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Middletown directs funds to community center overhaul, CareFlight support and neighborhood programs
Summary
Mayor Elizabeth Slamka outlined the city's funding of a $6.7 million renovation for the Robert Sunny Hill Community Center, a multiyear commitment to CareFlight, and neighborhood programs including a home repair grant and the trash bash cleanup.
Mayor Elizabeth Slamka said the city and its partners are supporting several community-focused investments, including a $6,700,000 renovation and expansion of the Robert Sunny Hill Community Center supported in part by a $3,500,000 contribution from the Butler County Commissioners. The mayor said the project will almost double the size of the 83-year-old facility and add a regulation gymnasium, upgraded bathrooms and modernized systems.
The mayor said Middletown City Council authorized a multiyear investment of over $450,000 over five years in Premier Health's CareFlight air and mobile services program, noting the program serves agencies across 17 counties and that a new CareFlight helicopter costs about $13,500,000. "Making this investment will undoubtedly save lives in our community," the mayor said.
The city directed $60,000 to the Community Building Institute (CBI) to support after-school programming and neighborhood-strengthening work; CBI is also involved in the Robert Sunny Hill renovations. Mayor Slamka described return of neighborhood programs: the home improvement repair program — funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds — offered up to $5,000 in free repairs for qualifying owner-occupied single-family homes, and the Trash Bash returned to accept trash, tires and other items at three sites.
Slamka also highlighted park renovations (Goldman Park, Oakland Park, Sherman Park) and upcoming projects including Douglas Park and Damon Park upgrades and a new Main Street basin recreation area slated for 2026 that will include a seasonal ice rink and flexible event space. She credited Middletown Connect, a resident-led initiative, for guiding park redesigns and resident engagement.
City council approved the hiring of Cali Fisher as community projects coordinator, the mayor said; the transcript did not include mover/second or roll-call details. The mayor framed these investments as support for residents, youth programs and civic life rather than as standalone capital projects.
