. To help residents
navigate it, city staff created a roundabout brochure, which is available at Village Hall and the library. A recent traffic study indicated that 95 percent of vehicles are traveling at less than 22 miles per hour through the roundabout; speeds are significantly slower than when this intersection was signalized.
The Heit Center, our community’s health destination, is now open to the public. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Fitness Center boasts more than 1,500 members in just six months of operation. The center also boasts a plethora of medical services and doctors’ offices jointly coordinated by OSU Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital staff.
The last component of the Heit Center, 55,000 square feet of community space managed by Healthy New Albany, hosts many community wellness activities and offers a new place for residents to simply relax. Groups, families and individuals can even rent space inside the Heit Center by calling 614-685-6344. If you haven’t yet visited the center to see its fitness and wellness offerings, you should.
Foot traffic generated by the Heit Center helped facilitate new development in the surrounding area for all residents and visitors to enjoy. Mellow Mushroom opened in late 2014, and Hudson 29 opened in April. These are great new Market Square additions to complement other nearby restaurants such as Rusty Bucket, Starbucks, Ella and Eagles Pizza.
With summer now in full swing, many community activities will generate even more hustle and bustle in and around our Village Center. Healthy New Albany’s Farmers Market returns to Market Square every Thursday through Sept. 17. These markets last from 4-7 p.m., with more than 60 vendors and food trucks offering produce, baked goods, locally made cheese, honey, coffee and many hand-crafted products. Most of the edible items are certified organic or all-natural.
In July, the Village Center will play host once again to our Independence Day 5K, parade, festival and fireworks. Our most popular community events of the year come with the fall weather.
On Aug. 2, the New Albany Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Taste of New Albany event in Market Square. On Aug. 8-9, Pelotonia, which has raised more than $85 million to end cancer, returns to town. On Sept. 13 will be the biggest walking-only race in the country, the 11th annual New Albany Walking Classic, which helps fund activities within the Heit Center.
In addition to those Village Center events, the A&F Challenge will take place on Sept. 11 around the Abercrombie & Fitch campus. This event has raised more than $8.5 million for the OSU Wexner Medical Center.
The New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix will be held at the Wexner residence on Sept. 20. This event has raised more than $20 million for the Center for Family Safety and Healing and is rated as the best specialty equestrian event in the United States.
On behalf of all city staff, I hope you enjoy all that our community has to offer this summer.
Scott McAfee is a contributing writer and public information officer for the city of New Albany. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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