Construction Begins on Collier Community Center

A Collier Township site that was once designed to protect residents is on its way to becoming a site residents can simply enjoy.

Local officials led a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Collier Community Center, the centerpiece of the community park that’s been growing at the former Nike Site military base.

“It’s a really cool project,” said township manager Sal Sirabella. “It’s a process the community was directly involved in. A lot of the fields and the rec center were things the community told us they wanted. This is going to be an amazing place for people to play and enjoy.”

Township Commissioner George Macino said the park’s dek hockey, basketball, tennis and pickle ball courts already are well-used, and the addition of the community center will add to an already valuable park.

“This is going to end up being the flagship of all the parks in Collier,” he said.

The $5.2 million project—funded mainly by state and county grants, a bond issue and township operating fund surpluses—is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2014. Sterling Contracting is the general contractor for the community center.

When finished, the community center will include a new gymnasium with an Olympic-rate wood floor and remote-controlled scoreboards. The gym will be built between two of the site’s existing structures, both of which will be remodeled.

A kid zone, dance activity room, and locker rooms also will be part of the gym facility. Additionally, the community center will include space to display local art, a lecture hall that can be divided into three separate spaces, a party room, community room, and large outdoor patio.

A stone-faced gas fireplace will adorn the main entrance. 

The center will be lit totally by LED lights, which will reduce the structure’s energy consumption by between 40 and 50-percent overall.

Project architect Dan Franus of Franus Architectural Associates said the community center is an example of “harmony at its best,” between the community, local officials and the architectural firm.

“These two (existing) buildings were not designed to be easily modified into their new jobs,” Franus said. “(The community) all had a true desire to help with this project without pushing a particular feature of this project. This will be an asset to this and the surrounding communities for years to come.”