Kirkwood R. Balton Clubhouse
The Kirkwood R. Balton Clubhouse or Dr Kirkwood R. Balton Unit, originally the South Park Unit was the former home of the A. G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club. It was located at 2900 South Park Drive Southwest, on a 17.8-acre site stretching along the west bank of Valley Creek in Birmingham's Central Park neighborhood.
The 28,500 square-foot clubhouse, built in the 1990s, includes a gymnasium and indoor heated swimming pool along with an institutional kitchen, a recreation room and several classrooms and meeting rooms. It was renamed in memory of long-time supporter and board treasurer Kirkwood Balton in 2014. The entrance gates were dedicated in honor of John and Ella McCain in 2016.
In 2018 ground was broken for a newer, larger, and more visible facility at the nearby CrossPlex Village. It opened in February 2020 as the Walter Howlett Clubhouse. The former clubhouse property was put up for sale through Graham & Co.
References
- "A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club Renames its Birmimgham Location." [sic] (April 3, 2014) The Birmingham Times