VERO BEACH — Protests over the proposed shutdown of Vero Beach recreation facilities and elimination of kids’ programs due to city budget cuts have given rise to philanthropy – local businesses footing the bill to rescue some treasured activities and traditions from extinction.
The Aerial Antics Circus in the summer, the Halloween parade in the fall, the Easter egg hunt and Mother- Daughter tea in the spring and this week’s Fourth of July celebration are all sponsored at least in part by local businesses and family foundations.
The owners of one Vero insurance agency, Nick and Erin Rains of Rains Insurance, have even stepped up to help defray the cost of keeping the Royal Palm Pointe fountain open, to the tune of $2,000.
Mulligan’s Beach House Bar and Grill owner George Hart gives about $13,000 per year, $10,000 of which pays for the annual fireworks display and Tom Corr of the George E. Warren Corporation on Ocean Drive gave $3,000 in October for general recreation operations while Publix Supermarket Charities kicked in $1,000.
Since the beginning of October, more than $23,000 worth of cash, goods and other in-kind donations have been given to the Vero Beach Recreation Department.
By the time the fiscal year closes on Sept. 30, that amount could be more than double with installation of donated sun shades at two city playgrounds.
That $25,000 worth of equipment is being given to the city by a group of local civic-minded moms called The Buggy Bunch, made possible by a grant from State Farm Insurance.
The Vero Beach Art Club is also donating new murals at the Vero Beach Community Center, said Recreation Director Rob Slezak, and this is not the first public artwork to be given to the city.
In February, local Rotary Clubs and Rotary International dedicated a 600-pound limestone Peace Pole, which was installed at Humiston Park.
Just four years ago, sponsorships of recreation programs by businesses and private citizens amounted to just $4,000 per year.
Slezak, who has headed up Vero’s recreation programs for decades, in good times and in lean times, said he’s overwhelmed with gratitude for the way the community has shown with its pocketbook that it value recreation in the city.
He said it’s been a joy to work with businesses like Mulligan’s and that feeling seems to be mutual.
“The city has such great staff and volunteers and this touches a lot more people than some of the other things we might do,” said Angie Schepers, who handles Mulligan’s marketing. “It’s such a nice city and there’s so much here to offer.”
The latest donation by Rains Insurance represents a new concept in sponsorship.
The $2,000 pledged by Rains will pay for expenses incurred to open the Royal Palm Pointe fountain on Sundays during spring break and summer break from school for the kids.
Erin and Nick Rains have close connections with the city and both worked for the recreation department while in high school and college.
“We found out about the fountain issues through Rob Slezak. We had been to the fountains a couple times and they were closed so we asked Rob why they were closed,” Nick Rains said. “I have a 2-year-old son named Memphis who loves the fountains. We saw a specific need for something that we really enjoy and think needs to be a part of the community.”
Rains said he would urge other businesses to do whatever they can to help prevent free things like the fountain from going away due to lack of money.
“The $2,000 is just what it took to fill in the gap between what the city could do and what the community needed,” he said. “I think anyone or any business who has the ability or time to contribute to the community or recreation department should help out where they can. I think everyone should try to contribute somehow to a program, event, or organization that they really enjoy, believe in, utilize and think should be a part of the community.”
The fountain costs between $3,000 and $6,000 per month to operate, depending upon how many days it’s open, how much water evaporates and how many chemicals are needed to keep the water safe to play in.
Other businesses could sponsor one day per week or a month of the year and that would help ensure that the fountain would be there for Vero’s families.
The medical community has gotten involved, with New Vision Eye Center, Dr. Larry Landsman and the Rosato Plastic Surgery Center donating $500 each to sponsor Dancing Under the Stars at Royal Palm Pointe.
The event is mostly enjoyed by the young at heart, but seniors are another group for which recreation can be an important part of social life.
Attorney G. Russell Petersen gave $250 this year to help fund veterans’ events.
Providing summer camps, tennis and aquatics facilities, manicured parks and fields, leagues, classes and fitness opportunities is not cheap, but supporters of recreation say that it’s one thing that makes up the character of Vero Beach.
Nearly $2.5 million of the city’s $3 million recreation budget comes from the general fund, derived from property taxes. The other half million comes from facility rentals, concessions, fees and memberships and from sponsorships.
As property values began to decline in 2008 and the city experienced tough budget years in 2009 and 2010, Slezak was told to cut expenses and find new revenue sources.
He reduced the staff and trimmed overhead. He also increased some user fees and scaled back some programs.
Still, some events and amenities, which could be considered luxury items, were on the chopping block.
“If it wasn’t for the sponsors, we wouldn’t have these programs,” Slezak said. “They would be gone.”