×

Community center launches website

ELKINS — To provide easy access to information about exciting events offered at the Phil Gainer Community Center, a website was officially launched Thursday.

Facility manager Chris Lee said, “The website is designed to be very user-friendly. We want people in the community to know what’s going on here at the community center, and if they don’t know we want them to be able to easily find out.”

The website offers visitors a regularly updated weekly schedule, a calendar of public events, youth participation and third-party vendor forms and also allows users to make rental requests online.

“This will make it easier for our potential clients to find out more about our venue when planning their event, and it will give them the opportunity to request a rental online, without contacting the facility,” Lee said. “We’ll then review and respond to the request before moving forward with our standard rental procedures.”

The website also includes rental rates, a gallery and information about ongoing and upcoming PGCC functions.

“I’ve fielded many questions over the course of the last year concerning our procedures, regulations, rates and facility capabilities,” Lee said.

“I believe this website will help streamline the informational-gathering process, while providing clear and consistent communication about what we do and how we do it.”

In 2014, the city of Elkins purchased the building, located on Robert E. Lee Avenue, that had previously served as the Elkins National Guard Armory.

In 2016, the Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission began overseeing the newly remodeled facility — the Elkins Recreation and Event Center.

The facility was later renamed the Phil Gainer Community Center in honor of the longtime EPRC director who played a pivotal role in the expansion of Elkins Parks and Recreation throughout the course of his life, Lee said.

“We’re a community center now — and with the rededication ceremony coming up July 15 — it’s essential that we provide access for the community to learn more about some of the community-centric programming we plan on implementing in the near future — I believe this website can provide that access,” Lee said.

A rededication ceremony that will be open to the public is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. on July 15.

The updated facility includes a 10,000-square-foot multi-purpose room, which is lined for a variety of sports and is complete with a stage area, a meeting room and fully functional kitchen.

“I’m most excited about the ability to keep the community up-to-date on the goings-on here at the community center. We’ve facilitated some great events for different groups in the last year, and organized a few pretty good ones ourselves,” Lee said. “It will be nice to keep everyone up-to-date on recurring functions while announcing new programs and events.”

Anyone with additional questions or suggestions can contact Lee directly by accessing the “contact us” tab on the center’s website at philgainercommunitycenter.com or by calling 304-635-7151.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today