BEAUFORT, S.C. (March 4, 2024) -- It’s time to celebrate the Charles Lind Brown Center! Located at 1001 Hamar Street in Beaufort, the Charles Lind Brown Center has undergone extensive renovations to enhance its facilities and better serve residents of Beaufort’s Northwest Quadrant. An open house to showcase the improvements will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, and the public is invited to attend.
The Charles Lind Brown Center Task Force convened in 2021 to make the case for substantial improvements to the rec center. The Task Force, with support from the City of Beaufort, partnered with Beaufort County to achieve extensive renovations that give the venerable building a new jolt of energy.
With an estimated $520,000 in improvements since 2021, the Charles Lind Brown Center now offers updated facilities and spaces for residents to engage in a variety of recreational activities and programming.
Members of the Task Force, which include City Councilman Mitch Mitchell, and staff from Beaufort County’s Parks and Recreation and Capital Improvements Departments, will be on hand to conduct tours of the facility at the open house.
“Thanks to the help of many, our restoration project at the Charles Lind Brown Community Center has made significant progress,” said City Councilman Mitch Mitchell. “I am anticipating with excitement the feedback we receive at the Open House on March 16.”
Interior transformations
- Complete repainting: The entire interior has been revitalized with fresh paint.
- Ceiling renewal: The interior ceilings have been renewed.
- New flooring: The introduction of new luxury vinyl tile flooring throughout the building ensures durability.
- Multipurpose spaces: Former spaces, like the workout room, have been repurposed into a new yoga studio. The basketball court, now also used for pickleball, has been repainted.
- Enhanced gym facilities: A new weightlifting room with state-of-the-art equipment and rubberized flooring has been added.
- Updated restrooms: Gym restrooms and workout room ceilings have been stripped and repainted, and all classroom-side bathrooms have been renovated to meet ADA requirements.
- New kitchens: Two fully renovated kitchens, including one next to the cafeteria, provide improved facilities for various activities and events.
- Additional spaces: New classrooms, a game and recreational room, and a studio next to the court have been created for enhanced programming.
Exterior improvements
- New HVAC System
- Drainage System: An engineered drainage system on the pool deck prevents flooding, ensuring a safe environment.
- Fencing: New fencing adds security around the playground area.
- Roof upgrades: Roof drainage has been updated to include trench drains and ensuring better runoff. Leaks were repaired.
- Playground enhancement: The playground area has been renovated, featuring new equipment for local families to enjoy.
Still to come
- Additional upgrades: Ongoing projects include gym bathroom renovations, new scoreboards, new basketball goals, a new gym floor, and updated office wire glass.
- Aesthetic enhancements: Painting the exterior façade and adding an awning to the front entry sidewalk are on the way.
- County projects: A new stormwater project and the replacement of existing slides are on the horizon.
The Charles Lind Brown Center, also familiarly known as the Greene Street Gym, was a frequent gathering place for youth and adults in the Northwest Quarter. Beaufort County has managed the center since the 1990s. To get as much public input as possible, the Charles Lind Brown Task Force distributed a survey in mid-2021 to neighborhood residents and shared it online to gather suggestions on improvements.
For questions about the improvements, please call Beaufort County capital improvements 843-255-2707. This press release is being sent out on behalf of Beaufort County and the City of Beaufort.
Photo: Members of the Task Force and staff from Beaufort County.
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