Construction Set To Begin Soon At John Davis Rec
Tuesday, February 13th, 2024
The John Davis Recreation Center has been the heart of Dalton's parks and recreation system for generations. Construction will begin soon on a project that will re-imagine the facility and restore it to its place as headquarters of Dalton's parks for decades to come.
"When we charted out on the conceptual design of the project, we knew that this would be what we call an institution-type project – a structure that we want to continue serving the community for 75 years at least," said Andrew Parker, Dalton's City Administrator. "So, it’s designed from that standpoint. As programming changes over the next few decades, the building will be adaptable to support any type of programming that might come from the Rec Department.
Caption: An artist's rendering shows what the John Davis Recreation Center will look like when construction is completed in summer/fall 2025
The facility's gym was demolished last year to make way for new construction on the site, while the adjoining building that housed meeting spaces and administrative offices remains standing. Work will begin soon to construct a new gymnasium with a basketball court as well as other amenities. Renovations to the existing building are also planned, with new multi-use spaces similar to the meeting rooms at the Mack Gaston Community Center that will be available to the public and civic groups. There will also be new facilities built around the existing pool, with a new entry building and new locker facilities as well as a new storage building to house equipment.
"Our long term goal is not just for the John Davis Center but for the overall James Brown Park (which is home to the rec center) to be a more comprehensive park that the community can use," Parker said. "It’s real segmented right now because Mill Creek bisects the tract. So, we’re going to be looking at things like sidewalk connectivity all throughout the park and even more potential recreational opportunities over on the east side of the park that faces Avenue C. That’s one of the two sites that we’re studying right now for (a new facility for) pickleball, but even if that’s not selected for pickleball there’s a desire to look at what that unutilized green space can be used for in terms of just park amenities."
Parker recently updated the Mayor and Council on the status of the project which has been moving along at a rapid pace behind the scenes. The final plans have been delivered by the project architect, Gregg Sims, and approved by City leaders. Those plans are now being reviewed by the various permitting authorities that must sign off on the project before construction, including the Building Inspector's Office, the Fire Marshall, etc. The construction manager on the project, Felker Construction, is expected to bid out the project for competitive proposals in March and final budgets for the project will be finalized in April. City leaders hope that construction will begin in the spring.
Caption: An artist's rendering shows an aerial view of the John Davis Recreation Center complex, with a view of newly constructed pool facilities adjacent to the existing swimming pool as well as the new gym structure
"The project has really developed at full speed," Parker said. "It’s a project that’s going to take probably 12 to 18 months to construct. We’re really hoping that it can be done in a year so everything can be back open and in full operation next summer, but we still may be putting some finishing touches on the project in the summer next year depending on how the construction progress evolves."
Parker told the Mayor and Council during a recent work session that the current budget outlook for the project is approximately $12 million, a figure that includes the pool building as well as all furniture, fixtures, and equipment. That figure is higher than originally planned in the 2020 SPLOST measure that is funding the project, but that shortfall has been addressed by re-allocating funds from the 2021 bond issue and also excess collections from the SPLOST.
"As we’ve seen in the last four years after the pandemic, costs have just appreciated due to material availabilities and workforce issues throughout the world and we’re seeing those same issues here in Dalton," Parker noted during his presentation on February 5th.
One new amenity that will be built at the new John Davis Recreation Center is a climbing wall that will be built into the south side of the building.
"One of the things that we're very excited about is the incorporation of the rock climbing wall actually on the side of the building with all of the proper safety equipment," Parker said. "That is a component that will be staffed by the Parks and Recreation Department. It will not be able to be used unless there is a staff person overseeing it."
Parker also showed the council some renderings of what the project will look like once it is finished, complete with some digitally rendered vehicles parked outside.
"I'm not sure why they put all Mercedes in the parking lot, I think someone from out of town did this drawing," Parker quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.
