By Sarah Richardson
The City of White Sulphur Springs discussed some details for the incoming Greenbrier Valley Activities Center at their latest meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at City Hall. Mayor Bruce Bowling said they are still fundraising for the project, and are eager to meet their goals.
The council unanimously voted to approve an ordinance establishing the committee/board for the center, which will begin by overseeing and managing the initial construction phases of the project. There are a total of seven seats on the commission, with Mayor Bruce Bowling acting at the presiding officer. The other six seats are filled by Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation Executive Director Anne Bowling-Tuckwiller, WVSOM President James Nemitz, Thomas Crabtree, Dan Evans, Maggie Hutchison, and Warren May.
City Council also voted to approve entering a memorandum of understanding with the Greenbrier Valley Community Center on behalf of the new center to help with planning, fundraising, construction, and possible maintenance of the facility.
The new family activity center is a collaboration between the City of White Sulphur Springs, a passionate volunteer board, and the Greenbrier Valley Community Foundation, together with support from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. Their vision is “to create a modern investment in the health of our community encompassing mind, body, and spirit,” with a goal to “make the Greenbrier Valley the healthiest community in West Virginia” and attract new residents and businesses to the area.
The new facility will be located at Dick Gunnoe Memorial Park, between the parking lot and the football field, which will be bumped away from the parking lot to make room for the new building. The 25,000 square foot structure isn’t the only addition to the park, however. Plans are underway for outdoor basketball courts, a new playground, outdoor pickleball courts, an accessible fishing trail off of the jogging path, an outdoor deck and activity area, and a new bicycle obstacle course located between Greenbrier Avenue and Howards Creek.
The new activity center building will have space for basketball, softball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, batting cages, a running track, table games, and bicycling. It will also have a lobby space for afterschool programs, educational classes provided by WVSOM, community health training, and more.
These plans aren’t the only recent health-conscious additions to the park, as the Community Wellness Center and swimming pool opened their doors to the public just earlier this year with exercise equipment, locker rooms and changing rooms for the pool, and more.
In other news:
- Council approved an American Rescue Plan (ARP) Committee, who will help distribute funds allotted from the government designated as “recovery funds,” such as the recent funding awarded to the city for stormwater and roadway repair. The Committee is made up of Karen Wise, Mark Gillespie, Kathy Glover, Barbara Wooding, Jeff Morris, and David Dillion. There are 11 project ideas being reviewed currently, but the committee welcomes community input and feedback for projects. There are guidelines and criteria that must be met for these projects, but some areas that the funds may be used include those dealing with project safety, city revenue replacement, and other areas.
- Council voted to approve two $1,000 Youth Funding Applications, one for WSS Pee Wee Basketball and one for Spa City Soccer.