Sports & Civic Center Revamped, Refreshed

By MADDY VITALE Ocean City is a lot of things to a lot of people, from residents to tourists who enjoy the beaches, the Boardwalk, the downtown, good schools and a family-friendly community. The location many people go to play basketball, host fundraisers and participate in special events -- the Sports & Civic Center -- is near completion, complete with a new brick facade, updates and upgrades, officials noted. The facility, located at Sixth Street and the Boardwalk, was outdated and needed some refreshing. A couple of years ago the city made it a priority in its capital plan. With just a few punch list items left, the project is nearly done, Mayor Jay Gillian said in an interview Saturday. “This facility is for the community. We realized that it needed some updates,” Gillian noted. “We have a great facility now. Ocean City is about community. We are not just about the Boardwalk or downtown. We have a lot of things to offer.” The Civic Center is the staging area for many events, including the HERO Campaign fundraiser. A few years back, the city discussed updating the center and put the project in the capital plan. But the project had some delays, due to the COVID-19 pandemic stalling delivery of materials. The $3.2 million project to redesign the sports complex was performed by Capri Construction Co. Inc. of Vineland. The renovation included a new HVAC system, reconstruction of existing bathrooms, office areas, windows, a vestibule, storage, and concessions space. The building's exterior was also given a facelift to make it more attractive, including the addition of a new entrance that features an overhang. The parking lot next to the facility also was repaved, giving people ample parking for events, fundraisers and practices. Over the years, the complex has been rented out for sporting events and fundraisers. It has been used as the staging area for nonprofit fundraisers such as the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign Walk/Run, Ocean City’s MS Walk and a host of other activities. The Civic Center has been the location for many youth and adult sporting events.
(Photo courtesy of Kerri Janto) Gillian said while the pandemic stalled the completion, the end result is a facility that the community can enjoy and the city can feel proud of. “The pandemic has been horrible, but it gave us more time to get the Civic Center done right,” he pointed out. “We even have been able to do some more things. We put up new basketball nets. We just want it to be a place enjoyed by everyone, especially the kids.” The Civic Center is widely used by teams at the adjacent turf field at Carey Stadium. It is also rented by some college athletic programs for their workouts. Villanova University’s football team has practiced at the stadium for several years. “People don’t realize how busy the facility is year-round. It is used by so many families,” Gillian said. “It also is an opportunity to bring colleges in to practice. It is a great asset.” Construction was delayed by the pandemic.