Legislators on hand as Greene County Wellness Center officially opens
Bennie Heath, chairman of the Greene County Commissioners, gets ready to cut the ribbon to officially open the Greene County Wellness Center. Photo by Rudy Coggins / Neuse News
SNOW HILL - Don Davis stepped onto the basketball court.
A shiny glass backboard hung from the ceiling just a few feet away.
"I'm so excited, I believe I'm going to dust off my shoes and challenge the [Greene County] commissioners to a game of basketball," said Davis, state senator for North Carolina District 5.
"I'm going to keep score," said commissioner Susan Blizzard.
A crowd of about 100 people laughed and clapped their approval.
Hard work, perseverance and a collaborative spirit helped turn a blueprint, drawn in July of 2015, into the Greene County Wellness Center. The facility, located on the Greene County Recreation Complex, officially opened late last week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and casual tour.
"Thanks to everyone who made this day a reality," said Bennie Heath, chairman of the Greene County Commissioners. "There were so many parts to the puzzle, so much hard work invested in this project. We built this facility with the vision for improving the services for our citizens.
A workout room is just one of the many amenities that Greene County residents can enjoy when they visit the Greene County Wellness Center.
"We're proud of this state-of-the-art facility and highly encourage its use."
Heath thanked his fellow commissioners and recognized several legislators who attended the grand opening. County Manager Kyle DeHaven acknowledged private donors and the architects who helped make the four-year project a success.
Life-long friends Tommy Rouse and James "Rabbit" Fulghum never imagined their casual conversation about building a community center would come to fruition. They knew members of the community needed a gathering space, a place for children to play and a serene atmosphere where they could relax and unwind.
The idea seemed practical for a county of 22,000 residents.
Local government officials, along with Davis, carved a pathway to get the center built. They submitted an application to the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources (NCDNR) and received a grant worth $500,000 from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.
Two previous grants boosted the total to nearly $700,000. All totaled, the center has a $3-million price tag.
"This facility, and this recreation complex, will build and strengthen this community for decades to come," said D. Reid Wilson, chief deputy secretary of the NCDCR.
"You now have healthy outdoor and indoor exercise opportunities. You have places for people to meet. You have spaces for people to pursue the arts. This will be a very popular spot, a place that will make people happy and proud to live in Greene County."
The 27,000-square-foot center has a meeting/classroom space, workout area, gym/auditorium that seats 400-plus spectators, baseball/softball batting cages, stage, locker rooms with showers, concession stand, restrooms and a welcome desk in the lobby. It is part of an 86-acre complex that includes three baseball fields, a football field and soccer pitch.
"Wow," said Rouse, who founded the Rouse Family Foundation.
"I saw this place a year ago and never envisioned it looking quite like this. It's where we can bring communities together through sports and information [gatherings]. I'm proud of what you folks have done here and I'm proud to be part of it."
The center should enhance proactivity and behavorial health in the county.
"This is a great day for Greene County," said Davis. "When we all come together, pull our resources together, pull our support together, we can get it done."
