Central Community Building

The Central Community Building was a massive proposed arena and recreation center to be constructed just east of Legion Field in the southeast corner of McLendon Park. The plans developed by the Birmingham Park & Recreation Board with architect E. B. Van Keuren called for a covered main sports arena big enough to host six simultaneous basketball games or tennis matches, 12 volleyball matches, 32 shuffleboard games, or two indoor baseball games. With floor seating, it could seat 10,000 spectators for a boxing match.

A separate 700-seat auditorium would be used for amateur dramatic productions, and a 48-lane bowling center would be operated year-round to generate revenues for the park board. The city applied for a $1.07 million federal loan to construct the Community Building (estimated to cost $635,512) with additional funds to carry out a system of park improvements across the city.

References

• Beiman, Irving (February 18, 1935) "South's Best Recreational Building Planned In City". Birmingham Post - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections