Apr 17, 2016 3 min read

It was good to see plans by the Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation finally come to fruition as groundbreaking ceremonies were held last week for construction of a public recreation center.

The 60,000-square-foot building, which will be named the EQT REC Center after its primary sponsor, is being built at the EverGreene Technology Park in Franklin Township.

The building will have enough space for an indoor soccer field, basketball court, fitness center, walking and jogging track, and multi-purpose rooms for meetings, events and exercise and educational classes.

The recreation center will surely be a benefit to the people of Greene County, providing a place not only where they can go to keep fit but also gather for events and programs.

“I’m sure it will become a point of pride for the citizens of Greene County,” foundation Board President Sheila Stewart said during the groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday morning.

We commend the foundation board and David Jones, the foundation’s executive director, for their foresight and efforts to see the project through to this point.

As we have noted before, the idea of a public recreation center fits the foundation’s mission to a T.

The foundation was formed in 2005 with proceeds from the sale of Greene County Memorial Hospital to Essent Healthcare. Its mission is to support programs with an emphasis on health care.

To that end, the foundation has provided grant money to other nonprofit organizations to help operate summer youth camps, provide first aid and health care training and purchase athletic equipment and equipment needed by local volunteer fire companies.

The recreation center project initially faced a major setback, when plans to build the center on Oakview Drive, across from the Waynesburg Lions Club Park in Franklin Township, had to be brought to a halt and a new site found because of issues regarding the Oakview Drive site.

Those who have contributed money to make the project possible also should be commended. The foundation is using some of its own money for the project, but wishing to continue to fund local programs at its current level, it also began a fundraising campaign for the center.

EQT Corp., obviously, has come through to support the project in a big way. During the groundbreaking ceremony, Jones also read a list of many of the other contributors. It was good to hear the names of so many county residents and county businesses that are supporting the project.

So far, Jones said, the foundation has raised about $1.6 million for its $2 million campaign, so there is still time for others to jump on board.

The foundation, as well as those who have given to the cause, are to be congratulated for what they have done in getting the project to the construction stage.

The center is expected to be completed by the end of the year. It will be exciting to see the result, and take advantage of the fitness opportunities available there once its doors open.