Renovated Harris gym still a work in progress

Athletic coordinator Jakob Stephens, parks and recreation director Sylvia Pinson and parks foreman Aaron West are inviting the public out to see the progress and contribute their vision for Central Memorial Gym at the old Harris Middle School on Elm Street. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

An open house will take place Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. so the public can take a look at what's been done and perhaps chip in with ideas of their own.

A variety of activities will be going on, such as basketball and pitching, but the main focus is to ask citizens to take a look at what has been done so far and give their own suggestions.

"We're ready to go, but not quite," Sylvia Pinson, director of Shelbyville's parks and recreation department, said about the historic structure.

All that is needed is some more paint to complete work on the gym itself, and there are some other items on Pinson's punch list, too.

The building has special meaning for Pinson -- it's where she played for the Shelbyville Golden Eaglettes during their first state championship season in 1964 -- so she is excited about the old building's potential.

But to take a look at the progress so far, much has already been done.

An agreement between the city and Bedford County, which was made in January, allows the recreation department to use the old gym as long as it continues to be renovated.

In May, Aaron West, foreman for the parks department and athletic coordinator Jakob Stephens moved their offices to the facility and it was through their work, funding from the Shelbyville budget and private donations that the gym and other rooms are moving closer to being able to be utilized once again.

City funds were used to stop a leaking roof and to install fire alarm equipment to bring the 1954-vintage building up to code, and the public works department did some electrical work as well, but now Pinson says she hopes the public pitches in, too.

"We need some more community help," Pinson said.

A "visioning" session already took place in February, with Mayor Wallace Cartwright, council member Kay Rose, members of the city's park board and others developing a concept of using the building for a community activity center.

Stephens said the gym has been used for basketball practice for the past five years, but Harris Middle has been using it for baseball and softball practice and batting cages have been placed on the upper level of the gym that will be rented out in the future.

There are plans for youth league basketball to be played in the gym this year, Stephens said, as well as plans for indoor soccer and using two areas in the old building for meeting rooms.

"It would be more of a community center than anything else," Stephens explained, adding that it could be used for special events.

Pinson added that a lot of fee-based programs could operate out of the facility too.

Also, the local Boys and Girls Club has asked Pinson if there would be an opportunity to share use. She is hoping that a future partnership can help the department continue with the operation of the gym.

In the rear of the building, nearly all the doors open up to the Elm Street Sports Complex, made up of outdoor sports fields used for practice by various groups.

Painting and plumbing has already been completed in the old locker rooms and showers in the lower levels of the gym, and the building's old band room has also been worked on, where Pinson and Stephens see "a lot of possibilities."

Of course, the colors of the Golden Eagles and Eaglettes were kept during the repainting. Some additions are yet to be made, such as access ramps for the disabled.

Pinson also admits she has a vision of using the foyer of the gym as a Bedford County sports hall of fame, saying that the gym "would highlight a lot of people who have done well in sports."

CHILI FUNDRAISER

A chili fundraiser will be held Saturday, Nov. 14 from 4 to 6 p.m. with proceeds to go toward further renovation of Central Memorial Gym. For tickets and more information about the chili fund raiser, call Shelbyville Recreation Center at 684-9780 or Central Memorial Gym at 684-5120.