An exterior view of the Fort Oglethorpe Field House is shown.The old machine shop on 64th Street in Fort Oglethorpe was piling up with dust and spare parts before the city turned it into a fully functioning gymnasium complete with a scoreboard, concession stand and bleachers.
The city has been working on this project for decades, trying to make a space for kids to play in the winter months, but debating on location and prices, said City Manager Jennifer Payne-Simpkins.
Ultimately, the city signed an intergovernmental agreement with Catoosa County to gain access to county property located in Fort Oglethorpe. Supplemented by money from special local purpose option sales tax (SPLOST) cycles, with Catoosa kicking in some of its own SPLOST funds, the city had $1.2 million to create a space where kids and families could escape the cold and play.
“It’s something we’ve needed for a long time,” Payne-Simpkins said.
Having just celebrated its grand opening Jan. 6, the gym is already being used seven days a week, she said.