• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Multi-million Dollar MWR Center Opens in Sigonella

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050815-01
Release Date: 8/15/2005 7:58:00 AM

By Journalist 3rd Class Michael Lavender, Naval Air Station Sigonella Public Affairs

SIGONELLA, Sicily (NNS) -- The long-awaited Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Midtown Complex opened June 17.

The $24 million facility was originally slated to be opened in October of this year, but after hard work and determination, Sigonellans can enjoy the facility much sooner.

“Our commanding officer, Capt. [Joseph] Stuyvesant, took our most aggressive schedule and asked if we could open up a week sooner than what we proposed,” said Lt. Jennifer Avery, the NAS I recapitalization manager. “He wanted this project to be finished as much as we did.”

“We finished the building in May and spent the rest of the time moving in equipment and phasing in personnel,” said Avery. “It was a lot of hard work, but the result was well worth it.”

Twenty-three months after construction began, Midtown’s first patrons entered the mall-like complex. Inside, they found a multitude of things to do, including two movie theaters, a 10-lane bowling alley, a complete gym with state-of-the-art equipment, and an outdoor pool with two waterslides and a kid’s playing area.

The 90,000-square-foot complex was the result of an initiative to recapitalize European bases.

“The recapitalization effort began in Naples,” said James Baker, Sigonella’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) director. “Then Bahrain had some recapitalization work done, and we began building this complex shortly after.”

“Facility planners brought out senators and congressmen to see our old buildings and to convince them of the need to build something new and to fund it,” added Avery. “They agreed shortly after that we needed a new facility on Sigonella.”

“We’re very lucky to have such a unique facility,” said Baker. “It combines everything into one package. I’m sure it’s one of a kind. No other base or service has anything like it.”

“We’re overseas in an area where not a lot of the things we had in the states are available,” added Avery. “It’s important to have a fun place to go to, and that can be hard at Sigonella because we’re on an island. We hope this complex brings a small part of
home to Sigonella.”

Other projects are still underway and will open individually as completed.

“We have a skateboard park being built where the old theater was,” said Baker. “That will hopefully be completed by September. We’re also demolishing the old gym, AU and bowling alley buildings to construct the East Plaza and the parking areas.”

“We owe a lot to the Public Works department,” added Baker. “They had a huge hand in helping us build this facility. We also are very grateful to the contractors. Without their hard work and dedication, this complex would never have opened as soon as it did.”

Various games and festivities were held during the grand opening. Synchronized swimmers from Sigonella’s Swordfish swim team graced the pool with their stunning coordinated movements both in and out of the pool.

In the indoor basketball court, a kid’s 3-legged race was held. And throughout Midtown, Sailors and family members could enter into a drawing for round-trip tickets back to the United States.