Park Board Minutes - 04/29/2004RECEIVED IN
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE /� /
Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting Date D � (94 U`,f/
April 29, 2004
By 10C Time L-
Log Cabin
Lucy Park
11:30 a.m.
Presiding: Gary Patrick/Chairperson
Members Present: Gary Patrick, Kenny Haney, William Barnes, Elmer
Emory, Steve Chaney, Peg Marquardt, Gary Diehm,
Kenny Catney and Alan Donaldson.
Members Absent: Brett Lee and Walter Tyndale.
Staff Present: Jack Murphy and Genice Wilson
City Council Representative: Johnny Burns (Absent)
CALL TO ORDER:
Mr. Patrick called the meeting to order and ask if there was any additional
information that needed to be added to the agenda of the day. There was none.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Background of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan. Mr. Patrick gave a
history of why the Plan was put together and the reasons it was put together with
the different priorities. This plan was set up to give the board some guidelines or
road map in a way, to where we wanted to go five years hence. We learned later
that we needed a plan to help get state matching funds as we did on the trails, 50 +
Zone and Boat ramp. The gymnasium is not going to happen for a long time.
TXDOT is going to use the land that was recommended for the gym so that is out
of the picture. 4B Plan will be our only source of funding.
It has now been three years at most maybe four that we have put the plan together
and as through this plan you will realize not much has been activated. The big
stumbling block is a lack of funding. We are now at the point that we think we
need to look again at the plan to make some revisions.
2. Definition of Open Space. We have had several groups come forth and request the
use of the open space in different parks, for different projects. We need a
definition of open space to help us deal with these issues. Each member of the
board gave their definition of what they thought open space is and this is what we
decided the definition is.
Open Space is open land/water for general public use. The open space needed
per park will vary depending on the park and the park's intended use. Open
spaces will not be encumbered by any specific use facilities. Open space may
include super facilities such as trails, restrooms, benches, water fountains, etc.
3. Review of priorities and time schedule. There were several discussions on what
the members think the highest priority of the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space
Plan is. The gym still remains the highest priority but maybe we could make
smaller projects instead of the one big one. Like maybe just a small gym to start
out with to take care of the needs for a place to have our basketball and volleyball
programs.
Gary Patrick ask the question, "Have we situated the parks in the since that we
need to look at what in the plan, if we are going to put something that is going to
encroach on the open space, do we need to get more open space or do we feel
there is additional room in the park that we let other develop ?"
Most of the members agreed that this would depend upon the park. Plus how do
we defend the open space in the park. Do we want a park facility or a non park
facility to take up this open space. Do we develop it for the public or for private
use?
OTHER BUSINESS:
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 2:15 p.m.
Signature: . ra
Ga t k—/Chairperson