Monroe County Commissioners Hold Groundbreaking for New Multi-Court Gymnasium at Recreation Department

Monroe County Commissioners held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the Monroe County Recreation Department to mark the beginning of construction of a new multi-court gymnasium.

The new 18,000+ square-foot gymnasium will be built by Forsyth-based Proform Construction at the site of the current outdoor basketball courts, which will be moved to an alternate location. The gym will feature two regulation-size basketball courts, four main basketball goals, eight side basketball goals, men's/women's restrooms, a small locker room, a concession stand, bleachers, an entrance hall, and additional parking. The project, which will cost about $2.8 million, is being paid for using funds from the county's 2020 bond dedicated to water and buildings.

District 1 Commissioner Lamarcus Davis, a former Monroe County Recreation Board member and volunteer youth sports coach, said a new gym has been "a long time coming." Commissioner Davis said gym space has long been an issue at the rec department, and this new gym will rectify the shortage.

Monroe County Recreation Director Landon Sparks said basketball participation has more than doubled in his six years as rec director all the way to about 300 participants this year. He said 30 youth teams presently practice and play games on one single gym floor, which is not ideal. Sparks said the new gym will also allow the rec department to offer other non-basketball opportunities, including bringing back the competition cheer showcase, which was temporarily discontinued.

Proform owner Robert Muckenfuss said his father was a member of the county's recreation board at the time the current gym, which will also continue to be used, was built. Muckenfuss said he's honored to continue his family's legacy of enhancing the county's recreation opportunities.

Commission Chairman Greg Tapley, Commissioner Davis, District 2 Commissioner Eddie Rowland, District 3 Commissioner John Ambrose, Monroe County Public Works Director Kimbel Stokes, Sparks, and Muckenfuss all shoveled the first batch of dirt as part of the official groundbreaking.