The Kedron Fieldhouse has re-opened following the June 21 fire that caused smoke and water damage to the facility.
The facility was only closed for several weeks while the gym floor was refinished, ceiling tiles were replaced, new carpet and ductwork was installed and new coats of paint were layered.
Now the facility is open again for classes and athletics including an all-sports youth camp, adult basketball, “mommy and me music classes” and more.
“We’re just kind of getting back into the swing of things and letting everybody know we’re pretty much wide open,” said city Recreation Director Cajen Rhodes.
To celebrate the re-opening, the recreation department is inviting the community to a “Citizen Appreciation Day” event Aug. 4 from 1-3 p.m. with free swim and gym access, Rhodes said. The city’s athletic associations and some class instructors will be on hand to share information about what they do and perhaps also conduct some demonstrations, he noted.
During the closure of the Fieldhouse, the city was able to host its adult volleyball and adult basketball programs at The Bridge community center at First Baptist Church of Peachtree City, which was very appreciated “and a tremendous help with our league play.”
The city also was able to move its volleyball camp to the Fayette County Recreation Department in Fayetteville last week, Rhodes added.
Rhodes said that Randy Daughtry at The Bridge was very accommodating in helping out the city, as was Fayette County Parks and Recreation Director Anita Godbee.
“They basically opened their doors up to us and said, ‘Come on over and run your camp,’ so that was a big help as well,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes said the recreation staff in particular appreciates the help from their county recreation partners and The Bridge as well.
“Our staff sees and understands the value in that,” Rhodes said. “It’s just been a really good experience. … We’ve always worked well with Fayette County Parks and Recreation and Randy at The Bridge has always been very accommodating.”
Other than the new interior renovations thanks to the fire, the city also took advantage of the work to the gym floor by finding money in the recreation operations budget to install the city’s “plan to stay” logo on both courts in the gym, Rhodes added.
Rhodes said he was very pleased with the rehabilitation work performed by the city’s insurance carrier, which was prompt in getting the job started and finished.
“We were very pleased with the service we received from them,” Rhodes said.
