CAMP FOSTER, Japan — Marine Corps Community Services’ Semper Fit recently announced the closure of the Foster Field House at Camp Foster.

The field house, a large facility with three indoor basketball courts, sustained damages during Typhoon Bolaven Aug. 25-27 and is expected to undergo repairs until spring 2013.

“An electrical fire was caused by rain leaking into a circuit breaker box,” said Dr. Bert Griffith, the chief of Semper Fit, MCCS. The building is half a century old, and one of the oldest MCCS buildings on Okinawa, according to Griffith.

“The field house will be updated with new windows and (a new) electrical system,” said Gerald Sharber, the athletic director of Gunners Fitness Center.

The fire department, base safety and base facility engineers inspected the building after the typhoon and decided that if it was not updated, this incident could happen again, according to Sharber.

“Roughly 2,000 patrons use the field house every month,” said Griffith. “It is a very popular place, and there are a lot of demands for its (use).”

The closure affects not only service members and their families, but also Japanese citizens and Department of Defense contractors.
“Eight (Japanese) teams use the field house for a (basketball) tournament each year,” said Sharber.

Youth sports teams are also feeling the effects of the closure, said Natalie Steele, the youth sports coordinator with Semper Fit, MCCS.

“There are 30 (youth sports) teams that used the field house and will now be (directed to other facilities) on island,” said Steele.
Gunners Fitness Center operates the only MCCS field house on island, but gym and recreation facilities on Camps Kinser, Hansen, Schwab, Courtney and McTureous are capable of providing space for youth and adult sporting events, including indoor basketball courts.

“Semper Fit also hosts adult basketball tournaments at the field house and is still assessing if the tournaments can be played at other locations or if they will be canceled this year,” said Sharber.
The construction is scheduled to last until spring, but there is optimism that it will open sooner, according to Griffith.

The best way to stay informed about the field house is to follow Gunners Fitness Center on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Gunners-Gym/. For more information related to the closure, contact Gerald Sharber at 645-3985 or 645-7834.