Flooded Rec Center Moves Operations to Gymnasium

Employees at the Vinton (La.) Ward 7 Recreation Center have retreated to the facility’s gymnasium after heavy rains flooded the building.

The Ward 7 Recreation Center has temporarily closed, with the gymnasium acting as the only dry place left for staging operations until the center can be reopened.

"The gym is in the middle of the building,” Loren Labby told the local NBC affiliate. “So everything on that side of the building and that side of the building, all of the rooms, not just our office were flooded."

The center is doing its best to get back on its feet before school lets out for the summer.

"It's just horrible timing,” said Matthew Joseph, a resident whose children use the center often. “My main issue is the kids having something to do, all that time giving them they get a chance to start thinking about other things to do and that's what we don't want."

Moving operations to the gymnasium will hopefully allow the center to open sooner.

"We still have business going on, we still have programs going on and people have to have access to us. This is the best place for them to come where they are already coming."

Labby hopes the center will be repaired and back to normal within the next two weeks.