Grovetown's new community center nears completion

Grovetown residents have spent their last Fourth of July celebration suffering in the heat.

Mayor Dennis Trudeau said next year's annual celebration, which is typically plagued by hot summer weather, will be held in the city's newest community center, which is under construction.

Is he looking forward to the first July Fourth spent indoors? "There's no doubt about that," Trudeau said.

The recreation building under construction at Liberty Park is about two months away from completion, said Wayne Newman, Grovetown's Public Works director.

"I get a report every week, and the last one I got said it was 53 percent completed," Newman said.

The park on Newmantown Road already has a walking track with exercise stations and four baseball fields.

City officials designed the combination gymnasium and multipurpose building to include an indoor basketball court, a fitness or weight room and a few offices and meeting rooms in addition to restrooms, storage and a kitchen.

Project contractor David Fahrion, of Kirby Fahrion and Associates Inc., of Grovetown, broke ground on the project in mid-March. Newman said the building's framing and metal walls are complete, along with the electrical and plumbing work. Fixtures and flooring still need to be added, and outside projects including the parking lot are needed.

"(Kirby Fahrion and Associates) said they would make their October deadline," Newman said of the projected mid-October completion date. "It's coming along."