On Monday, February 8, Macon-Bibb County crews demolished the former Bloomfield Community Center, removing a long-unused and dilapidated structure from the neighborhood. While the demolition marked the end of a deteriorating facility, the Bloomfield-Gilead Recreation Center and baseball fields continue to serve the neighborhood just steps away.

The 11,000 square feet gym had been unused for years. In its stead is a much larger vision for the community. In February 2020, Macon-Bibb County opened the Bloomfield-Gilead Recreation Center, a modern, multi-purpose facility spanning more than 40,000 square feet. Combined with improvements to the baseball and softball fields, the County has invested $4.4 million from the voter-approved SPLOST into the Bloomfield-Gilead area.

That investment has expanded what is possible for residents of all ages.

The new recreation center was designed to serve as a true community hub, allowing for more programs, more space, and more opportunities. It includes a full gymnasium, a fitness center and weight room, a dedicated spin classroom, computer labs, and flexible multi-use spaces. These additions have made it possible to offer expanded afterschool programs, youth mentoring, summer and school-break camps, fitness and wellness classes, book clubs, open gym hours, and seasonal community events.

“Upgrading the baseball and softball fields has also helped us better serve families,” said the Director of Recreation Robert Walker. “The fields are more usable and give kids and families more opportunities to stay active close to home.”

The site also houses a Middle Georgia Regional Libraries branch, providing technology access, computer classes, youth coding programs, and educational resources within walking distance of nearby homes. Together, the recreation center and library have strengthened access to learning, wellness, and safe indoor space in an area that was previously underserved.

“Our mission is to connect all people to the information necessary to improve their lives. It’s important for us to be accessible to people where and when they need us,” said Middle Georgia Regional Libraries Director Jennifer Lautzenheiser. “We feel like this branch does this. It’s within walking distance of many homes, on a major thoroughfare which makes it easy to visit, and available to children in the summer and after school programs.

The demolition of the old Bloomfield building was not a replacement project, but rather the removal of an obsolete structure that no longer served the community. In contrast, the Bloomfield-Gilead Recreation Center represents a long-term investment in neighborhood stability, youth development, health, and opportunity.

As the dust settles from the demolition, the focus remains on what has already been built, and how the Bloomfield-Gilead Center continues to grow as a place where residents can learn, play, and connect.