Park Board Minutes - 05/23/2013Wichita Falls Park Board Meeting
May 23, 2013
W.F. Recreation Center
Room 202, 60011th Street
1:30 p.m.
Presiding:
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
City Council Representative:
Guest:
Penny Miller/Chairperson
Penny Miller, John Hirschi, Stephen Priester, Sharon
Roach, Nancy Howell, and Walter Lambert
Ben Filer, Stephen Garner, April Bevington, Mike Rucker
and John Fritzsch
Jack Murphy
Mary Wardlabsent
Tom Lang/Texas Parks & Wildlife Fisheries
CALL TO ORDER:
Penny Miller called the meetinas madeeto approve r at 1:30 nthe miminutes of April 2e, 2
minutes and seconded. were
before the Board. A motion w
approved by all.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORT:
1. Circle Trail — The City Staff met today with representatives from Camp Fire Girls and
discussed how the section of the as closet Circle
riverTrail
as possible. rthat
We now have about ten
aagreed on an alignmentn
other properties we have to negotiate with.
There is no change on the other two gaps in the Circle Trail along Lake Wichita and
the BNSF ROW.
2. The 4B projects were discussed. These include— The bridge in Lions Park near Kate
Haynes Elementary School ,Weeks Park Pond. Staff was hopefully Villagea Pond in Expressway a few months Park, and the these g lot
paving at South We
projects will move forward.
3. Routine Park maintenance such as spreading mulch around trees is continuing. Staff
is looking for ways of irrigation improvement for our trees in the medians. The City is
applying for a grant from the Alcoa Foundation, which, if approved will install an
advanced irrigation system on medians in Kemp St. using ground moisture sensors.
4. SIDS Softball Tournament is this weekend. 70 teams are here for this tournament
with 33 teams from out of town.
6. There was a discussion on the City Trails.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Park Improvement Committee report:
City Council did postpone earlier this week the appointment of the Lake Wichita
Study Committee. A larger pool of applicants will be available before they make their
decision. Today there are nine applicants. RECEIVED IN
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
DATE: —1-2 /3
BY: TIME:
2. Friends of the Park organization:
The Board decided to keep this item on hold until we get the Lake Wichita Study
Committee going.
Jack Murphy gave an update on the Community Gardens. It will be finished this
Summer and have an opening this Fall.
There was a question asked about whether harvesting pecans is allowed in the parks.
Staff explained that one can harvest pecans in the parks as long as the pecan is on
the ground not still in the tree.
OTHER ITEMS:
Sharon Roach asked how the Community Garden would be locked or secured. Jack
Murphy was not sure as of yet on how the gardens would be secured, but, this has
been a significant discussion point among the operating board members. She, also,
asked if the Recreation Department is having Concerts in the Park. Staff stated the
Recreation Department will have four concerts this year with two in June and two in
July.
John Hirschi asked if staff heard of a proposal to place a Fire and Police museum in
South Weeks Park by the large picnic shelter. Jack Murphy indicated nothing has
been heard about this subject.
ADJOURNMENT:
Meeting was adjourned at 2:30 pm.
Signature:
Penny Miller/Chairperson