May 6, 2008 3:23 pm US/Eastern
Commissioner Launches 'Carousel Challenge Drive'
1950 Allan Herschell Carousel
Sarnoff Has Pledged $150,000
City Needs Additional $100,000
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff has issued a challenge to the people of Miami and the rest of South Florida. Sarnoff, along with the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust, has launched a "Carousel Challenge Drive", intended to preserve an important piece of history, a vintage 1950 Allan Herschell carousel.
Virginia Key Beach, once known as Miami's "Colored Beach" because during the era of racial segregation it was the only beach legally available in Miami Dade County to African Americans, reopened in February of this year after a huge restoration project.
Virginia Key Beach Park Trust officials leased an antique replica of the Allan Herschell carousel from a private amusement park operator for use during the February re-opening ceremony. It was the same type of carousel that delighted children of all ages on the beach for decades and is ensconced in its own historical octagonal building dating back to 1951.
When the event was over, the operator planned to take the carousel back but Commissioner Marc Sarnoff wants it to stay for the "enrichment of future generations," and has pledged a grant of $100,000 towards the purchase of the vintage carousel, provided the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust, raises the remainder of the $250,000 asking price through private donations.
"The carousel is a metaphor for our commitment to preserving this particular site, and particularly the cultural significance of this site." As you all know, this was the African American beach for the community for many years. It's very important that we do everything we can to preserve this site so that the generations of today can see how the generations of yesterday lived," said Commissioner Sarnoff during Tuesday's news conference on Virginia Key Beach.
The continued restoration project, which is being run by the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust, has managed to preserve as many of the original structures as possible, including picnic shelters, the concession stand and the dance pavilion.
The original mini-train, which used to give rides to children around the island, has also been included in the restoration project; it was tracked down and purchased from a collector in Missouri.
Commissioner Sarnoff says this fundraising campaign is a way to secure the significant symbolic, cultural and historical components that compromise the vital 'museum with a park' concept.
"To the wealthy, please step up, to the not-so-wealthy, please do what you can because the $25 and $50-dollars really matter," said Sarnoff.
As part of the restoration project, the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust is also building a 30,000 square foot museum to showcase the history of the beach, complete with original photos and recorded testimonials.
Former City of Miami Commissioner, M. Athalie Range was instrumental, together with the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust, in adding the beach to the National Register of Historic Places in June 2002.
If you're are interested in making a donation to save the carousel, you can visit
www.virginiakeybeachpark.net or you can call
(305) 960-4600.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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