NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. Community leaders in the Westside neighborhood want the city to focus more on the recreational needs of the children there and to address cracked sidewalks and overgrown tree branches.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- It's the "appearance" of two New Smyrnas that has some Westside leaders speaking up about the city's seemingly endless focus on the economics of Canal Street and Flagler Avenue, the tourist- and business-oriented parts of the city while the area west of the U.S. 1 railroad tracks, which is predominantly black, gets lesser attention.
"We have to do better as far as our appearance and that's what's killing us," said Pete Carter, a minister in the Westside, who asked at Tuesday night's City Commission meeting why Pettis Park remained closed even though the basketball court renovation appeared complete.
He also asked why so many children are forced to languish in the heat because the Babe James Center is not affordable to many families, a facility that was available free to him as a child.
"It's just the appearance," Carter said of the shiny new court that was supposed to be ready by now, especially with school now out for the summer. "It seems like we're overlooking a lot of things," Carter said. "It looked like the court was ready... It's just the appearance. If we say we're going to do something, we need to do it."
Carter said the Babe James Center is toted as a community center, but in reality is not accessible because many of the families who live around it can't afford the fees.
He said it's no practical for many of the youngsters to get to the beach, which is several miles away, and seeing a refurbished park they can't use is frustrating.
"We need some help -- I'm here to assist you. We have to do better with our appearance and that's what's killing us... I'm tired of seeing the Westside on the side."
Carter spoke in response to a request by the contractor Tony Misiano who asked whether the city would consider accepting liability and possibly allow the basketball court to be used while he finishes other work at the park.
Misiano's concern was he didn't want to be held liable should a youngster get hurt.
City Engineer Kyle Fegley advised the commission that he had no problem as long as lighting and electrical upgrades were completed first, which is scheduled to be done now by the end of July.
Mayor Sally Mackay and Interim City Manager Khalid Resheidat said they would review the timetable for the necessary work at the park to be completed and would also explore the feasibility of relaxing fees at Babe James.
The mayor told Carter, "I don't want appearances to be improved, I want the reality to be improved."
Westside resident Kerry-Anne Purkiss reiterated Carter's concerns about recreational outlets for the children, but went even further, saying the city needs to trim overgrown tree branches and fix cracked sidewalks.
"There is deterioration everywhere," she said, adding she takes her children to the beachside's Flagler Avenue with its quaint boutiques and array of restaurants. "The sidewalks are gorgeous. The trees are splendid."
Unfortunately, the deterioration on the Westside is a reality, she said, imploring the commission: "Save the charm on both sides. Not just necessarily on the east side, which is very different."
FAST FACTS:
The Westside was actually a segregated communiy within New Smyrna Beach with its own high School, Chisholm, until the late 1960s. And up until that time, blacks were not allowed to go to the beach off Flagler Avenue, but instead were allowed to go to the Bethune Beach area at the far end of the peninsula.
BABE JANMES FEES:
NSBNEWS.net checked with the city's Recreation Department about fees at Babe James Center.
The cost to use the Babe James Center is a one-time registration fee of $20 and $40 per week for all city residents; $5 for non-city residents
Those who can't afford this, but want to use the facility are required to pay a $20 registration fee and $15 a week. There are 65 children enrolled on a weekly basis at Babe James, though that number is no broken down to how many actually live in the Westside.
There are 37 other children who attend programs at the Teen Center on Live Oak Street.
Babe James features a game room with X-boxes, air hockey and table tennis; a TV room; a computer room and a gym.
The city funds $100,000 for supplies at Babe James and employs two full-timers and one part-timer.
Boy Scouts and the NSB Police Athletic League also use the center.
The hours of the summer program are 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It also includes breakfast and lunch.
The city has ordered four new computers for the computer room and the PAL has been awarded a grant to purchase six new computers, two printers and some additional furniture.
Editor's Note: Babe James information was provided by Kimla Shelton, program coordinator for Parks & Recreation.