In The News

West Chester chosen to host All-Star Neighborhood celebration

May 29, 2015  |  West Chester Township
West Chester Township

Journal News

WEST CHESTER TWP. —

A Butler County community will play a central role in helping to celebrate Cincinnati’s first All-Star game in 27 years.

West Chester Twp. is one of 10 All-Star Neighborhoods chosen by the Community Organizing Committee to host a party celebrating Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game on July 14.

Also chosen were the neighborhoods of Cheviot, Clifton, East Price Hill, Green Twp., Madisonville, Pleasant Ridge and Walnut Hills in Ohio and Bellevue and Taylor Mill in Kentucky.

All 10 communities will take part in the Baseball Across the Region ceremony, T-Mobile All-Star Fan Fest tickets, official All-Star Summer signage and All-Star Neighborhood celebrations.

The neighborhood engagement project is supported and spearheaded by the COC, a group of volunteers and professionals formed last year in partnership with the Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati USA Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“One of our goals is to engage our regional residents within this All-Star experience,” said COC co-chair Melanie Chavez. “Being able to take the excitement directly to our neighborhoods and seeing residents enjoying themselves within their communities is an amazing way to see that goal realized.”

Most of the events in each neighborhood will occur during All-Star week and each community will be responsible for organizing its own celebration.

Applications were sent to 63 communities, and about 24 responded. Each community’s application was scored and selected based on content and creativity. Additional consideration was given to the committee’s goal of achieving geographic diversity and coverage of the Cincinnati region.

West Chester Twp. plans to hold a celebration on game day at The Square @ Union Centre.

The township’s application to be one of the All-Star Neighborhoods said such a celebration “would not be complete without a big screen for game viewing, live music for pre-game and post-game fun, beer, food, giveaways and games.”

Activities and events leading up to the celebration also are planned, including youth baseball-related activities, baseball themed contests and a vintage baseball demonstration.

West Chester Twp. plans to collaborate with area businesses and organizations and invite neighboring communities of Liberty Twp., Fairfield, Fairfield Twp., Mason, Deerfield Twp, Sharonville and Springdale to partner, said Judi Boyko, West Chester’s administrator.

“We’re honored to be part of and a participant in the region’s celebration,” Boyko said. “West Chester will approach this as an opportunity to collaborate and to demonstrate our innovativeness.”

Schedule of All-Star Game festivities

July 10-July 14: T-Mobile All-Star FanFest, Duke Energy Convention Center*

July 11: MLB Color Run 5K, Sawyer Point Park

July 12: All-Star Futures Game, Great American Ball Park*; Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, GABP*

July 13: All-Star Workout Day, GABP; Home Run Derby, GABP*

July 14: All-Star Parade; 86th MLB All-Star Game, GABP*

* - requires ticket

  

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/west-chester-among-communities-to-host-all-star-ga/nmQWT/