WESTLAKE, OHIO — The City of Westlake marked a milestone this week as the Westlake Community Services Center celebrated its five-year anniversary with a community gathering featuring food, activities and a special time capsule opening.

The event, held Wednesday morning, brought together residents, city officials and community partners to honor half a decade of service since the facility officially opened its doors. The celebration was part of the city's broader America 250 festivities.

"This is truly a fun place," said Mayor Dennis Clough, who addressed the crowd alongside several city department heads. Reflecting on the center's history, Mayor Clough called the Community Services Center and Recreation Center his greatest accomplishment during his tenure as mayor. "Every age group can come here and enjoy this site — it's truly built for the community," he said.

The building's journey began with a 2019 groundbreaking, with much of its construction taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being closed to the public during that period, staff remained active — delivering food, providing employment assistance, and offering virtual programming that kept residents connected. Director Lydia Gadd noted the facility has given thousands of tours since opening, and remains on track to welcome more than 500 new visitors in 2026 alone.

The anniversary festivities featured a wide variety of activities, including food from local sponsors, bingo, chair massages, trivia, bocce and a caricature artist — capped off with the ceremonial opening of a time capsule filled with city history items including a hard hat, a cookbook and a guest book from opening day.

The event was made possible entirely through community sponsorships and donations. Food sponsors included O'Neill Healthcare, Brookdale Westlake Village, Foundations Health Solutions, The Normandy, Concord Reserve, Meals on Wheels and Hail Marys. Bingo sponsors included Life Care Centers of Westlake, Assisted Living Locators, Symphony at Olmsted Falls and Humana. Additional support came from Erie Bank, JKL Tours, Aligned Health Center and Hearing Science.

The Westlake Community Services Center is located within an 85-acre green space and continues to serve residents of all ages across the city. For more information on upcoming programs and events, visit cityofwestlake.org.