Rec center work to begin in April
WAYNESBURG – The construction of a community recreation center by Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation is expected to begin next month.
The center, which will be built at EverGreene Technology Park in Franklin Township, will be large enough to contain an indoor soccer field, basketball court, fitness center, running/jogging track and multipurpose rooms.
“We have a contractor on board and are ready to move,” foundation board President Sheila Stewart said Monday.
The work is expected to begin before the end of April and, the foundation hopes, be completed by the end of the year, she said.
The $6.5 million center, which has been in the planning stages for the last two years, will be constructed on 13.3 acres of land the foundation purchased in June from Greene County Industrial Development Inc.
The foundation earlier had proposed building the center on Oakview Drive in Franklin Township, across from the Lions Club baseball field. However, costs associated with utility relocations, stormwater management and road upgrades forced it to consider an alternative site.
Though the layout of the building has changed as the plans have progressed, it will contain all of the same features included in the initial proposal, Stewart said.
The building is expected to contain 44,500 square feet of space. The original conceptual design of the main floor showed a soccer field, basketball court, locker rooms, traverse climbing wall, offices, party rooms and three community rooms that could be used for meetings, exercise classes and educational classes.
The second floor included a walking/jogging track overlooking the basketball court and soccer field, a supervised child care room, conference room, game rooms and a fitness center.
The foundation was formed with proceeds from the sale of Greene County Memorial Hospital to Essent Healthcare in 2005. It provides grants to other county nonprofit groups that work to improve the health and well-being of county residents.
The idea of the recreation center came about several years ago when the board decided to consider a larger project to provide services not available in the county. A feasibility study had pointed out the need for a recreation center in the county.
The foundation will construct the center with its own funds and with money raised through sponsorships and donations.
The foundation still has sponsorships available for rooms in the building and continues to seek donations, Stewart said.
“We’re definitely going to need some donor support,” she said.
Anyone who would like to provide a donation or become a sponsor is asked to contact David Jones, foundation executive director, at 724-852-2060.