Saying goodbye to Wedgewood Park's recreation centre

More than four decades after it opened its doors to the then town of Wedgewood Park the recreation and community centre is shutting down.

Built in 1972,the building housed a swimming pool, gym and some town offices.

For some, like Paula Kelly, it's where big things began.

"This is where I learned to swim," she said.

"I remember convincing and probably driving my father crazy, 'C'mon dad, let's go down, let's go down. Let's try again.' He was very patient and he used to take me down and all of a sudden I was floating and moving and that was it."

Kelly went on to swim at the Aquarena and Memorial University before her 200-metre breaststroke got her on the national team.

"I did go on to qualify and represent Canada for the Olympic team [in 1980 in Moscow]. However, there was a boycott that year and we didn't actually get to go to the Olympics, which was a bit of a downer."

City councillor Danny Breen says the old building will shut down on Friday and staff will clean it out, salvaging what it can.

"Onthe 15th of September the contractor takes control of the building. It will then be taken down and eventually paved to become the parking lot for the new Paul Reynolds Centre scheduled to open in January."

Breen said the new facility is on time and on budget and will be a great addition to the city of St. John's.