CHIEF LOGAN STATE PARK — Since the coalfields' biggest problem is unhealthiness, Tim McCoy, director of the Chief Logan Rec Center, is looking for 1,000 people to be part of the solution.

McCoy said he has started a grassroots fund-raising campaign to get much-needed details for the rec center — such as basketballs, tables and chairs, ping pong paddles, a timing system for the pool, mats, bleachers, table tennis and badminton equipment, basketball goals and other items to make the rec center into a more complete community center.

McCoy said he is looking for 1,000 people who will donate $100 each to help the rec center furnish these details.

"The state invested $5.5 million in this building and what that gives people is fully-operational tennis courts, swimming pool, indoor walking track and a very well-equipped fitness and wellness center," McCoy said. "But, we really want to turn the building into a community center, a recreation center where we can promote life-long physical activities. We need an additional $100,000 to achieve that. There is no one right now stepping up to the plate to get us that $100,000, so we're asking concerned citizens of this service region to contribute $100 each.

"We're looking for 1,000 $100 contributors that will raise us $100,000 to go directly towards capital improvement of this building. We want to get things we need in order for us to offer a wide, wide variety of activities for the people of this community," McCoy said. "And, in return for that $100 from those $1,000 people, we're going to do something in the building where those 1,000 people will be recognized and forever enshrined in this recreation center as 1,000 concerned citizens that wanted to be a part of changing the culture of Logan County from being an unhealthy county to being a healthy county. We're asking 1,000 people to step up to the plate and help us to do that."

Several businesses have already committed to helping the rec center with its operational costs. Logan Bank and Trust President Eddie Canterbury was the latest to contribute to the rec center. LB&T contributed $10,000 on Friday.

"This facility will be good for Logan County," Canterbury said. "We're a community bank and we support Logan County and southern West Virginia and this is a facility that a lot of people will be able to take advantage of and use and we're just glad to be a small part of making it work," Canterbury said.

McCoy said contributions from businesses like LB&T will go toward keeping the lights on and paying other operational costs, which will total around $500,000 a year. But McCoy said he's hoping 1,000 people give $100 each to help put the finishing touches on the rec center.

"Several businesses have already made contributions to help us with our operational costs and that's absolutely vital to the success of the building," McCoy said. "But, now we're asking individuals for $100 each. You're going to make a huge difference in this community. It's not something we can do on our own. It's going to take a movement from this community to get behind this building to turn it into a catalyst of change."

The rec center is set to open the first week of March. The walking track and tennis courts are already open to members.

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For more information, call Tim McCoy at the Chief Logan Rec Center at 304-855-8591.