Friday was an Indian summer day befitting the groundbreaking for the new Eastern Greenwich Civic Center.
The new civic center will actually be named the Cohen Eastern Greenwich Civic Center in honor of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation’s donation of $5 million toward the $22 million cost for the project.
A crowd of town officials donned hard hats as backhoes moved dirt, and piles of scrap metal lent an eerie feel to the remaining rubble from the original civic center.
But the sky was as blue as the rendering of the new building, and enthusiasm was in the air.
First Selectman Fred Camillo recalled decades of talk about replacing the building, which had fallen into disrepair. He said he was grateful to the people who served on the many committees over the years that had hoped to bring the project to fruition, but noted that it was the recent committee led by former Parks & Rec board member Gary Dell’Abate who “got it over the goal line.”
Camillo also thanked former DPW superintendent of building construction and maintenance Al Monelli and his successor Luigi Romano, as well as Parks & Rec Director Joe Siciliano and BET member Karen Fassuliotis.
Others in attendance included BET Chair Dan Ozizmir, State Senator Ryan Fazio, RTM Moderator Pro Tempore Kate Lobalbo, Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan, State Rep Steve Meskers, and State Rep Kimberly Fiorello.
“I got on the board in 2011, and this was specifically why I got on the board. This project was my passion,” said former Parks & Rec board co-chair and Parks & Rec Civic Center committee chair Gary Dell’Abate.
“There were many before me who tried hard. Their work was important to getting this done,” said Gary Dell’Abate who thanked his co-chair Scott Johnson, the committee and the Cohen family.
“My kids grew up playing and rollerskating here. My wife taught art classes to grammar school kids here. I spent many hours here coaching, shooting hoops and even attending the occasional charity event.”
“Our mantra through this whole thing was creating a multi-functional, multi-generational community center, and after years of discussion – a little arguing and compromising and everything coming together I believe we’ve achieved that goal. It’s a very good day for the town of Greenwich.
In August, many of the same crowd gathered for a bit of nostalgia and to have a go at the sledgehammer. The civic center was originally built in 1950 as an employee recreation center for Electrolux. Early on it is was a destination for teen dances and live concerts including performances by The Rascals and The Doors. And then there were reunions, pancake breakfasts, graduations, basketball leagues, rollerblading, Boys Club father-son dinners, Indian Guides and Indian Princesses events.
The groundbreaking kicked off the construction phase of the project, which Siciliano estimated would take 20-24 months to complete. The 40,000 sq ft building will feature a full size 8,000 sq ft gymnasium with a small seating area, an 8,000 sq ft multi-purpose event space, some meeting/classroom spaces with multiple dividers including an area outfitted for art classes. It will accommodate Kap Kairphree, as well as some administrative offices.
On Friday Camillo said there will be just as many great memories made in the new civic center, but in a much better venue.
Buckets of scrap metal from the original Eastern Greenwich Civic Center, which was originally built as an Electrolux employee recreational center. Oct 7, 2022 Photo: Leslie Yager
See also:
PHOTOS: Moment of Nostalgia for Soon-to-Be-Demolished Eastern Greenwich Civic Center
Aug 14, 2022