By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — As the Town of Naples tries to replace the loss of its gymnasium with a proposed recreation and community center, the most recent cost estimate was revealed.

Last week, Naples Town Manager Jason Rogers reported that he had received an estimate from the team at Great Falls Construction, Inc.

“The initial price is approximately $6.1 million,” Rogers said. “That is an estimate. It still has to go out to bid. This is the early stages. We put it out for bid — if the town decides that is the path they want to go down.”

“I am really excited about what they will be able to deliver for that $6.1 million,” he said.

Great Falls arrived at the cost estimate after soliciting prices from a few contractors.

Town officials had been waiting on a price estimate to accompany the sketches that will be made available to the public.

A few weeks earlier, on Feb. 26, the Naples Select Board got the first glimpse at an artist’s rendering.

“Great Falls has done an artist’s rendering. This is the first step in a longer conception,” Rogers said.

There had been $25,000 left in the budget of the Naples Community Center Exploratory Committee. Therefore, the cost was capped at $25,000. The end result was an initial design and artist’s rendering that will be most likely be made into a pamphlet for residents’ edification. 

Rogers said he seemed futile to spend more money on the design end of things only “to have it voted down.”

“All this will come down to a vote in the June Primary. We would have to seek funding for this by way of a loan,” he said.

Most likely, the next step is the preparation of Request for Proposals (RFPs).