The Times

CORAL GABLES Shop in the City Beautiful

European campaign

Launching a campaign designed to duplicate in Europe Coral Gables' success in attracting U.S. owned multi-national companies to open Latin American management centers are, from left, Robert Guckenberger, creative director of W. M. Zemp and Associates; Phillip J. Taylor, a member of the city's Community Development Board; Ken Smith, Community Development director; and Andrew N. Vladimir, Zemp's vice president for Coral Gables. The Zemp agency, an affiliate of Young and Rubicam International, has been retained by the city to design and conduct a campaign to present the advantages of Coral Gables to European businessmen.

No courts, no swing sets in new park, residents ask

By ERICA MEYER Staff Writer The protective territoriality many residents of Coral Gables feel towards their city was the most frequently voiced concern at a public hearing Thursday, April 29, on plans for a new park in South Coral Gables. The 20 or so vocal residents who came to the hearing in the chilly Cocoplum Womens Club building wanted a quiet park, a place to sit on a bench under a tree, a park with an open area for kids to fly kites or play ball, a peaceful park. They did not want two tennis courts to attract crowds and squabbles. They did not want playground equipment because the city could be sued if a child got hurt. They didn't want barbecue pits or a bandshell or noise or crowds or outsiders. The new $1 million property that sits across from Publix Market is bounded by apartments and single family homes. It fronts on Yumuri, Monza, Nervia and San Remo with access from Venera and Domenico in the Riviera Section. It hasn't been named yet but you can call it Parcel 206 - the city does. City Manager J. Martin Gainer presented tentative plans drawn by city planner Peter Murad - just as a basis for discussion. The open areas and tree-lined sidewalks drew favorable comments but twin tennis courts did not. Larry Cohen, who owns Riviera Day School adjacent to the park property, asked if it would be maintained properly and safely. "I would like to see a place to fly kites, an open area," Cohen said. "But will the city maintain it to keep up the fields and so forth?" Though others wondered if the day school was getting a free playground in the park, W. D. Shield of Santona said, "There are other playgrounds in other school's and at Merry Christmas Park (a City of Miami park on LeJeune Rd.) I would like to see a place with trees and flowers and walkways, where you can go to look at nature." Shield said that "most people who have children have homes with yards. They can put playground things in their own yards. I'm in favor of a botanical park." His feelings were echoed by Pat Sayre, a Gables resident who said, "If we can afford to live in Coral Gables, we can afford to put swings in our own yards. "I don't want another Dante Fascell Park here. We should have an open area with walkways and picnic tables," Mrs. Sayre said, adding that two tennis courts aren't enough to fill the demand and would only create congestion. Barbara Glass of Terega favored the courts. "It's terrible that we have to send our children to South Miami to play tennis," she said. "And it's not right for South Gables residents to have to send kids all the way to Salvadore Park to play. That's quite a bike ride over quite a highway." Security at the park was a problem for some residents and for a Publix representative who asked that parking be provided at the park so that people visiting the recreational area won't tie up grocery store parking. "I like the idea of a picnic area," he laughed. "The Deli in Publix will like that too." A Venera Avenue resident said "the park is a good idea if it has controlled parking and policing. City officials said a curfew sign could be posted and reinforced with police patrols. but there had been no plans to enclose the park.

the best... of both worlds.

... Luxurious quality at unheard-of Sale Prices. The Bazaar of Coral Gables now announces its Pre-Summer Sale of name brand quality merchandise (May 3-May 17) NOW!!! - The same hours as Miracle Mile Mon.-Sat. 10:30-6 Friday 10:30-9 THE BAZAAR OF CORAL GABLES Miracle Mile at Douglas Road.