Partners to strategize about redeveloping area near Marian University

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- St.Vincent, Indiana Sports Corp, Play Ball Indiana, USA Football, and USA Track and Field have entered into Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with Marian University to explore opportunities to partner in the redevelopment of the Indy Cycloplex – home of the Major Taylor Velodrome – and the area surrounding the Marian University campus.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, Marian University President Daniel J. Elsener, St.Vincent CEO Jonathan Nalli, and Indiana Sports Corp President Allison Melangton made the announcement today during a press conference at the Major Taylor Velodrome.

The first project on the horizon is a new St.Vincent Sports Performance facility, according to Nalli. St.Vincent has additional interest in expanding its health care presence in the area, including a clinic that could be located on, or near, the property. Other assets that may be included in this project include offices and meeting space for some of the organizations that comprise the city's amateur sports community, as well as a facility for research and training in sports safety and performance.

"Using current and planned assets at Marian University – in the neighborhood and in the larger Indianapolis community – we can attract clinics, camps, and seminars, and support cutting-edge research on issues relating to sports performance and recovery," Elsener said.

"I know from our work with the many national governing bodies who call Indianapolis home, that new resources like this will help them continue to grow and thrive and makes us an even more attractive place for other governing bodies to consider as a national headquarters," Melangton said.

The planning group, led by Marian University, is supported by Bill Browne of RATIO Architects. The group plans to continue ongoing discussions with Indy Parks, neighborhood leaders and other partners to develop a comprehensive vision and strategic plan for the further development of the Indy Cycloplex property and potentially for other underutilized areas near the campus on the city's west side. Marian University has been an active participant in the Northwest Area Quality of Life planning process and serves as an anchor institution in this community.

"The St.Vincent Sports Performance complex at Marian University will position Indy as a national leader in sports research and make this area a destination for sports performance, injury and recovery," Mayor Ballard said. "The partnership with St.Vincent Sports Performance will be a tremendous asset for students and athletes and will help Marian grow as a strong anchor for the surrounding Riverside neighborhood."

Located just south of the intersection at West 38^th Street and Cold Spring Road, the Indy Cycloplex is an Indianapolis city park that includes the historic Major Taylor Velodrome, a newly-renovated BMX track, and a dynamic cyclocross course. Through a 15-year agreement with the City of Indianapolis that began in April 2011, Marian University manages and operates the property. The Major Taylor Velodrome has been the home of the Marian University Cycling Team since 1992, and the Knights are consistently one of the top collegiate cycling programs in the country, owning 26 USA Cycling collegiate national team championships in four disciplines, in addition to many individual national titles.

About Marian University Indianapolis
Marian University (www.marian.edu), founded in Indianapolis in 1937, is the only Catholic liberal arts university in central Indiana. It serves a student body of more than 2,700 through dedication to excellent teaching and learning in the Franciscan and liberal arts traditions. Marian University is one of Indiana's 31 independent colleges and one of 244 Catholic colleges and universities nationwide.

Since 2001, Marian University has been led by President Daniel J. Elsener, whose vision and leadership are transforming the university. In 2013, Marian University opened the Michael A. Evans Center for Health Sciences, home to its College of Osteopathic Medicine. Marian University has amassed 26 national championships in cycling and in 2012 won the NAIA national championship in football.

About St.Vincent
St.Vincent is a nonprofit, spiritually-centered health system, sponsored by Ascension Health of St. Louis, MO., the nation's largest Catholic health system. St.Vincent is one of Indiana's largest employers with 22 health ministries serving central and southern Indiana. The 133-year-old health system delivers high quality, compassionate care in service areas such as cardiovascular, women's, children's, neurosciences, cancer care, orthopedics, bariatrics, primary care, emergency medicine, imaging, general surgery and long-term acute care. For more information, visit www.stvincent.org.

About Indiana Sports Corp
Indiana Sports Corp's mission is to create positive impact by hosting world-class sporting events that enhance vibrancy in the community, build civic pride, drive economic impact and media exposure, and encourage opportunities for youth. A not-for-profit organization, Indiana Sports Corp was founded in 1979 as the nation's first sports commission. Our recent and upcoming schedule of events includes NCAA Men's and Women's Final Fours, Super Bowl XLVI in 2012, Big Ten Football Championship Games through 2021, Big Ten Basketball Tournaments, U.S. Olympic Trials and national championships, and much more. For more information, visit www.IndianaSportsCorp.org.

SOURCE Marian University

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