Gifu Memorial Center 2.8

The Gifu Memorial Center is a collection of sports facilities located in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is a prefectural facility and its purpose is to promote sports and other events within the prefecture.Along with the Nagaragawa Convention Center, the Nagaragawa Sports Plaza and Mirai Hall, it is part of the World Event and Convention Complex Gifu.HistoryThe Memorial Center is an athletic park run by Gifu Prefecture and is located on the north bank of the Nagara River. Its site was originally developed for the National Sports Festival that was held in Gifu in 1965. The site also includes the Gifu Prefectural Baseball Stadium and, only a few hundred meters from there, the former location of the Gifu Correctional Facility. When the correctional facility was moved to a different location, it was decided that the facilities should be converted to help promote sports in the area. The site was then used to host the Gifu Future Watch '88 Exposition, before full construction of the present-day Memorial Center began. In 1990, construction began on the track and field facilities, which was soon followed by other sport-specific facilities.Major facilitiesMany of the Memorial Centers facilities are connected by the San San Deck, a raised pedestrian walkway that runs through the center of the complex. Some other buildings that are connected by the deck include the Management Building, which houses staff offices, training rooms and a gymnasium; as well as the city-supported Green Space . To the north of the complex is the Youth Play Area, which includes a replica of a dinosaur skeleton.