Photos: St. Andrews Park Grand Opening

Community leaders are hoping a new recreation facility will bring life to the St. Andrews community. 

"This is the resurrection day for St. Andrews," Richland County Councilwoman Joyce Dickerson said Friday at the grand opening of . "St. Andrews has been given a heart transplant." 

More than 50 people gathered at the facility Friday morning for a ceremony and a tour of the new building, which includes a gym, swimming pool, meeting rooms, a kitchen, a crafts room, a weight room and a playground. 

"This is a wonderful day for this community," Dickerson said. "And looking at you all I see that you were just as hungry for this as I was." 

Wilbert Lewis, a Richland County Recreation commisioner and member of the Pine Grove community, also welcomed the new park. 

"To fully appreciate it, you have to remember what it was," Lewis said. 

The two-acre park was originally built in the late 1970s and only included a gym, tennis courts and the athletic fields.

Construction on the new facility started in March 2011. Now that it's complete, Lewis said he'll be bringing his two grandaughters to the park. 

"I'm looking forward to them enjoying this facility, as well as the entire community," he said. 

The park officially opens to the at 2 p.m. Friday. The pool opens at noon Saturday. For full park and poll hours, view the .