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Thirty Years Ago This Week: Amenities planned for park off West Terry St.
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Work was about to begin on a picnic area and nature trail at what Bonitans were calling Bicentennial Park 30 years ago this week.
Set on 60 county-owned acres off West Terry Street, the first park amenity was to be a 65-foot cement slab that was to serve as a shuffleboard court and an outdoor dance floor. Materials for the slab were being donated by J. Shannon Supply at cost.
Betty Tyldesley was chairman of the Bicentennial Park Committee that was raising funds for park amenities not included in the county budget. Plans for the park included tennis courts, ball fields, a playground and a gymnasium.
Though the park was still in the construction phase, locals were already enjoying the site. Bonita Springs Elementary School had a picnic that week for teachers, students and their families at the lake behind what is now known as the Bonita Springs Recreation Center. Children and adults enjoyed romping in the lake, a watermelon-eating contest and assorted games, including a pole climbing contest.
In other news, Helen Harvard lost her home and all her belongings in a fire that broke out while she was at church. The home, on Old 41 south of Shannon Supply, was apparently struck by lightning during a storm that Sunday.
The First Baptist Church set up a fund to assist Harvard.
In the classified, a waterfront condominium on Bonita Beach with a pool was renting for $350 a month and a duplex on Tangerine Drive was available for $185 a month.
On Bonita Beach Road "at the Gulf," Mississippi Toni's restaurant had a special on spaghetti supreme, with all you could eat dinners priced at $1.99.
At Sunshine Foodway in Lawhon's Shopping Center, chuck roast was 79 cents a pound, bing cherries were 59 cents a pound, bananas were 19 cents a pound and Pillsbury flour was 59 cents for 5 pounds.
At the Trail Drive-In, Walter Mathau had top billing in "Sunshine Boys," Gene Wilder was starring in "Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother" and Michael York was playing in "Conduct Unbecoming."
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