GONZALES — City of Gonzales has launched the public phase of a capital campaign to build a new community center, following last Thursday’s press conference.
The Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center Complex will be constructed on a city-owned parcel at Gabilan Court and Fifth Street, just east of Fairview Middle School, and will be comprised of a community hall, teen innovation center, fitness center, county library, outdoor theater space and a courtyard with outdoor gathering spaces.
“The Community Center Complex will be a great benefit to our entire community, a safe and inclusive gathering place for recreation, learning and community activities,” said Carmen Gil, interim city manager.
The estimated project budget is $34.8 million, and the entire project has been broken down into three phases so the project can be built as funds become available.
The city currently has the funding to construct Phase 1 — estimated to cost $21 million — including $7.5 million from Measure X sales tax funds, $800,000 from Community Development Block Grants funds, $1.8 million from Monterey County and $5 million from the State of California.
During the Dec. 8 press conference, the City of Gonzales announced that it is already halfway to reaching the capital campaign’s goal of $10 million. Lead gifts given prior to the campaign’s public phase launch total more than $5 million, and were donated by Taylor Farms, Rubbo Pura Family, Janice Caprara, Rava Ranches and Santa Fe Foods.
Speakers at Thursday’s event included Sen. Anna Caballero, Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez, Mayor Jose Rios, Bruce Taylor from Taylor Farms and Gonzales Youth Commissioner Sheryln Flores-Magadan.
“I had the chance to share a few words at the launch of the new campaign to raise funds for the Community Center in Gonzales,” said Lopez, whose district covers Gonzales and the South Monterey County region, on social media afterward. “It was announced the center would be named after Dennis and Janice Caprara, a well deserved tribute to people who have given so much back to our community.”
Lopez added, “It was great to see (Caballero) and the team from (Assemblymember Robert Rivas’) office as well as the entire Gonzales City Council, (Flores-Magadan) gave a great speech as did Bruce Taylor as we committed to see this project through. It’s going to take collaboration and partnership to raise the final five million, but we are on our way with over five raised already!”
To keep donations separate from city funds, the city partnered with the Community Foundation for Monterey County to set up a fund specifically for the capital campaign. All donations from individuals and grant funds will go to the Community Foundation and will be used exclusively for building the community center.
For more information about the community center and capital campaign, or to donate, visit the website cfmco.org/GonzalesCommunityCenter.
A fly-through video of the center’s conceptual design is available below:
