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Ralph
W.
Phillips
Center
renovated
Numerous renovations have been completed at
the Ralph W. Phillips Recreation and
Civic
Center
, making the former National Guard armory more comfortable for use
year-round.
The Greenfield Rotary Club spent
an estimated $60,000 to install a new heating and air conditioning
system, replace windows and renovate the building’s plumbing. Four new
restrooms were added, and an old storage area was converted into a new
classroom.
“This was a huge project,”
said Steve Pearce, former club president and a 19-year member of the rec
center board. “We called it the Money Pit.”
The building is used for a
variety of purposes, including dances, Christmas parties, community
events, youth basketball, church activities. It is also the home of the
Greenfield Head Start program, which uses the first floor of the
facility.
The latest improvements are a
continuation of gradual upgrading that has taken place over the years.
Through a grant given to Head Start, the building became handicap
accessible with the addition of a motorized chair lift at the bottom of
the stairs. The Rotary club has spent quite a bit of money on roofing
repairs and other maintenance to keep the rec center functioning.
Operating funds for the rec
center come mainly from rentals. The second floor (where the gymnasium
is located) is rented by individuals and groups, with the going rate
ranging from $15 per hour to a set fee for larger events. The price
depends somewhat on the type of use (personal, organization or
commercial).
“The city usually rents the
building during basketball season for little league basketball games and
practices,” Pearce noted. “It’s also used by men and women for
volleyball games or people who want to rent it for an hour or two to
play some basketball or some women’s aerobics classes.”
Prior to the renovation, the rec
center had no air conditioning, and the heating system sometimes left a
lot to be desired. The old temperature control system “really limited
the use of this space during the summer seasons,” Pearce said.
“We hope these renovations
will stimulate the use of the building,” Pearce added.
All money from rentals goes back
into the property sooner or later. “None of this would be possible
without the community support. The Rotary can’t do it alone, without
the donations from the community members,” Pearce said. “As long as
we get support we will keep maintaining the building.”
A
bit of history
The former armory was erected by
the state of
Ohio
in 1927, and when it was no longer needed as a National Guard armory the
property was sold to the Greenfield Jaycees, who ran it as a recreation
center for several years. David Moon, who was a member of both the
Jaycees and Rotary, was instrumental in convincing the state to sell the
facility to the Jaycees in 1975, and Moon helped coordinate the
center’s operation for many years. When the Jaycees organization
folded, the property was transferred to the Greenfield Rotary Club, with
Moon continuing to coordinate its usage.
Another major player in the
activities of the Greenfield Rotary Club and in the operation of the rec
center was Ralph W. Phillips. When Phillips became ill in 1998, the club
decided to honor him by naming the rec center after him.
For more information about
renting the Ralph W. Phillips Community Recreation and
Civic
Center
, call (937) 981-3188.
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