Park Site for Sports Complex to Be Studied

Though voters last week rejected a proposal for a citywide tax to pay for beach and park improvements, one City Council member is not giving up the quest to acquire and develop sites for youth sports.

Councilman Dave Garofalo this week proposed building a youth sports complex, Olympic-size swimming pool and senior center at Huntington Central Park.

Under his proposal, a bond would be issued to pay for construction, and the city would then lease the facilities to community-based organizations.

Garofalo, who had opposed the ballot measure, said his plan would be less costly because the facilities would be built on property already owned by the city.

But Councilman Ralph H. Bauer, who supported the ballot measure, spoke against Garofalo’s idea, calling it unrealistic.

Support for youth sports facilities is still strong across the city, despite differences over the best course of action.

Members of Save Our Kids, a youth advocacy group that had supported the ballot measure, asked the council at Monday night’s meeting to form a committee to discuss the alternatives.

The council agreed to appoint a panel made up of Garofalo, Bauer, Councilman Tom Harman and representatives of youth sport groups to put together a proposal for the April 15 council session. Action on Garofalo’s proposal was deferred until then.

“We want to pool all our ideas for a plan that works,” Councilwoman Shirley S. Dettloff said. “We all have the same goal, and that is to improve sports programs for young people. It’s time to put together a realistic plan.”