S
t. Albans Parks and Recreation will hold an official ribbon-cutting and open house at the former McKinley Middle School in St. Albans on Wednesday, May 8.
The event, scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., is free and open to the public.
The gathering will begin with an open house at 5:30 p.m., followed by a ribbon cutting at 6 p.m.
Beginning at 6:30 p.m., attendees can participate in several family-friendly activities, including games, face painting, inflatables and refreshments.
The county board of education closed six Kanawha County schools, including McKinley Middle School, at the end of the 2024-25 school year. McKinley students were sent to Hayes Middle School beginning in fall 2025.
In January 2026, the St. Albans City Council voted to enter into a lease with the county board of education to use some areas of McKinley Middle as a community center.
At the end of March, St. Albans Parks and Recreation officials announced recurring open gym hours at the facility, now known as the McKinley Recreation Center.
Open gym hours take place from 3 to 5 p.m. each Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission costs $1 for seniors and students with an ID. All other must pay $2 to enter.
The McKinley Recreation Center is located at 3000 Kanawha Terrace in St. Albans.
For updates and additional information, visit saparkswv.com or follow St. Albans Parks and Recreation on Facebook.
