Newly renovated Horizons Community Activity Center opens

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Elsea
  • 325th Fighter Wing public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Tyndall Air Force Base celebrated the grand re-opening of the Horizons Community Activity Center, in conjunction with Tyndall's new 'green' fitness center opening, Aug. 20 after a year and a half of renovations and nearly $3.8 million in funding.

"The facility is a dynamic addition to the Tyndall Air Force Base community," said John Finelli, 325th Force Support Squadron chief of community services. "It includes a host of core community center programs, Tickets and Tours Operation, an Internet Café and a gaming room, the Oasis Sports Lounge to include specialty Starbucks Coffee, pizza, food and beverages, a ballroom and several conference rooms."

The new facility can host up to 700 people, almost double the amount of the old Community Activity Center.

"The ballroom and conference rooms are expected to be highly utilized, hosting a large variety of functions," said Mr. Finelli. "Functions that we hope to host in these spaces are the Annual Awards, Dining-Ins, Dining-Outs, conferences, holiday parties, changes of command, 325th Force Support Squadron base-wide events such as Tyndall Idol, Town Hall meetings, and anything else needed by the base community."

The center is already slated to host the October Airman Leadership School graduation and the Airey NCO Academy graduation. Food for such events is catered through the Heritage Club.

Major Letitia Marsh, 325th FSS commander, said she encourages Team Tyndall members to put to use what the facility has to offer.

"I really hope all the Airmen on base get a chance to see the quality of life projects that were done in Horizons and the fitness center," said Major Marsh. "They are beautiful and in perfect locations near the dorms, dining facility, and pool."

Several Airmen were given the opportunity to tour the new facilities a couple days prior to the grand openings.

"I'm glad I had the opportunity to check out our new fitness center and the Horizons Community Activity Center," said Senior Airman Scott Tibbetts, 325th Security Forces Squadron visitor and control center clerk. "I was completely impressed with both of the facilities. I can tell that I will be enjoying a lot of my free time at both of these places."

They both are very well equipped and attractively designed, he added, noting that the 325th FSS blew his expectations out of the water.

The Horizons Community Center is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday. The Information Tickets and Travel and Balloon Shop are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

The Oasis Sports Lounge dining room is open 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday; 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday to Friday; and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. The Oasis Sports Lounge bar is open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday; 5 p.m. to midnight, Thursday; and 4 p.m. to midnight Friday.