In 1996, Lake Vista joined the OPRS family, and has continued to grow and flourish ever since... Located on a 32-acre campus in Cortland, Ohio, Lake Vista sits nestled in a gorgeous country setting complete with the beauty of woodlands, flowers and ponds. Residents enjoy walking trails, which connect to Turkey Run Trail in Mosquito Creek State Park. The state park offers wonderful views of wildlife and foliage, as well as access to Mosquito Lake, giving residents a place to spend time fishing, boating or having a picnic with family and friends. Getting Started In October 1996, Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services (OPRS) made the decision to purchase property that would be used to build a residential retirement community, and in February 1997, land at 303 North Mecca Street was acquired for what would soon become home to Lake Vista of Cortland. OPRS planned to operate Lake Vista as a satellite of Park Vista Retirement Community, another of its retirement communities located in Youngstown, Ohio. Breaking Ground On June 17, 1997, the highly anticipated groundbreaking ceremonies for Lake Vista commenced. Graced with warm weather and beautifully sunny skies, more than 180 people attended including OPRS President and CEO David J. Kaasa, Cortland Mayor Dennis Linville, OPRS Development Corporation President John Dickson and Park Vista s Board Chair Douglass Everett. Guests were able to view renderings of the soon-to-be villa homes and clubhouse, and attended a reception following the ceremony. Construction continued through the next year. The first residents, some of which included Mary Dilworth, Charlie and Madeline Bradford, Shirley Dorman, Stan and Joyce Seagle, and Jane Haynam, began moving into their new villa homes in July 1998. Also in the summer of 1998, extensive renovation began on a residence that was located on the Lake Vista campus. Today, this converted house provides residents at Lake Vista with a gorgeous clubhouse. The clubhouse features a large great room overlooking the pond and the Lake Vista community. It also features a kitchen, an exercise equipment room, a large wrap-around deck, a big screen TV and movie projector, and a large arts and crafts area. This wonderful addition to the Lake Vista campus has allowed residents to hold numerous events and festivities and host community organizations.
Continued Growth The next item on Lake Vista s agenda was to add an apartment building to its campus. In December 2000, the local city council approved the zoning change needed in order to build the proposed apartments. During the summer of 2000, a pavilion was built beside Lake Vista s pond, adding to the beauty of the campus and giving residents a place to gather for picnics and outdoor socialization. On March 7, 2001, the plans for the new independent apartment and assisted living building, Park Place, were unveiled during a luncheon in the Lake Vista clubhouse that garnered nearly 100 guests. On October 15, 2002, the official groundbreaking ceremony for Park Place at Lake Vista was held. Reverend Jeff Wheeler gave an invocation, and other speakers included Cortland Mayor Melissa Long, OPRS President and CEO David J. Kaasa and OPRS Executive Vice President and COO Kenneth Kemper. The first residents moved in July 1-3, 2004, including Florence Wilson who was the first to put a deposit down on one of the apartments. On July 12, 2004, the grand opening and dedication ceremony was held for the Park Place building. Construction on Park Place continued through June 2002. Once completed, 37 independent living apartments were housed in a three-story section of the building, and 36 assisted living suites were available in an attached single-story section. With its spectacular view of Mosquito Lake, Park Place also offers residents a charming dining room, a barber and beauty shop, a library, lounges and a large common area where residents can socialize. 1998 2000 2002
Generosity Enhances Quality of Life OPRS was established through an act of personal generosity and it is such donations that allow the growth and enhancement of our campuses. With the gifts that are given, we are able to acquire new amenities and refurbish the old, which would not be possible through the operational budget. Lake Vista is no exception. In Trumbull County alone, 15.7% of the population is 65 or older, and these citizens represent the fastest growing segment of the entire population. Completing the Continuum In 2006, OPRS made the decision to further enhance the already wonderful Lake Vista campus by expanding its services to include skilled nursing and rehabilitation. In order to do this, 26 assisted living units in Park Place went through a conversion process. Today, the campus accommodates 10 assisted living beds, 18 long-term care beds and 20 rehabilitation beds, along with the 37 independent apartments and 46 villa homes. Lake Vista is no longer a satellite community, but rather a sister community to the 10 other retirement communities in the OPRS network. Senior Independence In-home care services are available to Lake Vista residents and the surrounding community through Senior Independence, a division of OPRS. With more than 30 years experience, Senior Independence is a statewide initiative that today serves over 60,000 older adults in 41 Ohio counties. Services currently offered by Senior Independence include home health care, personal care, transportation, adult day services, hospice, wellness clinics and faith-based nursing. Thanks to the generosity of donors, we can support programming both on and off campus the kinds of activities and resources that make Lake Vista s quality of life so exceptional. It was through such donations that Lake Vista s in-house television channel (VCTV) was made possible. Channel 22, run by dedicated residents, offers the campus information about upcoming events, video interviews with department managers, profiles of new residents and employees, funny or inspirational quotations, and weather updates. Other additions made possible through donations have included a projector, large screen, speaker system and an old-fashioned popcorn cart, all located in the clubhouse. These new features allow residents to stay informed and gather for movie nights where everyone enjoys fun and fellowship. Philanthropy will continue to play a key role in ensuring that Lake Vista upholds the OPRS commitment to providing caring and quality service to its residents and the community. 2004 2006 2008
L ake Vista of Cortland isn t a place where you go to wind down your life. It s a place where you come to live. Planning for the Future As it has done in the past, Lake Vista plans to continue improving the quality of life for current residents and further prepare the campus to care for the next generation of older adults. Recently, Lake Vista has implemented a new wellness program where residents are able to speak to a physical therapist, registered dietician and licensed nurse to receive a complete individual assessment. Thanks to a generous donation from Jane Haynam, a brand new walking trail is being constructed around the pond in front of Park Place. This addition will give residents yet another wonderful opportunity to remain fit and active, while enjoying the beauty of nature and the Lake Vista campus. Lake Vista looks forward to the future with eager anticipation, excited to welcome the upcoming generations of older adults and offer them the caring and quality services that are at the heart of Lake Vista s mission. 2009 and beyond
Breckenridge Village, Willoughby Park Vista Retirement Community, Youngstown Cape May Retirement Village, Wilmington Rockynol, Akron Dorothy Love Retirement Community, Sidney Swan Creek Retirement Village, Toledo Lake Vista of Cortland, Cortland The Vineyard on Catawba, Port Clinton Llanfair Retirement Community, Cincinnati Westminster-Thurber Community, Columbus Mount Pleasant Retirement Village, Monroe
303 North Mecca Street Cortland, Ohio 44410 330-638-2420 www.oprs.org 062009