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Rec centers on track to open
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Forsyth County News

Forsyth County’s two new recreation centers will open this month as scheduled.

The center at the future Old Atlanta Park will debut Feb. 15, while the Fowler Park center is set for Feb. 20.

Construction will finish "on time" and "under budget," said Jerry Kinsey, the county’s director of parks and recreation.

"It’s about 98 percent done, just a little cleaning and touch-up work and it’ll be ready," Kinsey said. "I think people are going to enjoy them. They’re two great centers."

Both facilities are in south Forsyth. Each will be about 42,000 square feet and feature two gymnasiums, a walking track, exercise rooms and office space.

Winter Construction was awarded the contract for the facilities, estimated to cost about $9.9 million, though the total should be less, Kinsey said.

The funding came from the parks, recreation and green space bond voters approved in 2008, as well as impact fees charged to developers.

The Old Atlanta Recreation Center is on property at Nichols and Old Atlanta roads that also was purchased through the bond referendum.

The green space park on the site is expected to open in June.

Nearly a year since it debuted, Fowler Park at Castleberry Road and Highway 9 will be home to the Fowler Recreation Center.

Staff will begin the move to the new locations this Friday, as the Sharon Springs Park office will close permanently.

Kinsey said the facility will be used for storage and as office space for the maintenance manager.

Next week, department staff will go through training in preparation for opening the centers, he said.

The department hired two additional athletic coordinators and two more maintenance workers — "one for each center," Kinsey said.

The county currently has one recreation center, which is at Central Park on Keith Bridge Road in north Forsyth.

Programs and classes at the Fowler and Old Atlanta centers will begin in mid-March, as will a new offering for those interested in fitness.

Laura Pate, recreation program supervisor, outlined in an e-mail the three pass options, which allow for unlimited access to exercise and weight rooms, certain fitness classes or both.

"Passes can be purchased for one visit, three months, six months and one year," Pate wrote. "The passes will be good to use at all three county recreation centers."

Prices and schedules will be available soon at the rec centers, online and in the activity guide.

In addition to current classes offered, some new programs include music classes, jiujutsu, jump rope clinics, driving classes for teens, homeschool gymnastics and a program for adults with special needs, Pate wrote.

New and existing instructors will teach classes at the three locations.