At 11:00 o'clock Tuesday morning (11/8/2016), city officials, family and friends of Vice Mayor Doug Young participated in the ground breaking of the DOUG YOUNG PUBLIC TRAINING CENTER. It is being constructed at the former Franklin Heights Housing Complex just off of Bridge Avenue on Tuesday, November 8 at 11:00 am.

Mayor Shane McFarland said, "This is a fitting honor for our Vice Mayor who has long been an advocate for this facility."

"This is well-deserved," said Fire Rescue Chief Mark Foulks, "for both his years of service to City Council and his unbelievable support for public safety."

"We are grateful to the City leadership for the opportunity to offer a safe location to conduct state-of-the-art training for our police officers," said Chief of Police Karl Durr. "We look forward to the groundbreaking ceremony and the training that will take place there for years to come."

Chiefs Durr and Foulks both presented Young with a helmet dealing with their service.

The facility, which will provide a safe place for training for local public safety agencies, has been designed to minimally impact the surrounding community.

Vice Mayor Young told NewsRadio WGNS . . .

(Time: 33-seconds)

When completed, the new DOUG YOUNG PUBLIC TRAINING CENTER will include:

• Classroom and Administration building (Classroom based training, including but not limited to an Emergency Medical Services Lab)
• Storage building for equipment
• Drill Tower for training on search and rescue, rappelling, confined space rescue, and other tactical exercises
• Burn module for Class A* Burns
• Five buildings will remain in place along the back of the property for various practical training activities
• Simulated streetscape for motor vehicle accidents, traffic stops, etc.
• Outdoor classroom, kitchen, restroom facility
• K-9 training area
• Firefighting props (car, dumpster, tank, etc.)
• Physical fitness/obstacle course
• Driving pad