New Community Center at Fremont's Central Park

Background

In March 2022, the City Council of the City of Fremont adopted a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PRMP). A high priority identified in the plan, based on extensive public outreach, was a need to build a multi-use community center to replace outdated and failing buildings in Central Park. Development of a new Central Park community center is now underway. The community center will be a signature building in the 433-acre Central Park, prominently located adjacent to Lake Elizabeth, with expansive views of Mission Peak and the surrounding hills. The building will be centrally located adjacent to the current Fremont Main Library, near the corner of Stevenson Boulevard and Paseo Padre Parkway, and it will replace the existing Fremont Community Center and Teen Center located at Central Park.

Community Engagement

During the time-period from late February through April 2024, an extensive level of outreach with the community was conducted to help refine the preferred design features of the building and surrounding site. The City received input from 2,600 participants through MyFremont and at in-person meetings, events, and Recreation Commissions.

Proposed Phase 1 Project, Funding Sources, and Schedule

A total of $35.5 million in funding has been secured for the project from City of Fremont ($26 million), State of California ($9 million) and Federal ($0.5 million) sources. Using these funds, a “Phase 1” project is proposed that consists of the following features:

• New 11,800 square foot Community Center building with a flexible fitness and dance room; flexible program rooms for arts, crafts, enrichment and STEM learning; exterior patios for expanding programs to outdoors; and a community meeting room.
• Expands the existing Teen Center parking lot from 125 to 225 spaces, provides a landscaped circular entryway, and creates new access to Paseo Padre Parkway.
• Installs patios, furnishings, and shade features to create an Outdoor Living Room supporting outside social and relaxation spaces in the area between the Community Center and the future Gymnasium.

Construction of the Phase 1 Community Center project is proposed to start in early 2026 and be complete in 2027.

Future Phases

If additional funding can be secured, expansion of the Community Center complex is proposed to include two additional phases:

• Phase 2 - Event Hall and Event Terrace/Lawn (includes expanding the Community Center building by 9,400 square feet providing a large event space supporting an indoor seated table capacity for 400 people. Constructs an outdoor terrace and canopy for an added table-seating capacity of 200 persons; and includes an adjoining ceremonial lawn area. The Event Hall can be flexibly partitioned into three spaces to accommodate multiple smaller events or recreation activities. Installs a commercial kitchen to support events up to 600 people and can be used for cooking classes).
• Phase 3 – Gymnasium and Outdoor Amphitheatre (provides a 13,500 square foot gym building with flexible use for basketball, volleyball, badminton and pickle ball. Constructs a new outdoor amphitheater in the area between the Main Library and the new Community Center. Includes expansion of the parking lot from 225 to 295 spaces to accommodate increased use of the community center area).

To keep posted on the progress of the project, sign up to get email notifications and check for updates on this MyFremont webpage.

Conceptual Site Plan and Conceptual Building Plan