Solon Accepts Sponsorship For Arts Center Courtyard

The Solon City Council formally accepted Monday two sponsorships worth a combined $150,000 to help pay for a new courtyard with a patio and outdoor stage at the .

University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center will receive naming rights on the outdoor pavilion with a sponship of $125,000, expected to half of the projected $250,000. The money will be paid evenly over five years, and the new patio will be called the "University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center Courtyard."

The plan is to pay for the courtyard entirely through sponsorships. The city is also .

Executive Director Karen Prasser said she has other sponsorships lined up. The Corrine L Dodero Foundation for Arts and Sciences, a Solon-based charity, is donating $25,000. Prasser has also received another committment for $50,000, but its not finalized and she can't reveal details yet.

Concepts for the new courtyard are still preliminary, but include an outdoor stage that can double as a deck with a patio surrounded by a brick wall with plenty of trees. The early concept calls for a sail-like covering.

The city is currently recruiting architects through a bid process. Once an architect is hired who can produce more solid plans, the city will know how much the project is expected to cost.