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Will Kiwanis become Snack Shack saviors?

The organization is at odds with the grandson of the Archibald land donor.

By CRISTINA SILVA
Published April 1, 2007

MADEIRA BEACH - A battle is under way to save the Snack Shack at Archibald Memorial Beach Park.

The city recently set aside money to demolish the deteriorating property, but residents are trying to persuade Madeira Beach to preserve the waterfront cabin, which was once used as a getaway for recovering veterans.

On Tuesday, the Kiwanis of Gulf Beaches Foundation will ask the city to allow the group to convert the building to a convenience store for tourists and residents, and add a playground area and a meeting room.

"We want to make it a destination spot for families and a place that can be used," said Eddie Lee, chairman of the Kiwanis Foundation. "We would like to be able, if you came in, to let you have a hot dog, a candy bar, maybe buy some suntan lotion, basically go back to the original Snack Shack idea that was there for years and years."

The future of the Snack Shack, a simple beach house where Boy Scouts used to hold meetings and beachgoers would replenish with a hot dog, is part of an ongoing struggle over whether the city should be able to rent public land to concessionaires. The beach was donated by the Archibald family of Madeira Beach in the 1930s on the premise that it could not be used for commerce, but city officials say they are allowed to provide basic amenities to park visitors.

If the proposal is denied Tuesday, the city could start searching for contractors to demolish the shack.

Alex Archibald, whose grandfather donated the land, has pleaded with the National Park Service to adhere to the original contract and force the city to keep the land a beach preserve.

"There are other beaches that do not have commercial concessions. Why must the city push for the one park that prohibits commercial use of the property?" he said. "I don't want the property back, but it is getting to the point that if I have to take legal action, I will."

The city must get approval from the National Park Service before allowing any concessionaires to operate in the park.

That process is generally lengthy, City Manager Jill Silverboard said.

Most recently, a concession award was given to a Seminole woman to operate an umbrella and chair stand in January. She was given permission from the National Park Service to open the stand last week.

This year, Madeira Beach paid $500,000 to settle a lawsuit after a concession agreement to open a restaurant on the beach had to be canceled, partly because Alex Archibald complained that it would be a commercial endeavor.

Some city officials worry that future projects at Archibald Park will also draw legal retribution.

"I don't want to get into that stuff again, and I know our city manager doesn't want to either," Mayor Charles Parker said.

But residents say the shack has been there for too long to be razed over a political spat.

"This building is part of Madeira Beach's history," said Kaitlyn Chalke, a 12-year-old who has led the effort to save the shack. "It needs to be saved."

Kaitlyn has tried to gain support for the shack at city meetings and by collecting petition signatures. She has also created a Web page for the shack on MySpace.com, the popular networking site.

The Kiwanis Foundation, which was inspired by Kaitlyn to get involved, is a nonprofit group and would use any profits from the Snack Shack to sponsor its children's programs, Lee said.

The chairman hopes good intentions will win out.

"The Archibalds don't own that property," Lee said. "They have no right to dictate its use."

Cristina Silva can be reached at 727 893-8846 or csilva@sptimes.com.

[Last modified March 31, 2007, 20:10:19]