By Lara Mosely [email protected]

paragould gym water damageThe Paragould Community Center gym is closed until further notice due to water damage.

Pat Austin, parks and recreation director for the city, said Monday that the damage was caused by melted ice during the last ice storm in March. She said a large pile of ice laid against the building that took awhile to thaw. The water flowed under the gym floor.

She came back from a three week vacation and was shown a large hump that had developed on the gym floor. Because of multiple gym obligations at the time, the floor couldn’t be repaired.

The last date the gym was used was Sunday, June 14. It was closed the next day.

Sports Floors Inc., out of Memphis, Tenn., which was recommended to Austin by the insurance adjuster, came Friday night and started cutting the floor. They cut 2,200 square feet before she had them stop.

“We stopped so the adjuster can see that each cut is still wet,” said Austin.

She is scheduled to meet with Sports Floors representatives, the insurance adjuster, and the local insurance agent Wednesday to discuss what needs to be done.

Austin said she doesn’t know how long the gym will be closed right now.

“If we’re going to do it now, we’re going to do it correctly,” she said.

Other damage includes the back hallway behind the gym and a racquetball court.

The walking track above the gym is still open.

The community center opened in 2005.