A sign to a place that doesn't exist, but nobody's noticed
By Alexandra Navarro Clifton, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 6, 2001
WEST PALM BEACH -- It's been four seasons since the Boys of Summer trained at Municipal Stadium and just about as long since circus clowns and odorous animals put on a show in the teepee-shaped auditorium.
But news of these changes has moved through the Florida Department of Transportation about as fast as one of the agency's large construction projects.
A giant green highway sign still directs drivers to both defunct attractions, boldly proclaiming "Auditorium, Stadium next right" as northbound drivers approach Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard.
Not since the Vero Beach Dodgers beat the West Palm Beach Expos on Aug. 31, 1997, to wind up the last professional game on the field has the public needed to know how to get there.
The stadium site is now has a Home Depot, a gas station and a fast-food joint.
"To be honest, no one's ever brought that to our attention," FDOT Assistant Maintenance Engineer Mike Atkins said. "We'll have to take it down. We don't want to be directing people to places that aren't there anymore."
As soon as a crew is available, the sign will be removed, Atkins said.
The stadium opened in 1963 as spring training home to the Milwaukee (now Atlanta) Braves. They played there, joined by the Montreal Expos for many seasons, until 1997. The Expos teamed with the St. Louis Cardinals to move to Jupiter, while the Braves went to Orlando.
In 1999, West Palm Beach sold the stadium, along with the adjoining auditorium and its entire 72-acre site, to the Jehovah's Witnesses for $12.5 million. The Witnesses continue to use the auditorium.
The religious group, however, has no issue with the obsolete sign.
"We've never really had anyone complain," said David Charnesky, a spokesman. "It actually helps our people know where to turn off the highway. I hope no one else complains about it."
Home Depot, for its part, reports no errant fans sidling up to the counter and asking what time the game starts.
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Yakki Da
Kent
"The only difference between God and Adolf Hitler is that God is more proficient at genocide."
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