By Lara Mosley [email protected]
The Paragould Community Center Gym is in the finishing stages of repairs.
Workers from Sports Floors Inc., out of Memphis, Tenn., started laying the new floor Friday afternoon.
“We’re looking at a good two weeks to a month,” said Pat Austin, parks and recreations director for the city, when asked when the gym will be be completed.
She said after the floor is put down, it will have to be sanded and sealed to match the existing floor. About 2,900 square feet of the floor is being replaced.
The gym floor was damaged in the aftermath of winter weather earlier this year. Ice that had accumulated on the side of the building melted and water flowed under the gym floor. The gym has been closed since late June.
Austin said the asphalt against the building has been taken out and replaced with gravel in hopes the water won’t stand there. A french drain along the side of the building has also been installed.
“We think we have cured the problem for the future,” she said.
Paragould Mayor Mike Gaskill said he believes the drain works because no water has been found on the exposed gym floor despite the recent rainfall.