The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 61

Drunken Teens, Vandalism, Break-Ins Pose Problems at Chastain By Actor Cordell StaffWriter Alarmed over mounting vandalism, burglaries and harassment of visitors by drunken teenagers, a coalition of Chastain Park administrators and a citizens' advisory group is plannipg to call for mounted police patrols to maintain order in the 158-acre park. A meeting has tentatively been scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 29, and organizers hope it will be attended by City Council members Barbara Asher and D.L "Buddy" Fowlkes, and Betsy Baker, commissioner of the city Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Their absence at the first meeting last week, when a petition signed by 500 citizens for more security at Chastain was presented, left Sgt Damien Finch of the Zone 2 Patrol Section singlehandedly fielding the complaints. Sergeant Finch told the group of 13 that because of the police staff shortage, it was unrealistic to expect higher officer visibility, and suggested they explore ways they could improve protection themselves.

"You're telling me you want a '50s-style solution to an '80s-style problem," Sergeant Finch said, pointing out that only two officers are assigned to patrol the area from Peachtree Battle Avenue northward to the city limits. A traffic accident at Lenox Square could tie up an officer for an hour, Sergeant Finch said. Willis Jackson, a Tuxedo Park retiree and member of the volunteer Chastain Park Advisory Council, asked, "Should we raise money to do what our taxes are supposed to do? I paid $4,600 tax this year and I have a small house. Where does this money go? Should we appoint vigilantes to stand out with guns?" Bob Crawford, manager of Chastain Stables, said he understood that teenagers need something to do, "but people would rent the clubhouse at the stables for their daughter's 16th birthday or something like that, and it turned out that they had beer kegs in there, selling tickets at the door to 14-, 15-, 16-year-old kids. I put a stop to it" Elliott Galloway, headmaster of Galloway School, said computers, audio-visual aids, riding lawn mowers and several automobiles have been stolen at the school, which occupies 814 acres of the park.

Jane Wilkins, executive director of Northside Youth Organization based at Chastain, said that during the summer she had over 200 signed reports of gangs of teenagers blocking cars after activities on the ball fields and at the amphitheater, and "their language was horrible." Police were called, she said, but usually claimed the offenses were not serious enough for arrest, which would "upset the parents." Marge Wood, district manager of the Department of Parks and Recreation, told of golfers' cars being broken into and valuable items stolen. After the ball games, said Carolyn Blackwell, "another crowd moves in, and they are not teenagers but adults and they put on their own kinds of parties." Mrs. Blackwell is the niece of Troy Chastain, for whom the park was named. Sergeant Finch suggested that Chastain personnel try to establish a friendly one-on-one relationship with police officers assigned to the area so that the officers would be more knowledgeable about the -I ii in I II 'I ACTOK COKDlLUStaff Bob Blackwell (right), founder of Northside of disturbances by teenagers in the park. Mr.

Youth Organization, Inc. at Chastain Park, tells Blackwell was among 13 people at the meeting Sgt Damien Finch of the Zone 2 Patrol Section calling for higher police visibility. said Bob Blackwell, retired coach, founder of the Northside Youth Organization and namesake of a Chastain ball field. "I'm not blaming you, officer," he said, "but the city officials should be here to see what we have to say." when a parking area is opened in the space to be available when a clubhouse is removed. Mr.

Crawford said if the mounted patrol plan is worked out with the city, the horses could be housed rent-free at the stables. "I think it's time for action," problems and communication would be improved. "Businesses have known this for a thousand years," he said. He also proposed that the Galloway School expand its burglar alarm system, and that a valet service for golfers' cars be started Zoning Change to Mixed Use On Lenox, Ferncliff Is Denied mmnu this Huge Complex Is Planned for CowartLake -f J. ByThonniaLee StaffWriter The Zoning Review Board has denied a request to change 26.1 acres from single family residential and residential general to planned development mixed use at Lenox Road, Ferncliff Road and Lenox Place.

The controversial request by Spalding Partners Ltd. to rezone proposal that had been denied by the zoning review board, city council and the Georgia Supreme Court two years ago. In a 6-1 vote, the board denied recommendation for the changes on the 26.1 acres along the east side of Lenox Road and the south side of Southern RailwayMARTA line. The property is zoned RG-4-C and R-3 and is developed with single-family 7 Doctors To Exhibit WWII Collection At Georgia Baptist Ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Nathan Gershon is one of the seven Atlanta physicians who are featured in the exhibit, "Living History of World War IL" in the Historical Museum at Georgia Baptist Medical Center.

Pago 4 By Steve Harvey StaffWriter Groundbreaking could begin as early as next spring on an upscale, 870-acre commercialresidential development surrounding Cowart Lake along Camp Creek Parkway in south Fulton County. The development would be completed over the next five to 10 years by Habersham Investment Development Corp. and has also been tentatively named Cowart Lake. Peter Calabro, the firm's presi- COWART UK Continued on 7 three parcels on Lenox Road; 11 on dwellings. This area is the north- Ferncliff Road; 19 on both side of'pjj Pomnliff Plana onH oiahi nn hnh 01 Ule nl Deign- Mirror Images Audrey and Angela Dempsey double their pleasure and fun as star athletes and as star students Pagt 19 Dornood The case was originally heard siaes 01 uenox riace, was strongly opposed by the Pine Hill Civic Asso- before the zoning review board and denied in 1985.

The request is for port and another 63 opposed Ule.V.V.VSeDElAI,TaaB..