CHIEF LOGAN STATE PARK — The Logan County Commission is sick and tired of southern West Virginia residents being sick and tired.

Recently, West Virginia received the bad news that the state was ranked the third fattest in the nation. A report by The Trust for America’s Health said 31.1 percent of adults in West Virginia are obese and almost 68 percent are either obese or overweight.

So, the county commission and Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin convinced Gov. Joe Manchin to build a recreation center to give coal field residents a place where they can get healthy.

“Our people are the hardest working people in the nation, but I think they need a little workout schedule and that’s what we’re trying to give them through the rec center,” Logan County Commission President Art Kirkendoll said. “This is a wellness center, as well as a rec center. Our people just need to take a little better care of their bodies so they can live healthier lives. Through the rec center, we’re working hard to change West Virginia’s ranking.

“The first thing a doctor will tell you is to engage in a healthy workout routine and we will soon have a place where everyone can go to exercise and work out.”

That place — the Chief Logan Recreation Center — will open later this year, according to Rec Center Executive Director Tim McCoy. The building is currently under construction and McCoy said he would like to have it open and in use by October.

“Everything is really coming along well,” McCoy said as he entered the $5 million building.

The Logan County Commission will be responsible for maintaining the building and its programs and events, meaning the commission will have to generate nearly half a million dollars a year to run the facility, which will offer tennis courts, an Olympic-size, competition-ready swimming pool, free weights, aerobics classes, basketball courts, table tennis, a tenth of a mile-long walking track, water aerobics and a multi-purpose area for group gatherings and parties.

“The swimming pool is going to be absolutely beautiful,” McCoy said. “We hope area schools will start swim teams because now they have a place to compete. And the pool will be great in the winter. There’s nothing better than coming in here in December when snow is falling and kids are playing in the water.

McCoy said the rec center will allow Logan, Mingo and Boone County schools to have swim meets and the facility will also enable schools to hold volleyball tournaments on its courts.

“This building will have everything people need to get healthy,” McCoy said. “It will open up doors to area residents that were never open to them before. We want to do as many programs and activities as we can host and promote.”

McCoy said the rec center won’t be limited to just exercise. He said the rec center will be able to hold large events, like concerts or a hunting and fishing show.

“We hope to do larger events,” McCoy said. “We’ve got this huge area where we can do a concert or a hunting and fishing show and those are things we’ve been looking at doing on down the road. We’d like to do four major events a year to help generate operating funds.”

McCoy said the facility will have to generate about $450,000 a year to keep it open. He said funds will be raised through memberships, charitable contributions and by selling advertising signage inside the building. McCoy said the events will be geared toward helping pay the operating costs.

“The building isn’t here to generate a profit, but the state gave us the money to build it and we have to find the funds to keep it running.”

McCoy said membership rates will be as affordable as he can make them. He said a family of four will be able to use the rec center every day of the year for an annual fee of $360.

“That’s around a dollar a day for a family of four,” McCoy said. It also allows members to have unlimited access to the swimming pool and fitness areas and gives them reduced rates on programs offered by the rec center and the tennis courts, which will be rented out on an hourly basis.

“We want the rec center to be available to everyone,” McCoy said. “We don’t want it to be a country club, so we made it affordable for everyone.”

McCoy said membership fees can be paid in one payment or in monthly installments and there are different rates for adults, students, senior citizens and for families.

McCoy said the rec center will be used for cheerleading, volleyball and gymnastics camps, lifeguard classes, swimming and water safety classes, aerobics classes and other exercise courses. McCoy said he plans to have batting cages and golfing nets. He said the walking track will have workout equipment set up in four places so members can come in and walk and work out.

“I think the walking track will be the most utilized part of the building,” McCoy said. “It’s going to have a rubberized track and 10 times around it will be a mile.”

McCoy said he anticipates having 20 skilled employees and instructors.

“The more skill people we have, the more programs and activities we can offer,” he said. “We plan to expand and grow. Eventually, we plan to have an outdoor soccer field and playgrounds. We also have trails and we hope to have mountain bikes to rent.”

McCoy said the people of Logan County should be glad they have a proactive county commission that builds sports facilities in each community and Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, who was very instrumental in getting the rec center built.

“This county is fortunate in that our leaders have a vision of not what is, but what can be,” McCoy said. “The recreation facilities in Logan County are second to none in the state. Other counties would love to have the facilities we have here.”

The Chief Logan Rec Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day and will only close on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas day, McCoy said.

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For more information, go online to www.chiefloganreccenter.org.