Suncoast Community Center dedication celebrated by hundreds of well-wishers
More 300 individuals came out to celebrate the official dedication of the new Suncoast Community Center on Wednesday, Oct. 6.
They included several Lee County Commissioners, a top CEO and president of two of the top Southwest Florida charitable organizations, officials from the Lee County Sheriff’s Department, business, clergy and civic leaders, local residents and more.
The new center is at 2242 Case Lane in North Fort Myers. Boxes are now being packed and the move is under way from the old location on Hart Road. The new center will officially open Nov. 1, with the first event to be held there Oct. 30 – the area’s Safe Halloween event.
The center was 14-years in the making, a “dream come true,” said Resident Coordinator, Suncoast Estates, Susan Y. Gillespie.
Lee County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Tammy Hall was a speaker and Master of Ceremonies for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“We can do more with less if we roll up our sleeves,” said Hall of the landmark step in securing local residents in need a much needed new center. “It does take a village within a community to make this happen.”
The new center is a partnership between Suncoast Neighborhood Inc., Goodwill Industries and the United Way of Lee County. Services from those agencies will be offered in the new center. The building also has a large kitchen and large meeting space for events.
At the dedication, Hall welcomed fellow commissioner Ray Judah and community leaders and speakers.
“Ray has nicknamed me ‘Hurricane Susie,'” said Gillespie. That was appropriate, she said, because the new center will also be an emergency shelter for local residents in need; a hurricane approved shelter.
Gillespie said she was more than thrilled at the huge turnout of so many at the event, and recognized many. “My volunteers know where my head is today, and several have been my backbone.”
She specifically thanked key volunteers including Norma Tenalio, Grace LaDue, Lisa Yeatter and her husband James Gillespie, who serves as co-chair for Suncoast Neighborhood Inc. and chairman of the Board of Directors.
She also sent out personal thanks to both local volunteer extraordinaire Mary Miller, Bill Shreve, chairman of the Suncoast Task Force, NFM Fire Chief Terry Pye and Lee County Manager Karen Hawes among others.
Hawes gave her thoughts. “It is a wonderful day – we go back a long way to see this building here. It is a dream come true.”
The Lee County Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with all Lee County Commissioners, were also recognized.
Chief Executive Officer and President of Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida Inc. Tom Feurig said, “Our mission is to remove barriers that cause people or communities not to be independent. We will be assisting this community association to develop the structure to operate the community center. It represents a partnership of all involved in the community.”
President of the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Cliff Smith also spoke at the ceremony. “This is truly a fantastic day, what a community is all about – a role model. You have to build communities inside out.”
Gregg Makepeace, president of the North Fort Myers Civic Association, was one of the well-wishers at the event. He has long been campaigning for more area hurricane and emergency shelters and is heavily involved in the current planning sessions for a new community center in North Fort Myers Community Park.
“This (the Suncoast Community Center) is such a great thing for the people in Suncoast; a great point for the community to pool together. It’s a new beginning for those in Suncoast and I wish them the best.”
Another speaker that talked about youth presence in North Fort Myers was Deputy Jeff Santella, executive director of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Youth Activities League. He personally recognized Suncoast youth Charles Lepley. “CJ is one of our top archery participants.”
Santella works with local youths on an archery program. “It’s competition and social networking,” he said. “We are governed by the Junior Olympics, we are not gender specific, and even those with limitations can participate.”
He encourages anyone interested in the archery program to contact him at 849-1084. The program is for youths 7 to 17.
Timeline for center
A timeline of everything that has happened in the last 14 years to make the center a reality was shared by the Lee County Department of Human Services:
Suncoast Community Center
1998- The Suncoast Neighborhood Task Force began as a grassroots organization to address community concerns.
April 2002 to present- The Lee County Board of County Commissioners designates Suncoast Estates as a target neighborhood to work closely with Lee County s Department of Human Services Neighborhood Building program. DHS utilizes Housing and Urban Development Community Block Grant Funds on infrastructure and public service projects to improve the quality of life for residents. DHS works with Suncoast in developing a Revitalization Plan focusing on safety, housing, capital improvements, social, educational and recreational activities.
Throughout the years, CDBG funds have been utilized for construction of sidewalks, storm water drainage, bus shelters, concentrated code enforcement and various public services including food pantry, resident coordinator services, and operation of their current rented center.
2003- The Suncoast Neighborhood Task Force became a 501 (c3) not for profit organization.
2004- The Suncoast Neighborhood Task Force, Inc. voted to spend CDBG funds on a community center.
April 2005- After much searching, 3.9 acres of property was purchased, and the planning stages began for a future community center.
January 2010- Construction began on the community center.
Present Day- The new community center will house the resident coordinator, who manages the center, Goodwill Industries, Inc., and other local partners to provide services. The community center has a commercial kitchen and a large meeting room which can be used for fund-raising events, special neighborhood events, large activities, a designated voting location, and much more. In addition, the center is a hardened structure, and will be used for post-disaster services to the Suncoast Estates neighborhood complete with a back-up generator.
To reach the center, call 731-9838.