East Columbus gym set to reopen after storm repairs

East Columbus Gym will reopen Wednesday, June 17, at 10 a.m., bringing a repaired neighborhood gathering place back into use after months of storm damage and construction. The facility at 222 Lawrence Drive will return with a new paint job, a new floor and a new roof.

For Ward 2 Councilman Roderick Smith, the building is more than a place to shoot baskets. He has said the gym is an outlet for young people in his ward and a safe place for them to spend time, a role that has only grown more important as summer approaches and parents look for places where children can stay active.

The need for repairs became clear after storm damage caused the roof to leak, which then damaged the floor below. Nathan Katona, the city’s building department director, said the roofing work had to move through insurance because the damage was storm-related. Smith said the roof had been up since the 1970s, and by February some floor sections had begun buckling.

City contractors were already working on the roof by Feb. 17, and floor renovations were set to begin March 9. By March 30, the new roof and floor had been installed, and city leaders were planning to add fresh paint and wall padding before reopening the building to the public.

The reopening restores access to a site that serves several needs at once. Along with the gymnasium, the property includes a walking track, outdoor pavilion and playground. The city’s parks and recreation department says its mission is to improve residents’ quality of life through leisure activities and recreational programs, and the East Columbus site has long fit that charge in practical ways.

The gym has also mattered beyond sports and exercise. It is listed as Ward 2’s polling location, and in 2019 the city used the building to help emergency management agencies accept applications for storm-damage assistance after the Feb. 23 tornado that caused millions of dollars in public-property damage and affected more than 300 homes and businesses in Columbus.

The city council approved about $22,116 in ARPA money for East Columbus Gym improvements in 2022, including repainting, new signs, landscaping and a stage. A city official said then that 40 to 50 people used the facility daily. With the roof, floor and paint now refreshed, city leaders are betting the gym can once again serve as a stable place for recreation, community contact and neighborhood recovery.