A plan to build a community center that also can be used as a public shelter in emergencies took a step forward Wednesday. <\/p>\n
Cape Coral City Council voted to fund a Community Recreation Center and Disaster Shelter Study with the amount not to exceed 2,532,398.39.<\/p>\n
Councilmembers Rachel Kaduk and Keith Long dissented.<\/p>\n
Emergency Management and Resilience Director Ryan Lamb said design services for the facility will be paid for with Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds. <\/p>\n
The facility planned for Festival Park, a 200-plus acre site along Wilmington Parkway near Seahawk Park. Other amenities will include an outdoor amphitheater, multi-use sports fields and concessions.<\/p>\n
Lamb said center\u2019s use would be two-fold \u2013 for \u201cblue sky\u201d purposes of the facility it will serve as a recreation center, while also offering services for low- to moderate-income families, childcare, youth leagues, and space for nonprofit organizations.<\/p>\n
Others uses will include recreational amenities and programming for residents.<\/p>\n
Lamb said during an incident \u2013 \u201cgray skies\/emergencies\u201d \u2013 the center will act as a public shelter. In addition, it would be a disaster recovery center to support post-disaster services, a point of distribution site for essential supplies, as well as disaster communication and information hub for residents.<\/p>\n
The total cost of the project is $35 million, with the grant covering just under $30 million. Lamb said $5 million will be funded through the city budget\u2019s General Fund.<\/p>\n
That money has been approved, Council budgeted $5,537,690 in last year\u2019s budget, a match to receive a $29 million grant for the project, City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said, adding the actual expenditure still is \u201canother couple of years\u201d away.<\/p>\n
The design phase is projected to take a year and so the center would be budgeted in the 2027 budget.<\/p>\n