St. Albans opens McKinley Community Center, officials say it will boost youth programs and local businesses

St. Albans held a ribbon-cutting to open the McKinley Community Center, the repurposed gymnasium and athletic facilities of the former McKinley Middle School, city officials said.

Kevin Pennington, superintendent of St. Albans Parks and Recreation, told attendees the center will provide supervised after-school hours and programming for children: “Saint Albans now has a community center,” Pennington said, noting open gym hours "from 3 to 5 p.m." and weekly uses that already include elementary school basketball, travel teams and a roller-derby group.

The center is intended to expand indoor recreation options and host larger events for the city. "This is a great day for Saint Albans," Mayor Scott James said, thanking the Kanawha County Board of Education and facilities manager Andrew Crawford for their roles in converting the building. James outlined plans for daytime pickleball courts and potential flag-football leagues to make better use of the gym and the adjacent ball fields.

A Kanawha County Board of Education representative, speaking on behalf of the board, said the district regrets school consolidations but supported the reuse of the building amid declining enrollment and the need to steward taxpayer dollars. The representative praised city leaders and school officials for arranging the transfer and making the facility available to the community.

Jared Page, vice mayor and president of the St. Albans Area Chamber of Commerce, said early bookings for AAU practices and tournaments are already bringing visitors who patronize local restaurants and shops. "When people come here for this facility ... they're going to our restaurants," Page said, arguing the center can help attract repeat visitors to town.

Officials said the city is tracking revenue from rentals and events and is considering hiring a full-time staff position for the center if income supports the role in the coming months. Pennington described family-focused events planned for the site, including inflatables and free pizza for children during the opening festivities.

The ribbon-cutting proceeded with city leaders, school officials and chamber representatives onstage to mark the center's opening. Organizers said programming and scheduling will continue to expand as the city refines operations and assesses community needs.