PRICEVILLE — The $7.2 million Priceville Event Center will open this month with a multisport gymnasium and second-floor walking track eight years after city officials first discussed building a recreation center and six years after they borrowed money for it.

Officials gave a tour of the center Tuesday, and its other features include a multipurpose room that can seat around 90 people at tables, an exercise gym and a catering kitchen. The city plans a ceremony at the building at 6 p.m. Wednesday and will open the 26,000-square-foot facility for public viewing. However, the facility won't become operational until final details and inspections are completed, Priceville Mayor Sam Heflin said.

Called the “Crossroads of North Alabama,” Priceville is expected to double in size within the next five years. In keeping with this projected growth is the Priceville Event & Recreation Center now under construction. Montgomery-based Chambless King Architects has designed the 25,000-square-foot facility to house fitness, sports and banquet space inside its modern, clean lines.

The Priceville Event & Recreation Center is under construction and slated to be finished by the end of 2022.

A 5 to 6-year dream of the city is finally becoming reality. They first broke ground on the site in May 2021 and now, they’re about a year into construction.

The City of Priceville, in Morgan County, will break ground for the Priceville Event and Recreation Center on Friday. The ceremony will take place at Priceville City Hall, adjacent to the construction site.