Changes abound at NFM Community Changes abound at NFM Community Center
James Pittro has joined the staff of the North Fort Myers Community Center, right in time to start planning for summer camp and for the new, highly anticipated community center building.
As a senior recreation specialist, he will join fellow long-time senior recreation specialist Libby Olive in the spot that has long been held by June Christine Susterich, known as “Miss Chris.”
They actually have switched sites, with Pittro coming to North Fort Myers and Susterich going to Veterans Park in Lehigh Acres, with personal and professional advantages for both.
“This is a new opportunity and a new adventure for Christine,” said Olive. “This is so much closer to her home that she can actually ride her bike to work.”
Susterich will take her experience in program development and execution to Lehigh, while Pittro will bring his experience of working with a much larger community center to North Fort Myers.
Part of North Fort Myers Community Park, located behind the library on North Tamiami Trail, the new larger community center facility will be approximately 30,000 square feet.
“The North Fort Myers Community Center will be modeled after the Estero Center, minus the additional basketball court,” said Lee County Parks & Recreation Director David W. Harner II. “There will be much more indoor meeting space and more indoor recreational area and activities, also a weight room and a work out space.”
The project more importantly is planned to serve as an emergency shelter for the community, and that has been eagerly awaited by many local residents.
The new center has long been in the Lee County Plan. Funding for an actual start had been an issue, but was found through the General Fund to be repaid through impact fees, Harner said.
On Pittro’s appointment, Harner said, “His experience will be well utilized at this facility.”
Pittro brings a variety of skills he learned in working with one of Lee County’s largest centers for the last seven years.
“I opened the original recreation center there, one of the first of its kind for Lee County. I did recreation, administration, maintenance – a little bit of everything,” he said. “I honestly think at a big center you have to know a bit of everything.”
The indoor space of the current North Fort Myers facility is approximately 2,500 square feet. This new one will be 30,000 plus.
“We used to go in there in hardhats,” he said, as part of the construction process. “When I was contacted for this job I felt I had the ability to bring some experience and new ideas to the table; what we can even do better.”
Ground breaking is expected in June, with officials hoping the new center will be open a year from then.
“I think it (Lehigh) was a hub for everything – we had work out classes, played basketball, had aerobics, meeting rooms and more.
“This location is perfect for this community,” he said. “Not only do we have the park and the new recreational center, we have a library right in the same area.”
His expertise in everything from planning and running programs to maintenance of a new building – with all that can happen – will be welcomed at the center, officials said.
“What I’m looking forward to is getting out into the community, perhaps getting more community partnerships and sponsors for some of our events.”
He has already met with officials from the Fraternal Order of the Orioles, which again pledges to support the park’s summer camps. (See related article.)
He’s a Southwest Floridian, a graduate of Cypress Lake High School.
“I grew up in South Fort Myers and went to college at Edison. It was funny how I got in with the county. At the same time I was running a fishing/charter boat on Sanibel/Captiva I started volunteering with the county, special events out of Callosahatchee Regional Park.”
He went on to volunteer more at regional parks, places he likes to spend his time off with his young daughter.
Summer camp will start on June 4, and he will be working with Senior Recreation Specialist Jennifer Valez.
“We’ve got things every week – skating, bowling, going to the pool and more. We re also going to be doing programs at the library, and the big field trips will be the Naples Zoo and The King Richards Fun Park. There’s other things that are still coming, being finalized now.”
For information on the camp call, 652-4512.