The parks advisory committee and the Island Parks and Recreation Foundation have been working on the new community center’s design for at least four years. The proposal calls for the addition of a 39,315 square feet building on the site of the existing 8,000 square feet community center at Mackle Park. Some new features have also been proposed such as an exercise circle around the park’s lake.
Sarasota-based family-owned building and development company is expected to fund the project. The funds would be repaid by the city over 12 years. If approved, the project will take 18-24 months to complete.
The Mackle Park community center features covered basketball courts, shuffleboard and bocce ball, an indoor game room with ping pong and an X-box, and the Kid’s Cove playground. There is also a 10-acre lake surrounded by a walking trail.
