The Guide

Coral Gables Youth Center--Is It 'ity's White Elephant?

By MAURICE LABELLE If the City of Coral Gables had its "druthers" — the one thing it probably would like most to undo is the present recreational set up utilizing principally the facilities of the War Memorial Youth Center. The Youth Center, constructed at an estimated cost of more than $500,000, is proving a thorn in the city's side. For more reasons than one. Although widely acclaimed at the time of its construction as a thing of beauty and joy forever, the Center has proved more of a "white elephant" which has produced receding hairlines among more than one city official and commissioner. Principal Problems The problems are many, but the principal ones are these: ■ It's costing the City more than $100,000 a year to operate it. This is many times the anticipated costs of operation, has caused a $80,000 deficit in the budget, and has led the City Commission into adopting some remedial legislation by way of fees that caused quite a ruckus. ■ Proper supervision of children is very difficult, if not impossible, because of compartmentalization. ■ It's costing the City nearly $65,000 in wages alone for its 13 supervisory personnel. ■ Vandalism has been extensive from the first day of operation when children made quick work of fancy furniture and fixtures. There are also critics who point out that all the city recreational eggs have been placed in one basket. Development of other facilities—neighborhood parks, for instance—probably have suffered as a result. Long Journeys These same critics find fault with the theory of having kids travel long distances to their recreation rather than having the recreation come to them. The city, which is making as good use of the facilities as money, manpower and circumstances will permit, is only too cognizant of the problem. But what to do? The Commission tried to go the fee route, but got its knuckles rapped and had to stick out a stub for a lot less than it had anticipated. Brought out by the rhubarb was the fact that Coral Gables is picking up the recreational tab for a lot of non-residents. Past surveys have indicated that between 60 to 75 percent of Youth Center patrons come to the City Beautiful for their fun but pay the Piper in the city halls of surrounding municipalities or to Metro. This is fodder for those who feel that this is one area properly in the domain of Metro. Internal Disputes But Metro's energies are usually expended in the internal wars within the Metro Commission and with the county manager or with truculent municipalities, and it may be some time before it gets around to that problem. Others would scrap the present building as a recreational facility and either move Coral Gables Elementary School there or transfer the operations of the Police and Fire Departments, to cite a few suggestions. This might take some legal gymnastics, but nothing is impossible in law in view of recent court gyrations. Such a plan would probably run into a host of other obstacles in the form of well intentioned local civic leaders who worked for the present setup. How did it come about? To start at the beginning, a group of civic minded individuals organized late during the World War II conflict to provide recreation for the growing community and to erect a memorial to those who had served their country. They called themselves the War Memorial Youth Center Association and their start was modest. "Sottile" Tract In 1948 the city purchased the present "Sottile" tract and created a unified block-long property which it and the Association owned and operated through a complicated system of reverters. Donations from the city to the Association, modest at first, grew steadily until combined appropriations reached more than $40,000 in the last year of the operation at the old site in 1956. Long before then the problem had outgrown the Association and they were happy to have the City take it over. It was felt that the old Youth Center site was not suitable and plans were made to move. Land was obtained from the University of Miami and in a complex legal move, Florida National Realty Company Inc. paid the City $351,600 for the old site and the Association reportedly added $54,000 to compensate the city for purchase of the UM property. Following much controversy and delay the new Youth Center finally opened amid much ado and fanfare on Dec. 7, 1956, and some wondered if the delay had not had something to do with the final opening date. Couldn't Come Gov. LeRoy Collins was to come, but couldn't make it. Among those who participated were representatives of the area's veterans organizations, city officials and Jasper D. Van Atten, president of the Youth Association; Henry W. Morgenthaler, president emeritus; Mrs. Lewis Hall, chairman of the board and Paul B. Brinson, legal counsel. But the concrete in the beautifully designed and landscaped building had hardly set when the financial problems began to crop up. Soon, acting Recreation Director William A. Adams would be leaving and fees made their appearance as the City Commission pared the budget. Disagreements cropped up with the Association over reversionary rights. Appropriations continued to mount past the $100,000 mark, leaving some wondering if matters would not have been better had the old operation been retained. Meanwhile, the City Commission faces steadily mounting deficits which some day will culminate in a seven digit mark. The problem is a tough one. How will it be solved?

Reckless Driver

Reckless driving and disobeying a police officer cost Vincent S. Maleghex, 21, of 1242 B, Walsh, a $75 fine in Metro Court Dec. 28.

Now Serving SOUTH DADE from our brand new PERRINE WAREHOUSE

WITHERS MOVING • STORAGE W WITHERS MOVING • STORAGE Nationwide Movers for over 50 Years See the Yellow Pages in CORAL GABLES • MIAMI PALM BEACH • FORT LAUDERDALE CE 5-4131

THE SOUTH DADE Chapter of the National Children's Cardiac Hospital members moved from door to door on Jan. 7 in Greater Miami that day to receive donations to support theChildren's hospital, which is completely dependent on charity. The Cardiac Hospital cares for children with heart malfunctions free of charge. It is not part of the United Fund. Left to right are vice presidents Mrs. Edwin Price, 5020 SW 95th Ave.; Mrs. Mitchel Feldman, 5045 SW 91st Ave.; president, Mrs. Ben Smith, 5225 SW 89th Ct.; and vice presidents Mrs. Leonard Davis, 9125 SW 52nd St.; Mrs. Stanley Salzman, 5935 SW 92nd Ave.

I hear they are opening SOON!

Pepi's CHILDREN'S APPAREL 257 MIRACLE MILE, CORAL GABLES Finest fashions for Infants and Children

Maid Attacked In Gables Home

A maid, identified by Coral Gables police as Carmen Ortez, no address given, was attacked by a 24-year-old man at the home of Frank Lagarino, of 1540 Placentia, early the morning of Jan. 1. She was given emergency treatment by Coral Gables firemen Bourbon B. Rouse and Jerome S. Kirk and later at Doctors' Hospital for a lump on the head and lacerated nose. The attack took place in a hallway of the home shortly after 1:30 a.m., according to police. The victim was to come in the following day to sign an affidavit against her assailant, but did not appear.

ACCEPTING ONE of the red, paper hearts, which indicates she made a donation to the South Dade Chapter of the National Children's Cardiac Hospital is Mrs. Stanley Salzman, one of the Chapter's officers. In front of her are her two children, Susan and Steven.

GARDEN SUPPLY CUSHMAN. MOTOR SCOOTERS. SALES-REPAIRS-PARTS

CUSHMAN MOTOR VEHICLES AUTHORIZED DEALER SUPER EAGLE Choice of 7.95 HP or 4.80 HP engine EAGLE Choice of 7.95 HP or 4.80 HP engine SPECIAL 4-7-5 FERTILIZER 97¢ 50-LB. LAWN SAND DELIVERED 9507 BIRD RD. CA 1-6077

Lady Breadwinners

Female lions usually serve as the family breadwinners, the National Geographic Magazine says. Toward sundown, ladies of the pride emerge from cover and stalk prey grazing on the plains. Shunning work, the maned males remain on the sidelines — until it is time to appropriate the choicest portion. Lionesses eat next; cubs get the scraps.

The Tower of London always keeps at least one raven, the National Geographic Magazine says. The tradition stems from Charles II, who predicted that England would fall if ravens ever left the Tower.

ALL FORMS OF INSURANCE STUART B. PATTERSON

1510 A S. DIXIE HWY. CORAL GABLES PHONE MO 5-1385