AMERICUS - It will be a big move from only softball activities which 50-year-old Sumter County Commissioner Al Hurley mostly had when growing up in Americus.

An indoor gym, walking track, pool and basketball court will be just some of the activities offered at Boone Park on Rucker Street amid the take over of Parks and Recreation in Americus.

There also will be a splash pool and various classes. "We’re looking at a host of possibilities," Hurley said. The County and City of Americus mutually agreed thatthe County would take control over the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Hurley said the two entities felt the department needed to be under the control of one government, and the County would take over since it already was providing services to the entire County.

Hurley said the county would renovate an old warehouse that’s sitting in Boone Park for a new gym. But one of the biggest benefits is where the gym is sitting, in the middle of an inner city neighborhood. Hurley, who grew up in Sumter, said with drugs, the streets and other bad influences that many children face, the gym would be a positive accommodation.

"A lot of kids just don’t have things to do," said Hurley. "Kids are our future, and we need to be proactive, instead of being reactive."

However, the gym will be accessible for anyone in the county.

"Ohhhh, we aren’t shutting anyone out," Hurley said. Hurley said he also hopes the parks and recreation department will add more activities for young girls, such as softball and volleyball.

"We know they get into things too," he said. The County, which had previously been sharing the expenses with Americus for the department will now fund the entire department and allotted $991,764 for the department in its 2008-2009 budget that was adopted on June 20.