Young and Old Celebrate as Center Reopens : Oxnard: A partnership with the city rescues the complex, which faced closure a year ago because of budget cuts.

City leaders joined some of Oxnard’s youngest and oldest citizens Thursday in hailing the reopening of the South Oxnard Center, calling it a triumphal first step in building public and private partnerships in the budget-strapped city.

The 4-year-old complex, which houses a day-care center, a public library branch and recreation facilities, faced near certain extinction a year ago because of budget cuts.

But in February, the city opted to save the center by relinquishing control to the Boys & Girls Club of Oxnard in exchange for the center’s funding.

At that time, senior citizens were concerned that programming for them would vanish, and since the reopening, several have complained that recreational activities for children and senior citizens do not mix.

“The mixing of the ages is not the best thing for any of us,” said Sylvia Feit, who works with the city’s commission on aging. “After the morning (the center) becomes a battleground.”

But at Thursday’s celebration, several senior citizens said the 16,000-square-foot center has improved dramatically since the Boys & Girls Club took over.

“It used to be a bunch of old men playing pool,” said 72-year-old Mary Capolino. “Now we have exercises and pot lucks. This place has really come alive.”

City staff continues to monitor the center to ensure it is providing services for everyone. The center’s director, Abe Oliveras, said senior citizens have even begun sponsoring children’s memberships in the program.

“Before this place was only used by seniors, now we’ve got people from all ages together. It’s really good for the community,” he said.

Oxnard officials are quick to add that the partnership is also good for the city’s pocketbook. The Boys & Girls Club leases the space for $1, and then covers the $160,000 a year it takes to run the facility.

Councilman Tom Holden, who is also a board member of the Boys & Girls Club, said the partnership benefits everyone.

“The city comes out ahead because we’re able to keep this center open,” he said. “The Boys & Girls Club comes out ahead because they have a great facility on what is essentially a free lease. I’m real excited by the idea and I hope this lays the groundwork for future projects.”

Mayor Manuel Lopez said the city has already begun looking for ways to form similar partnerships to fund other community services.

“I see this as an excellent first step,” Lopez said. “With the way the economy is going and the changes in the way local government is funded, we feel this may be one good way to maintain services.”

Lopez said the Carnegie Museum might be the next target for private funding because it is funded by the city but used by people from all over Southern California.

“We can no longer afford to support facilities like the museum that serve the whole region,” Lopez said. “We’re hoping we can solicit support from nonprofit groups like the Boys Club to help us provide the services that people want.”