Dodge Fitness Center pool gets facelift

Staff Sgt. Lynley Mainous, 126th Intelligence Squadron in Springfield, Ohio, finishes a lap at the Dodge Fitness Center on Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, after it reopened April 10, 2017. Mainous was one of the first patrons to use the upgraded pool, which had a new liner and deck installed. The pool was closed for 2 1/2 months for the project. The liner has all of the required markings, a non-slip surface and is more aesthetically pleasing. The surrounding deck took care of problem areas and safety hazards like standing water, missing or chipped tiles and lime and calcium build-up. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Mitchell)

Daedallion Room at the Wright-Patterson Club gets facelift

Construction workers move insulation in the Daedallion Room at the Wright-Patterson Club on April 10, 2017. During renovations, workers found wooden crossbeams that were part of the original construction of the club in the 1920s. Construction was halted after the find, and it was found they were structurally sound and could remain exposed. The beams only required oiling to return them to their original state. Era-appropriate chandeliers were installed to make this the centerpiece of the room. The Daedallion, main ballroom and the Bicycle Room, which closed for renovations in December 2016, are all scheduled to reopen in late May 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Mitchell)

Main ballroom at Wright-Patt Club gets renovated

Construction workers lay insulation in the Wright-Patterson Club main ballroom on April 10, 2017. Improvements included leveling the ceiling, adding wings to the renovated stage, new flooring and upgraded lighting throughout that enables the ballroom, Daedallion Room and the Bicycle Lounge to have individual lighting controls for various events. The ballroom and adjacent rooms closed in December 2016 for the renovations, and are scheduled to reopen in late May. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Mitchell)

Family Camp Recreational Lodge receives facelift

Brian Colonna, Chief, Community Services Flight, 88th Force Support Squadron, and Brandon Dixon, Outdoor Recreation Director, talk to Vickie Carman, a family camp volunteer about the facility facelift to the Family Camp Recreational Lodge at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base April 10, 2017. Improvements included new flooring, furniture and fixtures. Work started in August 2016, and was finished in October 2016. The facility was able to remain open during the process. (U.S. Air Force photos/Jim Mitchell)

Family Camp Recreational Lodge gets facelift

The Family Camp Recreational Lodge at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base recently received a facelift. Improvements included new flooring, furniture and fixtures. Work started in August 2016, and was finished in October 2016. The facility was able to remain open during the process. (U.S. Air Force photos/Jim Mitchell)

Bass Lake dock gets safety repairs and improvements

Brandon Dixon, Outdoor Recreation Manager, Community Services Flight, 88th Force Support Squadron, inspects the dock at the Bass Lake Recreational Facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base April 10, 2017. The dock required extensive repairs to meet safety requirements, including securing it to the bank, replacing planking and adding flotation devices. The dock, which was closed in November 2016 to begin the repairs, is scheduled to reopen mid-to-late summer after the last of the flotation equipment is installed and tested. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Mitchell)

Bass Lake Lodge gets facelift

The Bass Lake Lodge, located at the Bass Lake Recreational Facility on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, recently received some internal upgrades and enhancements. The restrooms were renovated, as well as adding lodge-type furniture, rugs, imitation antler chandeliers with Edison bulb lighting, a new fireplace and some internal painting. The project was started in September 2016 and was finished in January 2017. The upgrades were a quality of life improvement as well as enhancing the rustic appeal of the lodge. (U.S. Air Force photos/Jim Mitchell)

Bass Lake Lodge gets facelift

Twin Base Golf Course gets facelift

Roger Smith of Beavercreek, Ohio, talks with Customer Service Representative Gail Longo about a new driver at the Twin Base golf course April 10, 2017. The clubhouse facility was upgraded with new carpet, display racks, and snack bar furniture. The upgrades began in January 2017 and were completed in March 2017. Officials are also hoping to refurbish the sand traps on the course within the next year, similar to the project that was recently completed on the Prairie Trace golf course. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jim Mitchell)

Facility upgrades happening across Wright-Patt

Published April 21, 2017
By Jim Mitchell
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Last fall, the 88th Force Support Squadron began a months-long push to renovate and upgrade many of its recreational and community facilities across Wright-Patterson.

Now, the results of that hard work can be seen at fitness centers, golf courses, Bass Lake, and soon, the Wright-Patterson Club.

“Wright-Patterson is filled with first-class Airmen – military and civilian,” said Renata Spanton-Jones, the 88th Force Support Squadron director. “And they deserve nothing less than first-class facilities. We’re always looking for ways to provide the best quality of life initiatives of any base in the Air Force.”

On April 10 the pool at the Dodge Fitness Center reopened after a 2 1/2 month closure to install a new deck and have a pool liner installed and fitted. The liner has all of the required markings, a non-slip surface and is more ascetically pleasing. The surrounding deck took care of problem areas and safety hazards like standing water, missing or chipped tiles and lime and calcium build-up. Even on the first day the pool opened swimmers were taking notice. “I used to swim competitively, and still swim as much as I can,” said Staff Sgt. Lynley Mainous from the 126th Intelligence Squadron in Springfield. “This facility is much better than what I’m used to – even at the competitive level.”

Golf courses on base are also getting a facelift – inside and out. Prairie Trace recently completed a project to rebuild all of the sand traps on the 18-hole course. Twin Base hopes to complete that same project sometime within the next year, but they’ve already finished touching up the clubhouse facilities with new carpet, additions to the snack bar area and new display shelves.

Roger Smith has been a golfer at Prairie Trace for the last 25 years, and likes what they’ve done on the inside. “What they’ve done is really great,” he said. “It looks new and clean and very professional.”

Bass Lake has a host of facilities, many of which have been spruced up as well. The Recreational Lodge, part of the Family Camp, has new furniture, fixtures, lights and other amenities. Brandon Dixon, the Outdoor Recreation Director, said there other new things happening this year, like being able to rent kayaks, paddle boats and bicycles. They’re adding a small bait shop, where you can also rent fishing poles if you need them and purchase your Ohio fishing license. This is all part of enhancing the recreational opportunities that Bass Lake already enjoys.

The separate, but co-located Bass Lake Lodge, operated by the Wright-Patterson Club, now has a truly rustic environment thanks to work done there. Restroom facilities have been completely renovated. There’s a new fireplace, lodge-type furniture and rugs, imitation antler chandeliers with Edison bulb lighting and some internal painting. The lodge is easily configured for any group size with tables, chairs and a kitchen available for almost any need.

Still to open after a five-month renovation project is the main ballroom, the Daedallion and the Bicycle Lounge at the Wright-Patterson Club. “We actually had to stop this project at one point,” said Brian Colonna, the Community Service Flight Chief who has been overseeing all of the projects. “When we removed the ceiling in the Daedallion room, we saw the original cross beams from when the building was built in 1920s. The 88th FSS and the 88th Civil Engineering Group agreed it would be a shame to cover the ceiling and worked together to create a project change order to preserve the cathedral look which enhanced the room.”

A structural integrity inspection revealed nothing wrong – in fact, the beams were in such pristine shape they only required a coat of wood oil to return them to their original condition. Era-appropriate chandeliers were added, making this the center piece of the room, and a unique environment for events, including weddings and receptions. The club facilities are scheduled to reopen in late May, and according to Colonna, the first wedding is scheduled for early June.

“All of these projects are a return on investment by our Airmen, back to our Airmen,” said Spanton-Jones. “It’s one small way we can say thank you to those who sacrifice so much in their service to our country.”

To learn more about these and other facilities in the Force Support Squadron, including contact information, visit their web site.