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Keep Tampa's Rogers Park Public, Group Says

Tribune photo by JAY NOLAN

Annie Tirado, 12, practices chipping in front of her brother, Esteban Tirado, 11, at Rogers Park. The siblings are part of the First Tee program designed to teach golf to boys and girls.

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Published: October 20, 2008

TAMPA - Rogers Park holds a unique place in Tampa's history. In the early 1950s, it was the only gathering spot open to blacks for picnics or political rallies.

A golf course was built with donations from prominent black families and volunteer labor, including black caddies from the all-white Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club.

Many want to see the park and golf course designated as historical landmarks and become home to a black golfers' Hall of Fame.

But a deal allowing the YMCA to headquarter a second location for First Tee of Tampa Bay, a golf program for inner-city children, in the park's former clubhouse is coming under scrutiny. Among the critics is James Ransom, grandson of G.D. Rogers, for whom the East Tampa park is named.

In the late 1990s, an activist group defeated a proposal to transfer management of the city-owned property from the Tampa Sports Authority to the YMCA. Ransom and about 10 others met recently to re-form Citizens Who Support Keeping Rogers Park Public.

"This is another game to get their feet inside this park," Ransom said.

The group, which meets again tonight, hopes to lobby the Tampa City Council and sports authority to rescind the contract, which gives the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA a 10-year, rent-free lease.

The YMCA is set to begin a $250,000 remodeling of the vacant clubhouse's kitchen and restaurant. The work is being donated by Clark Construction.

The national First Tee program teaches golf and lifestyle skills to minority and poor children. Scholarships are offered to cover YMCA membership fees.

Locally, First Tee is offered at Franklin Middle School and Academy Prep. Franklin Middle's Golf Academy began last year and has grown from about a dozen students to more than 40 who practice at Rogers Park.

Criticism of the contract caught the city by surprise.

"It seemed like a way to re-energize the clubhouse," said Santiago Corrada, neighborhood services administrator.

Lionel Ballard, whose uncle helped build Rogers Park, said a historical designation is long overdue. But he supports the YMCA and First Tee of Tampa Bay. "They are doing positive things for inner-city kids," he said.

Frank DuBose, who is on the sports authority's golf committee, said the contract differs from the one proposed more than 10 years ago. "It is only for a section of the building and practice holes and it will not change ownership of the park itself," he said.

To allay concerns, the contract can be amended to state that the park never becomes private, DuBose said.

"We have no interest in anything more than the First Tee program," YMCA Director Tom Looby said. "I've said that to everybody."

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.

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