Park Board Minutes - 04/27/2000CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting
Date - o- April 27, 2000
av
1:30 p.m.
Presiding: Gary Patrick/Chairperson
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
City Council Representative:
Visitors:
CALL TO ORDER:
Gary Patrick, Clark Waters, Bob McBee, Ed
Godsey, Linda Bates and Donald Ruth.
Al Norris, Mark Howell, Bill Barnes, Barbara
Green and Kenneth Haney.
Jack Murphy, Glenn Jamison and Genice
Wilson
Dan Shine, present
Lydia Torres /City Clerk, Dewayne Robinson
and Reno Vassler.
The meeting was called to order and new members were introduced to
the board. New members are Ed Godsey, Donald Ruth and Linda Bates.
Each gave a brief overview of themselves.
Lydia Torres, City Clerk, officially swore in the new members, and they
were welcomed to the Park Board.
Reno Vassler /Southwinds Neighborhood Association was introduced to
the board. He wanted to follow up on his request made November 18,
1999 to put a bridge across the Holiday Creek or possibly to create
some other way for the Southwinds neighborhood to have access to the
trail. It was discussed and found that at this time there was nothing that
could be done. If there were some finances available we could possibly
build an access but right now that is not possible. The board would
keep it in mind and maybe at a later date something would come up and
give the Parks Department the opportunity to put in some type of
access.
Mr. Vassler wanted to make sure that some sort of plan be put together
whether it happens in two months or two years, so that a desired
access to the trail would not fall through the system.
Mr. Patrick suggested Mr. Vassler present his plan on how to do this to
Jack Murphy and we would make sure it would gets on the agenda and
hopefully will not fall through the system.
Dewayne Robinson was introduced to the board and he wanted to know
if another Softball Complex was in the works to be constructed? There
is a big demand for Softball in this area and we need some new fields.
Mr. Murphy stated that the Parks Department has 54 acres that was
bought for the purpose of building a new four field complex next to the
one we already have, but there were problems presented by the
floodway. Clearance of the floodway and funding is now needed to get
this plan started.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORT:
Clark Waters asked Jack if there were plans on taking the trail behind
the #12 tee box at the Country Club Golf course? Jack stated that yes
there is but how it is going to be done he was not sure yet.
Mr. Murphy gave a brief overview of the trails as they are now set up.
There are three elements for trails that we need right now.
1. Is to come up with $176,000 to match the federal grant for
the T -21 grant which is the three mile trail from the Spillway
to Jaycee Park.
2. Extension of the trail, which ends near Midwestern and
Hamilton Park for ' /Z mile to the natural trail head. This will
take about $60,000 dollars to complete.
3. Is getting under FM 2380 so that the Weeks Park trail that
ends on one side of the bridge which is Old Lake Road to
connect with the T -21 trail on the other side. This should
cost $20,000 plus dollars.
Even if the City gets no other funding this would almost complete
a trail in the City that would supply access for skaters, joggers,
bicyclers and others. All the way from Jaycee Park to Lucy Park.
Martin and Speedway project is done, and the City is installing a
new drip irrigation system for our trees.
The project for T -21 will go to bid in January, this is the three mile
trail that will end in Jaycee Park.
The tram is almost complete and will soon be ready to go on the
trail.
The 4b Sales Tax members went on a tour of the new fire station
and the Library/Recreation building. They were happy and
pleased with the progress being made.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. Five Year Plan.
Gary Patrick announced that since a number of the board
members were not at the meeting, the business of the Five Year
Plan would be postponed until the next meeting.
B. Lake Wellington development land offer.
Clark Waters made the motion to table this request until the Five
Year Plan was adopted. Linda Bates seconded the motion and it
was approved.
OTHER BUSINESS:
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED
AT 4:05 P.M. THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY,
MAY 25, 2000 IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM.