East Side of Gym after Restoration
Just about everyone has heard that the gym is being refurbished. The Clover Bend Historical Preservation Association applied for and received a matching grant last year from the Arkansas Department of Heritage. There was a matching requirement and the CBHPA applied for a Federal grant from the United States Parks Department. The way the grants were envisioned was that the state grant would be used the first year and the federal grant would cover the "matching" requirements. The federal grant would be obligated the second year of the project and the remaining state money would “match” the federal grant. The first phase, which was the exterior of the gymnasium, is finished. Today the gym looks amazingly like it did in 1940.
The second phase, which is the refurbishment of the interior of the gymnasium, is scheduled to get underway soon. There is a great deal to be done, including the repair of termite damage, floor refinishing, building a handicap bathroom and replacement of the other, non-handicap bathrooms in the building.
When work is complete on the gymnasium, the community will have a building for activities that will truly be a community center.
This gymnasium is one of two remaining like it in the state and is in far better condition than the other one. The Arkansas Department of heritage said that this facility was a “true treasure”, which is why so much effort and money is going into restoring it.
The complete grant will be posted on the website if there is sufficient interest in seeing the details of the request and all the work to be done.
We are looking forward the completion of this project within the coming year. The inside of the gymnasium is going to look as new as the outside when the project if completed.
Following this short article are a few pictures of the interior and exterior of the gymnasium.
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East Side of Gym while it was being restored
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North side of gym being restored
North Side of gym after Restoration
West side of gym after restoration
South side of gym after restoration
