A Community Recreation Center for Collinwood comes one step closer to reality

On Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 10:45 AM, Mayor Frank G. Jackson’s Board of Control passed a long anticipated resolution authorizing the City to enter into contract with Panzica Construction for the development of the new state-of-the-art Collinwood Community  Recreation Center to be located at 16300 Lakeshore Boulevard at the former K-Mart / Big Lots property. This facility will be like no other center constructed in the history of the City of Cleveland.  

The plans incorporate the latest in recreational facilities and community space: a gymnasium with a three-lane indoor jogging/running track set around a full-sized basketball court, an indoor pool with a water park feature complete with a monster waterslide and a sundeck facing the sports complex through a moveable all glass wall, as well as a youth room, senior center, computer lab, learning center, multi-purpose rooms, kitchen facilities, a fully equipped fitness center and aerobics room, and arts & crafts spaces. The project also includes plenty of well-lit parking in a tree-lined lot including separate senior parking, landscaping, and exterior pathways. The five-acre complex will also connect to the 32 acre Humphrey Sports Complex immediately behind the new facility. In addition, the center will be connected to the Euclid Beach State Park via a new intersection on Lakeshore Boulevard; thereby creating for the first time, a direct link from Grovewood Avenue right to the shores of Lake Erie via bike trails and walkways. The building will be graced with various types of public art both on the interior and exterior.

Another element of the Center is that this building will be the greenest city-owned structure in Cleveland’s history and will include the latest green technology available. Because of this the building will be submitted for LEED Gold certification. This will be accomplished through various components such as an array of solar panels incorporated into the building along with high-efficiency lighting, mechanical systems, recycled materials, energy monitoring equipment, rain harvesting and bio-retention swales among other sustainable design elements which we in the community felt was vitally important. This center will make a public statement about energy conservation county-wide.  

It goes without saying that this is a project that I have worked on for over twenty years. During that period of time I never once gave up my belief that this project would happen. There were times though when the road seemed lined with challenges but because of the overwhelming support we received from the greater Collinwood community, this project is about to now become a reality.

I wish to thank Mayor Frank G. Jackson for fulfilling the commitment made to this community over two decades ago. The Mayor understands the importance of this facility and its strategic location on Lakeshore Boulevard, for not only is this center a place to gather, recreate and enjoy, it is also an economic development engine; creating jobs for Cleveland businesses and residents alike.  This is one more victory for our community.

My friends, this should tell all of us, once again, that when we work together for a common goal there is nothing that we as a community cannot achieve. Thank you once again, for the support you have given this Councilman and our efforts to reposition this community for further development and growth. I look forward to the groundbreaking this Spring. God bless the people of the greater Collinwood community.