Editorial: Central gifts stay in town

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The Community Heritage Development Fund may not have actually fulfilled its original mission, but that doesn’t mean it won’t make an impact in Worthington.

As detailed in Monday’s Daily Globe, the Community Heritage Development organization was created in 2001, when Prairie Elementary was built. The group’s goal: Save Central Elementary from the wrecking ball. Even though the building would no longer be used for its original purpose, it could be utilized in numerous other ways.

While it wasn’t for lack of effort, Central Elementary was ultimately torn down (Unity House, a 7,000-square-foot, 10-unit residential mental health treatment center, is now being constructed at the old Central site). Those contributing to the Community Heritage Development Fund had an option to receive their money back, and some made that choice. Others, though, allowed the Central group to keep the money, with the understanding that it would be somehow invested in the community. Ultimately, Community Heritage Development was left with about $11,000, which was slated to be distributed this week among 11 local non-profit organizations.

In a perfect world, Central Elementary would still be standing. At least there’s a small silver lining, though: money was distributed to other worthy causes within Worthington. And in that sense, Community Heritage Development served this community very well.

Tags: central elementary, opinion, editorials, worthington, development