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Sarasota News Leader December 13, 2013 Gary Wilson with a production company told the city staffers, "I saw Payne Park and fell in love with it. I would like to see this building redone and utilized by the community. Yoga during the day; high-end weddings — I haven't seen any place in town similar." And John Brown came down from Bradenton to urge creation of covered shuffleboard courts. "With a 32-court covered facility, you could stage district, state and national tournaments. I can visualize the best shuffleboard courts in the world here." He is chairman of the Southwest Coast of Florida Shuffleboard Association. Two other sporting groups were conspicuous by their absence. Community tennis players have said they want to add more courts and expand their parking area. Presumably, they will make their desires known in another fashion. Also unrepresented were the lawn bowlers. (See the related article in Sarasota Leisure this week.) They may be considered part of the Payne Park master plan, but they privately say they want no part of it. They occupy land in the city's cultural district near the Van Page 50 Wezel Performing Arts Hall parking lot. The master plan for the cultural district calls for their relocation, but after meticulously maintaining their lawns for 86 years, they are loath to move. Richard Storm, the director of Key Chorale, joined several others in hopes the city will relax the rules on the use of the auditorium. "We have used this building and loved it. We'll use it again for rehearsal. There are very few venues available for performances and rehearsals in town," he said. "It will serve the arts community very well." Alta Vista Neighborhood Association Past President Pat Kolodgy noted her group used to meet in the auditorium but was forced out. "What are the costs to turn on the lights and have a janitor here?" she asked. "If the city could allow community groups to use the park for a reduced or no fee, I think that is the way to go." Alta Vista sponsored two parties in the park when it first opened, inviting everyone in the city to enjoy their newest park. The city was a participating sponsor for that event; it waived the fees for park and auditorium usage. % FREE SUBSCRIPTION Don't have your own subscription to The Sarasota News Leader? Subscribe for FREE and receive a weekly notification when the latest issue is available online.