Richard Wittschiebe Hand was approved by the Newton County Board of Commissioners to provide professional services for the rehabilitation and renovation of the R. L. Cousins Gymnasium.

The purpose of the rehabilitation is to bring recreation to a segment of the population that does not currently have access to recreation facilities and to save an old building with architectural and historic significance in the community. The project will convert the existing vacant 14,000 sf gymnasium into a community center with a gymnasium, locker rooms, offices and classrooms with storage for the surrounding community in Newton County. The original parabolic roof structure creates a striking building and rehabilitating the building was much more cost effective than new construction.

Funding for the renovation comes from a $500,000 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Allocation and an Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation grant.