NPB Country Club Living by Mayor Warren Tatoul (The Sun) 10-24-63NPB Country Club Living
By Warren P. Tatoul
Mayor of N.P.B.
The Village of North
Palm Beach is a residential
community reaching inland
from the Atlantic Ocean,
bordered on the south by
Lake Park, on the north
by Juno and on the west
by Palm Beach Gardens.
Though a new community,
we are fast on the rise
with room enough yet to
triple in size. We are a
proud community with ex-
cellent service, facilities
and restrictions which
make North Palm Beach an
exceptional place to live.
Progress in North Palm
Beach is not merely an ad-
vertised word. While all of
Palm Beach County is ex-
periencing
x-
periencing phenomenal
growth, North Palm Beach
is one of the great fore-
runners. In the year of
its charter (1956) the vil-
lage consisted of seven
families but through the
past seven years has in-
creased to over 6,000 resi-
dents.
A COMMUNITY OF YOUTH
Ours is not a retirement
village, but we are not
without retirees. Primar-
ily, we are a youthful com-
munity with an overall av-
erage of two children to
every home. Twenty new
families move into the vil-
lage every month and the
forecast is for a popula-
tion of 7500 in 1964, 9000
in 1965, 1,500 in 1966, 11,
600 in 1967 and 13,200 in
1968.
Our progress is also re-
flected in the many public
services afforded our res-
idents, the marked in-
crease in the tax roll. You
will also find progress in
our plans for the future
which reflect the confi-
dence of today's investors
in North Palm Beach.
SERVICES FOREMOST
Public facilities and ser-
vices have always been giv-
en top priority in our com-
munity. Our garbage and
trash service is almost
without equal in Palm
Beach County. We have 3 -
day -a -week pick up ser-
vice with garbage being
collected at the rear of
the residence. This ser-
vice eliminates refuse con-
tainers on the streets and
SUN Progress Edition - October 24, 1963 - Page 11
Sir Harry'd Have Loved It
Landscapers
This is how the Sir Harry Oakes mansion, now the North
Palm Beach Country Club, looked before the pool and
other facilities were added. Today's 18 -hold golf course
is a green oasis in the village with fun and relaxation
for everyone.
holds trash piles to mini-
mum dimension, thereby
lending to the overall at-
tractiveness of village
streets and parkways.
G e n e r a l maintenance
throughout the village is al-
so excellent. All trees li-
ning the streets are trim-
med at least once each
year. Village entrance
ways are kept landscaped
and beautiful. Streets are
always in excellent repair
as is all other village pro-
perty.
Streetlights also reflect
the character of North
Palm Beach. Nowhere in
the village are wooden
poles utilized. Instead, all
lighting f i x t u r e s are
mounted on modern con-
crete pedestals.
For the control of insects
the village maintains its
own fogging equipment
which circulates regularly
through the village during
summer months, thus hold-
ing insect nuisance to a
minimum.
At present, water and
sewage facilities are pri-
vately owned, but the vil-
lage has made preliminary
negotiations for acquisition
of this service. It is con-
sidered that municipal
ownership will result in
lowered utility rates while
maintaining the same high
standards of quality and
service presently afforded
residents.
TOP RECREATION
The village government
has always strived to meet
the recreational needs of
all residents. Last year
the residents approved the
purchase of the old North
Palm Beach Country Club
and subsequently a new,
modern clubhouse was con-
structed and the golf course
rennovated for champion-
ship play. Exceptional din-
ing facilities were includ-
ed in the plan and are now
provided within the club-
house for the use of res-
idents and non-residents
alike.
A new and dramatic
olympic swimming pool
was added in 1962, and
water programs are avail-
able for all age groups.
Slim - trim, water ballet,
scuba diving, water safety
and "learn to swim" are
but a few. There is also
a competition diving and
swimming team under the
North Palm Beach banner
which has done exception-
ally well in several AAU
meets already this year.
CULTURAL NEEDS GIVEN
The village provides an
Art Center in the recrea-
tion building, which affords
residents of all ages an
opportunity to study al
forms of art in either day
or evening classes. Last
year over 300 students par-
ticipated in the program
and in the village art show,
which is held every sum-
mer.
Our own citizens fos-
tered the promotion of a
village library in a tem-
porary site. Future de-
velopmental plans include
the construction of a perm-
anent facility.
This past winter a Sen-
ior Citizens Building be-
came a reality. This is
situated adjacent to the
village shuffleboard courts
which are in great demand
both day and night.
Volley ball courts with
lights for night play are
also provided. It is used
extensively, as is the golf
driving range which is lo-
cated adjacent the golf
course. Baseball and soft-
ball are also enjoyed in
North Palm Beach, and this
year a new field equipped
for night play was included
in the budget. Last year
our Little League team won
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Blakely, early settlers of Kel-
sey City, now Lake Park, are
seen in 1925 with one of
the first shipments of cacti to arrive in this section
from Texas. The Blakelys later became owners of well-
known Kelsey City Nurseries.
-------------------------------------------------------------
the county championship.
pening in North Palm Beach
The village also main-
and development is strong.
tains it's own boat ramp,
New homes, apartments,
dock facilities, hoist and
motels, restaurants, medi-
boat storage area for the
cal buildings and offices
convenience of its resi-
are presently under con -
dents. Boating enthusiasts
struction and many more
make vast use of these fa-
are on the planning board.
cilities and enjoy the miles
Building thus far this year
of waterway within the
has already outdistanced
village and direct water
construction of 1962 and
access to the Atlantic. A
considerably more is anti -
new yacht club marina will
cipated.
be opened across from the
country club early next
year.
Police and fire depart-
ments in North Palm
Beach are expertly man-
ned and well equipped. The
village building code is
strict and firmly enforced,
guaranteeing the construc-
tion and ensuring struc-
tural condition in the years
ahead.
FINANCES SOUND
The Village of North
Palm Beach has enjoyed a
sound financila position
with a steadily increasing
tax base with a concomi-
tant reduction in taxes. In
1957, with a tax roll of
$4,320,684, millage w a s
fixed at 10 mills. In 1958,
with a roll of $6,671,024,
millage was reduced to 9
mills, and in 1959, with a
roll of $11,260,076, millage
dropped to 7 mills. The 1962
tax roll was $28,529,133 and
the estimated tax roll for
1963 is $33,500,000.
From the standpoint of
growth, big things are hap -
NATIONAL AWARD WON
The Village of North
Palm Beach began with a
plan and subsequently re-
ceived the "National Award
of Merit" from the National
Association of Home Build-
ers. This citation is given
for excellence in communi-
ty planning, architectural
and engineering achieve-
ment and constitutes the
first time that a communi-
ty in the State, of Florida
has been so honored.