Aiken's Smith-Hazel Recreation Center will reopen soon. The center should be open within a month, Aiken City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said Aug. 28.
The center and adjacent park are located in the block surrounded by Kershaw Street, Hampton Avenue, Sumter Street and Abbeville Avenue . It opened in 1963 and is named after two residents, Josie Hazel and Jason Smith, who worked to get a pool for the city's Black children in the 1950s. A chicken plant was to be built on a property north of Aiken.
Instead, a subdivision will be built there. There may have been a few superficial upgrades to the center but the building has remained largely untouched. And the center's restrooms were not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the center's basketball floor hasn't been changed in 40 years.
The city closed the center in December to make upgrades. Aiken City Councilwoman Gail Diggs said she recently toured the renovated facility. People have tried to break into the Hotel Aiken three times in August.
Here's what we know. The center is located in District 1. Diggs represents the district on the Aiken City Council.
"I just wanted to let y'all know, y'all will not be disappointed," she said at the Aug. 26 Aiken City Council meeting. "The upgrades on that building, it is beautiful.
" Facebook owner Meta selects Aiken County for first South Carolina data center An Aiken teacher is now able to walk again thanks to a device that controls her movements A chicken plant was to be buil.