By Allen Howard
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LINCOLN HEIGHTS - A fund-raising campaign will be launched today to raise money for a new recreation center, with help from the village's favorite sons, the Isley Brothers.

Blackprofessionals.com, which is presenting the Isley Brothers in a concert Friday at Xavier's Cintas Center, will announced in a noon press conference today that 5 percent of the profits will be used to initiate the Lincoln Heights Recreation Complex Development Fund.

The press conference will be held at Lincoln Heights Elementary School, 1200 Lindy Ave.

Praxis Multi Media, the parent company of blackprofessionals.com, said the efforts of the singing group coincide with the village's and the Princeton School District's launch of the fund campaign.

The Isley Brothers grew up in the village and attended the elementary school in the 1950s.

Rodney Cook, promoter for the Isley Brothers, said the group is excited about helping out.

Mayor Shirley Salter said, "We are very excited that blackprofessional.com and the Isleys are helping with Lincoln Heights' comeback." She said she hopes the Isleys' efforts will encourage others who grew up in Lincoln Heights to come back and help.

The center is part of a $14.1 million redevelopment strategy, which includes a new elementary school and revitalization of a blighted area along the Steffen Avenue corridor. The corridor runs from Interstate 75 on the east to Wayne Avenue on the west between Byrd and Simmons streets. It will include new single-family homes, senior housing development and new commercial buildings along I-75.

Al Kanters, executive director of the Lincoln Heights Community Improvement Corp., said the recreation complex, which will be built in conjunction with the new school, will occupy about 12 to 14 acres in an area bordered by Lindy Avenue on the south, Adams on the north, Leggett on the west and Mangham on the east.

"We are in dire need for more recreation facilities in this area," Kanters said.

E-mail ahoward@enquirer.com