MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Depot personnel laced up their sneakers and hit the court of the completely revamped War Memorial Gym March 3, after Col. Michael Malachowsky, Depot Chief of Staff, and Ben King, Director of Marine Corps Community Services-South Carolina, cut the ribbon to the new gym, unveiling the improvements within.
The gym, aptly named when it was built after World War II, had been in use for more than 50 years, and was in dire need of a facelift, said Bill Brown, athletic director for the Combat Fitness Center, who set to work refurbishing the gym two years ago.
Anyone who had ever used the old gym, with its tattered floor, peeling paint and unserviceable lighting, would have agreed that it was time for a change.
"The whole floor had to be replaced and refinished, and the walls had to be painted," said King, who added that the gym was previously used as an auditorium for recruit training in the early 1950's. "It also needed new basketball goals and new seating."
Giving the gym a complete facelift, which included repainting all the walls, installing new lighting, bleachers, basketball goals and a brand-new floor, cost approximately $880,000, according to Brown.
"It's totally improved - the Marines have a great new facility here," said Lt. Cmdr. Charles Mendoza, Depot Public Works officer. "The detail they did on the floor is outstanding."
In addition to the new gym, MCCS-SC representatives are also looking forward to two new racquetball courts and a cardiovascular room, which are expected to be completed sometime between May and August, added Mendoza.
The new gym, which features enough bleachers to accommodate more than 600 people, can be used for basketball and volleyball, indoor circuit courses, as well as group aerobics.
The nearly two years it took to renovate the gym were well worth the wait, according to Fitness Center patrons.
"This is the best basketball court I've seen, and I've been in a ton of military facilities and military gyms," said Malachowsky, who was already eager to use the new court to shoot some hoops. "This basketball court is the exact same court that the Atlanta Basketball Team has, so this is state-of-the-art. It's going to mean a lot to our Marines and everybody else who is going to use the facility."
Anyone who wishes to use the new gym is advised to make an appointment before use. Also, gym users may only wear athletic shoes and must carry them in separately, so as to avoid tracking in outside dirt and debris.
War Memorial Gym hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 5 a.m.- 9 p.m.;
Saturday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
To schedule an appointment, call the Combat Fitness Center at 228-1579.