Parks and recreation reports: ice rink closed for July; community center roof damage under review

South Charleston’s Parks and Recreation staff told the City Council on Monday that several summer program changes and a building repair are underway.

Recreation staff said the ice rink will be closed for the month of July while crews remove the ice and repair the rink boards. Staff announced the Kevin Jones basketball camp in July at the recreation center and said the South Charleston Library plans free stories and songs at the Washington District Community Center on Fridays starting July 11. The speaker described those library events as similar to the ice-rink “Totsicles” program.

Staff also described a roofing failure at the Washington District Community Center that occurred the day of the meeting. The speaker said an outside layer of the roof “broke away from the beam” on the pool side of the building and that the city has contacted BirdAir, the company that installed the roof, and the city’s insurance carrier. City staff said BirdAir will evaluate the damage and will “get back with us on Monday” with a recommended course of action. Staff said the structure is not expected to close unless further weather causes additional damage; they added that whether the structural beam is compromised will determine the scope of repairs.

Other items included a Kanawha County American Job Center event on July 14 at “the mound,” with a related speed-hiring event planned the following day at the recreation center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; organizers expect about “300 and some folks” to attend. Staff also noted a Little League state tournament will start the following day, with 11 teams participating.

Council members asked follow-up questions about timing and contractor availability; staff said BirdAir may need to fly in crews and that out-of-town specialists will be required if the beam is damaged.