MANSFIELD — The sprawling former Westinghouse factory on East Fifth Street once helped power Mansfield’s industrial identity.
Community leaders hope it will help to spark the city’s future in June.
The long-dormant property will roar back to life June 13 during “A WestingHOUSE Party,” a free, daylong public celebration designed to mark the completion of cleanup efforts at the historic site.
It will also re-introduce residents to what organizers believe could become one of Mansfield’s most important redevelopment corridors.
The massive factory, which once employed about 10,000 workers and operated for more than seven decades, closed for good in 1990 — a hollowed-out, painful and constant reminder of the city’s mighty industrial past. It was perhaps the city’s longest standing “rustbelt” image.
It sat dormant and decaying for more than three decades before $4 million in state and local dollars paid to demolish and clean it up, an effort led by the Richland County Land Bank.
It was a project that began in December 2022 with a wrecking ball swung by R&D Excavation of Crestline, that included demolishing the remaining former “A” building at 200 E. Fifth St., along with the 13-acre “concrete parcel” just to the east and a nearby vacant building.
Months earlier, as local officials began planning, Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero, a member of the Land Bank board, said, “I think it’s time we start looking at doing some things.”
And now, it’s time to celebrate that project — and as a community envision what may come next.
“The Westinghouse property has long been a reminder of an important chapter in Mansfield’s history, and it is now becoming a place where our next chapter can unfold. The Westinghouse Site Reuse Plan shows how this 14-acre brownfield can be transformed into a vibrant district with new public spaces, connected streets, green areas, and a mix of places to live, work, and gather,” organizers said.
“It reflects a clear opportunity to turn an idle site into a community asset that invites investment, strengthens nearby neighborhoods, and creates room for new ideas and new energy to take root. This celebration marks visible progress and invites everyone to be part of shaping what comes next for the site and for Richland County,” they said.
(Above is PDF with the current thoughts, ideas and potential plans for the former Westinghouse industrial site.)
‘This is about more than an event’
Hosted by the Land Bank in partnership with the Leadership Unlimited Class of 2026 and several community organizations, the event blends history, entertainment and community pride into what organizers describe as a milestone moment for the city.
“This is about more than an event,” organizers said in announcing the celebration. “It’s about reconnecting the community to a place that shaped Mansfield’s past and can help shape its future.”
The former industrial property will transform into a festival atmosphere from morning until night. Live music, food trucks, skateboarding demonstrations, children’s activities and fireworks are just some of the events planned.
One of the biggest attractions will be Elektro the Robot, the famous mechanical man introduced by Westinghouse during the 1939 World’s Fair.
Elektro’s appearance is intended to bridge the site’s legacy of innovation with its next chapter, organizers said.
Families will be able to participate in an “Elektro Experience,” featuring photo opportunities and a hands-on “Build-A-Robot” maker activity aimed at children and aspiring young inventors.
The day will begin with a children’s festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will feature bounce houses, traveling exhibits from the Buckeye Imagination Museum, yard games from the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library and literacy activities through United Way’s Big Red Bookshelf.
Performance Dogs of Ohio will present live shows at 10:30 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. The Mansfield Fire Department plans to offer demonstrations through its junior training program.
Competitive and recreational volleyball games will run throughout the day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Skate Ohio will bring energy to the site from 2 to 6 p.m. with its “Attack the Spot” skateboarding showcase.
As daylight fades, live music will take center stage. Northern Downpour performs from 5 to 6:30 p.m., followed later in the evening by Shucking Bubba from 8 to 10 p.m.
A fireworks display at dusk will cap the celebration.
Dozens of local food vendors are expected on-site, including Athena Gyro Express, Lerch’s Donuts, Panchos Tacos, The Fry Guys and The Lavender Spoon.
Organizers said free parking will be available at designated nearby locations with volunteers directing traffic and assisting visitors.
The event is presented by R&D Excavation, with major sponsorship support from Mechanics Bank, Newman Technologies, OhioHealth, Park National Bank and Richland Public Health.
Additional support comes from Avita Health System, Directions Credit Union, Mannik Smith Group, NCOIM and Sutton Bank.
Community partners include BrandRichland, DRM Productions, IdeaWorks Kitchen, Leadership Unlimited, Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development and Richland County government.
Organizers hope the event will help residents reimagine a property many have driven past for years as an abandoned reminder of Mansfield’s manufacturing decline.
“For one day, at least, the old Westinghouse grounds will again become a gathering place filled with lights, music and movement — not as a symbol of what was lost, but of what may still be possible,” organizers said.
