Construction could start in early 2008 on the North Floyd Park recreation center, but the Shannon Park community center will likely face a delay.

“We thought Shannon would be a problem, and that’s pretty much how it turned out,” architect Brent Pope told members of the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority on Monday.

Updated estimates put the Shannon facility’s cost at about $1 million — with only $760,000 remaining from the $927,000 allocated in the 2006 special purpose, local option sales tax package.

The money has been spent on restrooms, playground equipment and several acres of land. Ball field renovations are being paid from a different fund, RFPRA Executive Director Richard Garland said.

Plans call for renovating the Scout Hut and dividing the space into several small multipurpose rooms. An added 6,195-square-foot community center would include a large meeting room, sitting room, billiards room, kitchen and toilets.

Pope said just cutting the size of the building would not make a significant dent in the price and could compromise the usefulness of the facility. The design is based on input gathered during a community meeting this fall.

Residents also asked for picnic pavilions, a skate facility, trail improvements, a fire ring for the Boy Scouts, a plaza, arbor and other landscaping. The items are included on the master plan.

“If we did the park improvements first, they could keep using the Scout Hut for a while and it would all fit the budget,” Garland said. “But we’re obligated by the SPLOST to do the building.”

Floyd County Commission Chairman Jerry Jennings said the recreation and county Public Works departments will do some of the site work to lower the costs and officials will continue to examine options.

Also, if money is left over from another SPLOST project, it could be redirected to the park — although it’s unlikely to come from the North Floyd Park budget.

Pope said some tweaking also will be needed to bring the recreation center in Armuchee within its $3 million SPLOST budget.

“We have to rein it in a little, but we’re in the ballpark at this stage of the project,” said Pope.

The proposed 25,000-square-foot building would include a two-court gymnasium, fitness room, multipurpose room, kitchen, game room, activity room, restrooms, offices and a patio.

The master plan also includes a $2.5 million aquatics facility with a splash pad and a 10-court tennis complex that could possibly be funded through a future SPLOST.