Friday, May 17, 2002
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Friday, May 17, 2002 |
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New digs for Union City rec By JANET
McGREGOR
The Union City Parks and Recreation Department will soon have a new home if all goes according to plan. The Recreation Department currently shares space with Georgia Military College and South Fulton Clean and Beautiful in the old Union City Elementary School on Bryant Street. The school was renovated in 1993 utilizing Community Development Block Grants, Fulton County Arts Council Grants and funds from the Union City general budget. Renamed the Community Activities Center, the school has served as a base for the Recreation Department and various programs including the Senior Program and Summer Day Camp. Although the school has done an adequate job of meeting the needs of the Recreation Department, the Department has, according to City Administrator Sonya Carter, "outgrown its use." The building is also in need of lots of repairs and is, according to Carter, "not structured to meet the needs of the Recreation Department." The school is over 60 years old, has poor acoustics and antiquated facilities. "Any facility is supposed to be functional and an icon of what the city represents," said Mayor Ralph Moore. "As a city that is progressive and has a positive future, we are transitioning to a more functional facility people of all ages can enjoy." The Department hopes to move into its new home in October. The new center will be located at Mayors' Park one block south of City Hall between Watson Street and the railroad. The new multipurpose Community Center will sit on the site currently occupied by the Fred Etris Community Building. The Etris Community Building, named after a former mayor, was built in the late '70s. The City paid approximately $10,000 for the building of the center and Fulton County provided prison inmate labor to help build it. "Although very small, it has served a great purpose to the community," said Carter. The building is primarily utilized for family gatherings. The new center will have, according to Carter, a "large area which can be partitioned off to make smaller rooms, smaller rooms for activities such as crafts and dance lessons and will house the Recreation Department staff." The 10,085 ft. center will have a conference room, an aerobics room, two classrooms, a kitchen, a small and large craft room, a large screened porch, storage and administrative offices. The center is being funded by a bond issue approved by Union City residents in 1997.
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