T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA St. Clairsville Recreation Director Eric Gay demonstrates a golf simulator at the new Unified Jr. Rec Center in St. Clairsville.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Unified Jr. Rec Center in St. Clairsville opened its doors to the public Friday.

City Recreation Director Eric Gay said he came up with the idea after he tired of seeing no use of the building.

“I kept pulling into work and looking at the building across the street, and I just said to the mayor one day, I said, ‘Mayor, we have to do something with that building over there.’ I said there’s such value there, and I said, ‘I can’t look at it anymore,'” Gay said. “I need to say, most importantly, Scott Everson of Unified Bank, who poured the gas on this fire to get it going, I can’t thank them enough. I mean, obviously, we’re here today to celebrate this building, but it’s everything that Unified does for the city and the rec department. They’re truly an amazing group of people, and I can’t thank them enough for this and everything.”

Everson is the chairman, CEO and president of Unified Bank. He said he steadfastly believes that Unified Bank’s strength lies in the enduring bonds it shares with the communities it serves.

“The establishment of the Unified Jr. Recreation Center in St. Clairsville stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to nurturing the potential of our youth and enriching the lives of families in this vibrant region. It is both a privilege and a responsibility to invest in places where futures are shaped and communities flourish. We are not merely a financial institution — we are a vital part of the communities we serve, and we are honored to contribute meaningfully to their growth and well-being,” Everson said.

He added that Unified Bank has continued to maintain a strong presence in the city for decades by operating two full-service branches and serving as an active supporter of a wide range of community programs, such as St. Clairsville Jr. Sports, the high school football and basketball teams, the band, performing arts, music departments, Capstone Soccer Complex, the annual Independence Day Fireworks Sky Show, Easter egg hunts, Halloween kids’ trick or treat, Corks & Forks, and numerous other cultural and civic efforts.

Gay added that he believes the new facility will fill a gap that has existed in the city for a long time.

“It’s going to be used by our league teams and the school. We’ll rent it out to people who are looking for a space. I know there is a need for this space; we get calls all the time about if we have an indoor facility, and we didn’t. Well, now we do,” Gay said. “We really anticipate this being the most rentable space that we manage, and it turned out better than I could have imagined.”

Everson added that the Unified Jr. Recreation Center now stands as a dynamic space where young people and families can gather, grow and thrive, and he is honored to have played a significant role in bringing the community’s vision to life.

“Unified believes in being as active a part of our communities as is practicable,” a news release from Unified Bank states. “We recognize the need in our communities and strive to provide assistance when and where it can be of the most service to the most people.”

The press release adds that Unified Bank is a full-service financial institution with deep roots in the communities it serves in Ohio and West Virginia.

“We have 6,000 square feet of artificial field turf, 260-foot batting cages, pitchers’ mounds, L screens, a golf simulator — really anything that you know people would want to do, as far as workout classes, baseball, softball, parties,” Gay said.

He added that anyone interested in renting the new facility should contact the Rec Center at 740-695-2037.

Mayor Kathryn Thalman said the new facility adds a new dimension to the city.

“This could be the difference between a kid getting a scholarship or not for baseball. They get to come in the winter and practice. Same with golf. it’s just a wonderful addition to our town,” Thalman said. “And I cannot thank our sponsors, Unified Bank, enough. They told me last night that they are very much invested in the communities where they have their banks, and they’ve certainly made that very apparent to us. And, again, we are very happy for their sponsorship and can look forward to a continued long relationship.”

She then thanked Gay for his enthusiasm, which made his vision of the new facility become a reality.