City, School District to Build New Gym at Hamilton Together

For almost 10 years, the city of Novato and the have talked about joining forces to build a gymnasium in the Hamilton section of Novato. On Friday, the talk turns into action.

The district and the city are having a groundbreaking ceremony at 9 a.m. on the campus of to kick off the joint venture. The community gym is to be made available for school kids during the day and the general public at night. It also will be available for rent for special events.

Shortages of money and the lack of a master plan for the school prevented the project from moving forward for years. Both sticking points have been handled now, and the gym is expected to be open by March 2012.

 “By two public agencies collaborating to leverage resources, we are creating and sharing a community recreation facility that helps support an active and healthy life for our children and residents,” Michael Frank, Novato's city manager, said in a press release.

The city and the school district have had reciprocal use agreements to share facilities and playing fields for almost 50 years. For more background on the gym project and how it might affect the old Hamilton Gym a half mile away, click here.