Wayne Center for the Arts breaks ground on new Arts Park and FabLab in Wooster

On Sept. 30, Wayne Center for the Arts celebrated the groundbreaking of its new Arts Park and FabLab, marking the start of a project that will bring creativity, innovation and community connection to downtown Wooster.

The vision for this project began years ago under the leadership of former Executive Director James Fox and has been carried forward by WCA’s staff and board of directors.

“This has been a long time coming,” Executive Director Sara Brink said. “This is truly the beginning of a new era at WCA.”

The project has been made possible through the support of the Wayne Holmes Mental Health and Recovery Board, which sponsored a grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

“We are deeply grateful for their recognition of the power of art in building youth resilience,” Brink said.

The Arts Park will transform a section of WCA’s campus into a hub for creativity including green space, public art and gathering areas designed to serve the entire community. At the heart of the project will be the FabLab, a space offering hands-on opportunities in woodworking, glass and metal design.

“The FabLab will allow the next generation to learn how to design, fabricate and engage in creative problem-solving,” Brink said.

Local construction partner Bogner Construction shares a deep connection to this project.

“This is not only our project, but also our neighborhood,” construction manager Brian Bogner said. “Our offices are just 300 yards away, and we’ve been neighbors and partners with WCA for decades. In fact, the third generation of Bogners helped renovate the Walnut Street School back in the 1980s to become the art center it is today. It’s exciting to continue that legacy with the Arts Park.”

With construction now underway, WCA anticipates completion and a ribbon-cutting celebration in summer 2026. The Arts Park and FabLab will serve as an anchor within the growing Downtown Wooster Arts District, complementing the city’s vitality and commitment to creative placemaking.

“We are thrilled to bring these new opportunities to our community,” Brink said. “Together, we will build a stronger, more creative Wooster for generations to come.”

For more information about the project, visit www.WayneArtsCenter.org/ArtsPark.