Community center renovations lead to complaints

HURRICANE, W.Va. -- Renovations to the Valley Park Community Center has led to some complaints to the Putnam County Parks and Recreation district.

Donor-engraved bricks at the center are being removed to help improve the facility's decor and make it more marketable for events like weddings.

Parks Director Scott Williamson says the changes are based on complaints from people renting the facility about the lack of spaces appropriate for indoor photography, especially for wedding events. The engraved plaques will not be lost forever. The parks district is adding a plaque arrangement displaying bronze tags inside the center.

"So not only are the donors going to be recognized on the inside of the building, but also on the outside, which offers those original contributors double the attention," Williamson said.

The community center opened in 1991 and donations helped keep the cost of the building in the parks district budget. Hurricane Woman's Club President Rosalie Thomas said bricks were sold for $100 each for the project.

"We promised those who purchased them that they were to be a permanent addition to the building and would be displayed as a memorial to all who contributed to making this center become a reality," Thomas said in a prepared release.