Metro Parks to demolish collapsed West Community Center gym; department seeks FY26 funds to replace facility

Metro Parks Director Odom told the Board of Parks and Recreation that the gym at West Community Center recently collapsed and that demolition will begin this week in two phases, with a subsequent structural engineering review to recover contents and guide reconstruction work.

What the department said: Director Odom said the demolition will proceed in two phases: first to remove the unstable gym structure and then to work with a structural engineer to determine whether portions of the building remain safe enough to retrieve contents before completing demolition. She said the department’s FY 2026 capital improvement requests include a proposal to replace West Community Center.

Budget context: Odom told the board the parks department has about $6,700,000 in the mayor’s recommended FY‑26 budget and said the department is hopeful that funding will be included in the final adopted budget. She described the West Community Center replacement as a budget priority and said the department plans to pursue the project through the capital process later in the year.

Program continuity and timing: Director Odom said the department will manage demolition and content recovery with staff and engineers; she did not provide a construction timeline or a firm replacement budget at the meeting. The department also reported other operational items: the summer enrichment program began with about 3,000 enrolled children and Warner Park Nature Center programs beginning in June.

What to watch for: Metro Parks staff will return with demolition updates, structural findings and any formal capital project proposals tied to the FY‑26 capital request process.