Wednesday, April 30, 1997
City to end program after 18 years
By ANTHONY WILSON Staff Writer
Abilene's city-sponsored gymnastics program takes a tumble
May 24.
Rather than renewing its instructor's contract, which expires
that day, the city will pursue the sale of its aging gymnastics
equipment and end its 18-year-old program.
The decision coincides with the local YMCA's decision to expand
its gymnastics program. Details will be unveiled next week.
On Tuesday, city administrators explained the YMCA and two
privately owned gyms are better able to meet the demands for gymnastics
classes.
"If there's a need out there, we've always tried to fill
it," Community Services Director Mike Hall said. "That's
what we did with this program. With two private programs and the
YMCA, we don't see the need to continue the program.
"I'm sure everybody's not going to be happy with the decision
to get out of the business," Hall added. "But to continue
it would cost the taxpayers. This is a better option, to let other
entities take it up."
The gymnastics program has been a headache for City Hall staffers
for months.
Late last year, Sears Park neighbors cried foul when the city
razed two racquetball courts at the park's recreation center to
clear more room for the citywide gymnastics program.
City Hall eventually moved the 175 gymnasts to the Taylor County
fairgrounds while it scouted 27 potential sites. More recently,
the city has leased space at Woods Behavioral Center through the
life of instructor Dominique Aguirre's contract.
The YMCA opted to expand its program rather than rent the city
space at its State Street gym. City administrators said they were
willing to help Aguirre find a home for a private program and
to lease her the city's equipment, but they would not subsidize
gymnastics classes.
Now the city is committed to discontinuing its program.
"We no longer have a place we can provide for it to meet,"
said City Manager Lanny Lambert, whose daughter is enrolled in
the program. "Private industry and the YMCA are making aggressive
entry into the field and they can meet those needs. We won't be
in the gymnastics business anymore."
The decision is sure to upset Aguirre's clientele, who were
frustrated by their removal from Sears Park and the city's unwillingness
to provide a facility.
The parents and students are also fiercely loyal to the instructor,
saying they won't enroll in any program in which Aguirre's not
involved.
"Just because the city's getting out of the business doesn't
mean we'll run to another program," Susie Shahan said. "I
don't think you'll see a lot of parents saying, 'We're going to
the Y.' If they think we will, they're fooling themselves."
Aguirre thrice turned down job offers from the YMCA. The final
offer, issued about a month ago, essentially matched the arrangement
Aguirre has with the city.
Currently, she works two days a week and gets 75 percent of
the program's revenue, from which she pays two assistants. The
YMCA offered 70 percent, Aguirre said.
"We were on a par with what the city offered her,"
said Vance Burton, executive director of the YMCA of Abilene.
"We made every effort. We assumed the situation wasn't going
to work and that there was nothing we could do to make it work."
The YMCA will introduce its new staff on Monday.
Aguirre said she regrets not accepting the offer, explaining
she believed the city would help her find a new gym and lease
her its equipment.
"I still thought the city was loyal to me," she said.
"I saw no reason to take the job. Now I'm stuck with nowhere
to go. It's a mess. I don't know what's going to happen. And the
kids don't either. I don't know what to tell them."
City Council candidate Billy Enriquez, who spearheaded the
Sears Park protest, has pressed the city to expand the recreation
center to accommodate the gymnasts.
Hall said such an expansion isn't economically feasible, noting
it would cost more than $100,000. Though an addition has been
included in the city's capital improvement plan for years, other
needs have taken priority.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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