Our East Macon Community Center officially has a new name as well as new renovations. The Center located on Ocmulgee E. Blvd is now the Delores A. Brooks Community Center, named after the first black woman elected to the Macon City Council.
On Friday, December 10, we held an official ribbon cutting and name dedication. Brooks’ family, including her daughter Pamela Montgomery, was there to share in the celebration.
“I think she’s well-deserving of it because I realize how much time she was away from home to give to her community,” said Montgomery. “I remember when this center was built and this was her baby.”
Brooks dedicated her life to helping her community in so many ways and paved the way for so many people.
“We’ll now be able to teach our children and future generations that this great name took care of a lot of business while she was on the City Council,” said District 3 Commissioner Elaine Lucas. “This renaming pays tribute to a person who gave an awful lot to this community.”
The ceremony on Friday also showcased the second phase of renovations made at the Center. Those renovations include the resurfacing of courts and fields, updating the drainage system, renovating the pool, replacing roofs and HVAC, and relocating the main office.
“We service a lot of the community already and have a lot of programs, so we’re excited to reopen up the improved center,” said Center Supervisor TJ Hudson.
In the first phase of improvements, the Center received new sidewalks, a new t-ball field, a rebuilt concession stands, new fencing, and upgrades to the storm drainage system and the scoring boxes. This phase cost $300,000 and was also paid for with voter-approved SPLOST funds. That phase was completed in April 2016, and you can see a feature video about it here.