THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 22, 1997 TAG: 9701220427
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 59 lines
Volunteers working for a new youth center persuaded the Dare County Board of Commissioners Tuesday to match a quarter-million dollar grant to build their facility.
The supporters promise the center would ease pressures on the recreation department while providing a space for the entire community to enjoy.
Members of the Dare County Youth Center board have collected about $115,000 from the community since fund-raising efforts began last spring. The proposed building, to be built at the county's Family Recreation Park in Kill Devil Hills, is expected to cost about $656,353.
``If you haven't noticed - there's a plague among teen-agers,'' said Jennifer Perciavalle, editor of Manteo High School's newspaper Sound to Sea. ``And that plague is, there's nothing to do.''
Perciavalle said the big gym that's planned for the center would be perfect not just for sporting activities, but could be a great place to hold the high school prom. Plus, it could become a much-needed gathering spot for beach teen-agers.
``We could have night activities, which would be helping students to stay out of trouble,'' Perciavalle said.
The youth center is seeking the maximum amount available through the North Carolina Parks and Recreation grant.
``If we receive the grant, as soon as the money is released by the state, we would like to start,'' said Loretta Michael, executive director of the Children and Youth Partnership, which is overseeing the Youth Center project.
Commissioner Cheryl Byrd questioned the youth center's seeming about-face in its previous claims to be independent and eschew county funds.
``Really, you're asking for more than two-thirds of the cost to be borne by the county and state government - which is quite a departure and a big financial commitment you're asking for,'' Byrd said.
But a youth center representative said the centrally located facility will save money for the county in the long run and help alleviate the scheduling stress on the recreation department.
``At the point we're at now, we're going to have to limit the participation, or we're going to have to have more facilities,'' said Bobby Outten, vice chairman of the Dare County Recreational Advisory Board. ``You're getting a tremendous deal for your money because of the gym space - you're getting all this for what you'd pay for a gym.''
In addition to a gymnasium, theproposed center will include a multipurpose room, a special activities room, a snack lounge, kitchen, offices and storage space.
The board unanimously approved the grant application. The county is committing to spend the $250,000, which is available in the capital reserve fund, only if the application is approved by the state.
In other business Tuesday, the board approved an amendment to Roanoke Island's zoning map. The amendment will extend adjacent zoning into newly discovered portions of unzoned property that were recently revealed by advanced drafting techniques. The board also agreed to amend the village-commercial zoning district in Duck to exclude drive-thru fast food restaurants, but allowed an existing facility to remain for 40 years.
The panel also scheduled a hearing on the Duck water line extensions Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Duck Firehouse.