WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Town of Colmar Manor’s new Community Center.  Construction of the $6 million, 22,000 ft. state-of-the-art facility was made possible in part due to almost $400,000 in federal funding that Senator Cardin and other members of the congressional delegation helped to facilitate.

“Residents of Colmar Manor and surrounding communities will benefit greatly for years to come from this new, environmentally sustainable community center,” said Senator Cardin.  “This is an important federal investment that will strengthen the Port Town communities and Prince George’s County.”    

The new multi-use community facility will provide recreational opportunities for members of the community.  The new facility will provide regulation basketball court, fitness and game room, computer lab, senior outreach center, jogging track, industrial kitchen and a multi-purpose room with a large seating capacity.  It also will house the Town of Colmar Manor’s administrative offices.

In 2002, the Colmar Manor initiated efforts to replace its outdated town hall with a new facility capable of meeting a wide-variety of community needs and accommodating the growing population of the Port Towns of Bladensburg, Cottage City and Edmonston and other nearby communities.  Colmar Manor received funding from federal EDI Appropriations Requests and the State of Maryland.  The Colmar Manor contributed the balance due in the amount of $3,500,000 in the form of a tax-exempt, bank-qualified note.     

The new community center also includes solar panels on the roof, which is expected to save approximately 10 percent annually in energy costs.

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