MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- Dalco of Phoenix was contracted to make renovations at the station gym, and because of the task at hand, intramural basketball season was put on hold for a few days.
Dalco and the painters from its sub-contractor, Genesee, began their task of painting the interior of the gym Jan. 7. They were scheduled to finish Jan. 10, but when painting a facility as large as the station gym, a contractor can encounter bumps in the road, said Leo Nicovic, operations manager, Genesee.
The painters, in the end, had to work about a week loner than expected.
The painting began in the basketball gym. The second half of intramural basketball should have been off and rolling already, but with plastic tarps across the court and the goals, the playing conditions weren't the best.
"We had a chance to play a couple of games earlier in the week, but we'll have to make the rest up", said Harold Dean, athletic director, Semper Fit.
This delay didn't have much of an effect on the basketball season. Dalco is working diligently to complete the job as quickly as possible.
"The coaches of each and every team have been notified of the change due to painting of the gymnasium floor, said Dean. "They have the dates and times that they are to play. On the nights that we put them down for there will be three games instead of two games, so we can get caught up in the season."
After the basketball gym was painted, Dalco moved on to the aerobics room. The aerobics classes were not affected except for the location.
When the basketball gym was completed and they were painting in the aerobics room, we had the classes in the basketball gym, said Jen Snider, personal trainer, Semper Fit.
The restrooms and locker rooms will also be painted, said Jayson McGinnis, superintendent, Dalco.
The gym was in desperate need of a new paint job and is now looking like a different place, said Dean.
"This place hasn't been painted in about 30 years," said Dean.
The time that has passed between the last painting and now could be seen in the dust and materials found in the rafters of the basketball gym.
"We found soccer balls, volleyballs, socks and massive amounts of dust," said McGinnis.
"It was horrible, but how else can we get up there," said Dean.
Beyond all the delays and the smell of paint flowing through the air, there is the fact that the station gym is now looking like new.
"It's well worth it. Now everything will be bright white," said Dean.
Dean said, it's more pleasant for Marines and family members to go to a clean, fresh looking place to workout and participate in aerobics, basketball and other indoor activities.
The gym is almost complete. Marines and family members will be able to go and enjoy the new, clean look.