Park Board Minutes - 04/06/2000RECEIVED IN
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
Date
By Time
Library/Recreation Building
1:30 p.m.
Presiding:
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting
April 6, 2000
Gary Patrick /Chairperson
Gary Patrick, Al Norris, Mark Howell, Barbara
Green and Kenneth Haney.
Clark Waters, Bob McBee, Bill Barnes and Kitty
Wilson.
Jack Murphy, Glenn Jamison and Genice
Wilson
City Council Representative: Dan Shine, absent
Visitors: James Berzina /City Manager, Robert
Powers /Assistant City Manager, Steve
Seese /Planning Administrator, Carter
Scherff/Wichita Falls ISD and Monica
Wolfson/Times and Record News.
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order and Gary Patrick introduced Carter
Scherff with Wichita Falls ISD to talk to the board about the trading of
land between Jefferson School and the City.
The school district and the City had been discussing the possibility of
trading Jefferson Park, except for the playground area, for Lions Park
(Kate Haynes Park) and several acres at Washington - Jackson school for
development into the Police and Fire training facility.
The trade of land is based upon appraisal of fair market value for the
various parcels. A change has occurred, in that the City now needs a
parking lot at the Washington-Jackson site. This increased the value of
land the WFISD brings to the table. Therefore, more City land will have
to be traded. The playground section of Jefferson Park is now
proposed to be included in the trade to offset the increase valuation.
The Kate Haynes Park, which already is maintained by the City, will still
be included in this deal.
A motion was made by Al Norris and Kenneth Haney to recommend this
trade. Barbara Green seconded the motion and none opposed.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mark Howell wanted to know if Jack Murphy had any new information
on the excavation at the new boat ramp, was it ever done?
Mr. Murphy stated that he has not had a chance to get with George
Bonnett on this subject, but said it should have been excavated 3' deep
and 75' out. It was never done. Jack Murphy said he would get with
Public Works and see if they can get this done.
Next item of business for the Park Board was the Parks and Recreation
five -year Plan:
Jack Murphy presented a rough draft of the five -year plan. Except for
the public hearings most of the groundwork has been done in getting
this draft put together
1. Gymnasium in Jaycee Park.
Gary Patrick asks Glenn Jamison what in his opinion would be the
highest on the list of Recreational needs.
Glenn stated that an indoor facility with two basketball courts, a place
for dances, classes and special events would be his top priory. This
facility would need to have room for expansion.
Gary asked how does this differ from the Family Y facility? Glenn
responded that we can not use the Family Y for any of the recreational
programs put on by the Recreation department. We have almost 50
teams in our basketball program and we do not even advertise. If we
had our own facility we could open this program up to our citizens and
expand the age of play. We could operate during the times that the Y
does not, such as during lunch when someone off the street just wanted
to come in and shoot a few hoops or after work. The Y does not offer
this type of facility. The Gym that we have in mind could be used as a
multi - purpose facility.
Another thing that Glenn and Jack had discussed was another four field
complex, maybe near the one on Sheppard Access Road. This way we
could keep the maintenance and games in one area. We also need
another public pool.
A multi - purpose gymnasium could be expanded later on to include
some of these things.
The Park board suggested we ask for 30,000 sq. feet in a gymnasium so
maybe more classes for dances, fitness and enrichment could be held.
Then we could have our basketball courts, volleyball court, locker
rooms and showers, and maybe even some kind of food service facility.
Jack Murphy said that Mr. Berzina had suggested another area than
Jaycee Park, which is in the current median across from Attebury Grain
elevators on Kell. That land will not be considered for the extension of
Kell and it would be very accessible.
N
By keeping in mind the super park that the Park Board wants they
would prefer the Gymnasium be put in Jaycee Park close to the trails.
Also there is a parking lot already there.
2. Water Resources:
a. Lake Wichita shoreline improvements.
1. Change the 80% of excavation along Jaycee Park shoreline
to only 50% and include 50% of the shoreline excavation to
be near the new boat ramp. Add something about having
an outdoor facility for concerts. Maybe building up a berm
leaving the lake as a backdrop. Clearing some bulrushes
near the trail shoreline by Jaycee would give a better view
of the water.
2. If the land adjacent to the new boat ramp will be acquired
for the development of a park between the boat ramp,
spillway and FM 2380 then change $80,000 to $100,000.
3. A shelter overlooking the lake and spillway was discussed
at length and the board thought maybe we should change
$220,000 to $250,000 in order to accommodate what was
needed as far as a covered area with a boardwalk pier out
into the lake at the old Lake Wichita pavilion site.
4. A paved access road will need to be constructed to the 50
space parking lot in Jaycee Park by the beach area and
TEA -21 Trail. This road has not been engineered. It needs
to be black topped and curb & gutter put in.
b. Park Ponds:
Leave this out of current 5 -year plan and try to get $50,000 in as a
budget item each year to build one pond per year for 5 years.
C. McGrath Creek Urban Walkway, Phase 1:
This is still in question. The Park Board is not too sure we can
get help from the private sector. Possibly if there is joint funding
available from flood control issues. Put this in conjunction with
McGrath Creek flood control.
OTHER BUSINESS:
A letter needs to be sent to Kitty Wilson on her status of membership.
Park Board will continue discussion of five -year Park, Recreation & Open
Space Plan at the next meeting.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED
AT 4:30 P.M. THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY,
APRIL 27, 2000 AT THE RECREATION FACILITY AT 10T" AND INDIANA, ROOM
215.