Park Board Minutes - 12/10/1998C
Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting
December 10, 1998
Revised
Memorial Auditorium
2:00 p.m.
Presiding: Gary Patrick/Chairperson
Members Present: Gary Patrick, Al Norris, Mark Howell,
Clark Waters, Barbara Green, Kitty Wilson,
David Holder and Kenneth Haney.
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
City Council Representative:
CALL TO ORDER:
Bob McBee
Donna Clemons and Jack Murphy
Dan Shine
The October minutes were read and accepted. The motion for acceptance of the
minutes was made by Mark Howell and 2nd by Al Norris.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORT:
1. There is interest from a developer in acquiring a surplus piece of
East Lynwood Park for use as an access road to their development off
the service road of 1-44. If it is to be sold, it must be put on the ballot
at the next City Council election in May.
2. The ISTEA Phase II trail project is very near being let out for bid by
TXDOT. As you know the length has been cut to less than half the
original length due to construction cost increases. The deleted portion
of the trail from the dam to Fairway Drive would have to be funded by the
City. There is always a possibility of another Federal TEA 21 grant or
Parks and Wildlife grant, but both require matching funds from the City.
(Jack Murphy will communicate with TXDOT). There were no bids
opened. Six bids were received that did not meet specifications. Will re-
design and re -bid. This issue will be discussed more at the next
meeting.
3. The City Council will bring back for consideration approval of the 4B
Sales Tax Fund funding of the shelter in Rotary Park at their Tuesday
Meeting. (The Board entertained a motion in support of Rotary's request
for 4B sales tax. Barbara Green made the motion and it was 2nd by Al
Norris). The motion was adopted by all members in attendance.
4. The Wichita, Kickapoo and Plum Lake projects are being worked on by
Engineering. The Wichita Boat Ramp has had a delay due to the
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consideration of acquiring the adjacent two lots for land use protection
and improved access road and parking lot location.
5. The City was given a used Honn Electric Organ for the Senior Zone.
6. New state rules will require significant changes to the Lucy Park
swimming pool. The City has until 2004 to comply. The changes are to
increase safety.
7. The Lucy Park Trail repair has been completed. The 2" asphalt overlay
is 8' wide and covers nearly all the old asphalt trails.
8. The Bridwell Park sculpture is complete. The dedication will be later this
month or January. Marilyn Darnell has given $15,000 as a memorial to her
mother.
9. Work has begun on the Spudder Park playground. This was a CDBG
budgeted project from last fiscal year. The other two are in Lamar and
Jalonick Parks. A fourth playground was budgeted from the general fund
last year for Roselawn Park. I have received three citizen comments on
this, one saying they do not want the playground. The citizens feel it will
lower the quality of life and property values for them. They live across the
street from the park. (There is a petition circulating with concerns for
small children crossing the busy street. Jack Murphy will wait to see the
petition when it is presented to Parks and Recreation. It is possible to poll
the area to see just how much opposition there is to the installation of
playground equipment).
The question was raised about a master plan for the parks to show to the
concerned neighborhood and a possible retreat to present the plan to the
Park Board.
10. Plans are being considered for installing a pond in Expressway Village
Park and a water feature in the 287/281 intersection north.
11. Work is continuing on the trail tram as time allows.
12. Tree planting will begin in the next couple of weeks. An Arbor Day event
will occur this month in order to comply with the Tree City USA
requirements for designation. A time and place will be determined later.
13. The CDBG trail from O'Reilly Park to Williams Park is being worked on by
Engineering. The first action is the determination of cost to acquire the
properties. This is being coordinated with Dorcas Chasteen of Property
Management. The $300,000 available this year will likely be used to
perform the dirt work and install the two bridges and other drainage
structures. The concrete paving would need to be budgeted by City
Council in next year's CDBG budget.
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14. Glenn Jamison, Kathy Whetstone and I (Jack Murphy) attended the TRAPS
Regional Workshop last week in Arlington. It may come to Wichita Falls in
November 1999.
15. The Texas Trails Symposium is in Grapevine, February 4-6,1999.
16. The TRAPS Annual Conference is in Waco, March 2 -5,1999.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. Lake Wichita Boat Ramp - An estimate has been made of the property
value of the two lots in front of the boat ramp. The next step is to appeal
to the City Manager and City Council. If the two lots are acquired, the
access and parking lot will be straightened. Acquiring the land would
improve the status of the Boat Ramp. This issue should go to the Council
the first part of January. The project could be done in two phases. It is
possible that the boat ramp may be finished and then finish the access
with the land acquisition.
B. Lake Wichita Boat Ramp Land Acquisition - If the land is acquired, it is
possible that the boat ramp may be shut down until the access road is
completed. There are also pilings out there that are dangerous and
unsightly.
C. Activity Center - The 4B committee will be meeting soon. The funds were
not turned down, as the motion did not receive a second to approve.
Council will be in full discussion on funding. The process is slow.
Al Norris mentioned that the Christmas decorations for the Senior Zone
are outstanding.
D. Jefferson Park - The park has no frontage street, it is accessed through
school property. The playgrounds are being used. The ballfields are not
being used. The school needs to provide additional off street parking for
the school. The school wants to use park land to provide additional
student parking.
The Board is interested in trading park land in the rear for parking in
return for street frontage for the rest of the park. If there are additional
monies received as part of the trade, the Board would like to use those
funds for additional park improvement.
Jack Murphy has a meeting with Connie Welch and Jim Berzina to discuss
the City not being able to give the land away (cannot get rid of park land
without vote of the local people). Government can trade the land for fair
market value.
E. Roller Hockey - Robert Gill and Dee Dee Rhine were visitors attending this
meeting. They made a presentation concerning Roller Hockey. There are
300 roller hockey players and 27 teams. Robert Gill and Dee Dee Rhine
collected information from a contractor, Premier Sports. They presented a
quote for erecting an outdoor hockey facility. The information was given
to the Board (information and drawing). The concern for roller hockey is
that the 27 teams only have one practice area in Scotland Park.
The Board asked Mr. Murphy to contact Chris Sutherland about the status
of the Sutherland building.
NEW BUSINESS:
Berend's Landing - Sponsored by Streams and Valleys (ECO event). This
event would include a rock climb, a run up the river to the YMCA park,
canoeing back to Berend's and then a bike ride. As a Board we should
support this event. It will help the parks.
PARK ADVOCATES:
David Holder - Bud Daniels Park is clean. A tree needs to be trimmed.
Jones Park - The trash needs to be cleaned up, there is trash 3 - 4 inches
deep next to the concrete by the rose garden. With construction we will
lose a section on both sides of the park with a new road. Bridwell Park -
The playground has holes and the water fountain is filthy. There are holes
in the band shelter. There are swings missing. There are holes in the
ground at the end of the slides.
Mark Howell - South Weeks Park - The $10,000 funding is no longer in
effect, but more is available. Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation no longer
limits their grants to $10,000. The City can apply for more if they wish.
Al Norris - Belair Park tennis courts and playground are well used. In
Jaycee Park the lights need maintenance. In Jones Park, the roses are in
bloom.
Gary Patrick - Martin Plaza - Getting a lot of positive feedback on the work
done by Public Works.
Recommendation - I recommend that a letter of thanks be sent to Public
Works for the job well done in Martin Plaza. This letter of appreciation will
be routed though Jack Murphy's office. The motion for acceptance was
made by Al Norris and 2 "d by Mark Howell.
Adopt -A -Park - Maintenance could be minimized with adopting a park
(companies, senior citizens, etc.). Neighborhood watch could maintain the
parks, for example planting flower beds and weeding.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT
4:45 P.M. THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY.
JANUARY 28, 1998 IN THE CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM.
RECEIVED IN
Cl vLCniCS OFFICE
Date 9
Rv Time i : 50
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