Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

The Parks Advisory Board met in regular session on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Annex. MINUTES Board Members Present Mandy Edwards Amber Kunes Kim Houston Board Member Absent Kathy Boswell James Hailey City Staff Present Andy Tarkington, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Terrie Ortiz, Parks and Recreation Clerk Stormy Smith, Parks and Recreation Coordinator AGENDA ITEM 1.0 Call to Order Mandy Edwards called the meeting to order. The meeting began at 6:02 pm. AGENDA ITEM 2.0 Approval of Minutes Mandy Edwards called for motion to approve the November minutes. Kim Houston made a motion. Amber Kunes seconded his motion. The minutes were approved by unanimous vote. AGENDA ITEM 3.0 Hear Report From Andy Tarkington, Parks and Recreation Superintendent, Concerning the Results of the December 15th City Council Meeting Acting on the Recommendations by the Parks Board at Their November 11th Meeting Andy Tarkington talked to the board about the City Council’s decision regarding the contracts for Community Christian School and the Mineral Wells Youth Sports Association. Andy informed the board that City Council approved the board’s recommendations to keep C.C.S. at their regular rate of $40.00 an hour and to give the M.W.Y.S.A. a discounted rate of $20.00 an hour. Andy reminded the board that they had made a proclamation to ask the City Council that the board was ready to move forward with a parks and open space plan. Andy informed the board that City Council did not address that. We sent them the minutes and the council read the 1 minutes but did not address the park and open space plan. Andy told the board that they may have to reach out to the City Council members to let them know that the Parks Board members want to address the parks and open space plan. Andy informed the board that he was at the City Council meeting and did not get an opportunity to speak at the meeting. Andy told the board that they may want to make an inquiry to the City Council about the park and open space plan. AGENDA ITEM 4.0 Consider and Possibly Take Appropriate Action on Making a Recommendation for the Location of an All-Inclusive Playground and Making a Recommendation for the Future Development of Southeast Park Andy talked to the board about a playground design company, Whirlix, they sent some designs and we showed them to the board members. Whirlix sent two designs, one for Southeast Park and West City Park. Andy informed the board that the designs that Whirlix sent had a compilation of designs, which includes some budget numbers and a warranty. Andy told the board that Whirlix is recommending that the all-inclusive park be located at West City Park, and to also replace the playground at Southeast Park. Andy informed the board what Whirlix suggested with the designs of the parks, the rationale of making West City Park all-inclusive would be we would not have to spend money on parking, and we would not have to spend much money on surfacing. At West City Park there are sidewalks, there may be a few areas for surfacing, but very little compared to Southeast Park. Andy told the board that Whirlix said that West City Park is more of a regional park. Andy went on to tell the board that if we were to build an all-inclusive, handicap accessible playground we would attract people from all of the surrounding areas, such as Stephens County, Jack County and all of the Palo Pinto County. Andy told the board that Whirlix used Weatherford’s Heritage Park as an example, people from all of Parker County come to the park. Whirlix told Andy that the swimming pool and little league fields would also serve as advertisement for the park. Whirlix informed Andy that the playground equipment is going to be needing replacement in the next couple of years at West City Park, as it is almost 30 years old. Andy informed the board that Whirlix idea is to replace the playground equipment at Southeast Park. Andy told the board that the total to do both parks would be $1.2 million dollars. Plus if we were to just do Southeast Park, adding all the parking, sidewalks, and new playground equipment it would probably be close to the $1.2 million dollar figure, just for Southeast Park. Mandy told the board that with the sidewalks, restrooms, and parking at West City Park, plus the possibility that more people will go to that park, it would be logical to make West City Park the site for the all-inclusive playground. Andy told the board that Whirlix mentioned that West City Park does not really have a neighborhood around it, whereas Southeast Park does have a neighborhood. Whirlix showed Andy that if they cannot get a big enough parking area, and people park in the streets or block driveways, it could cause a problem. Andy informed the board that Mr. Criswell was support of Whirlix’s presentation. Amber Kunes asked Andy if any of the presentations from Whirlix had a splash pad. Andy informed her and the board that they did not, but he would recommend for one to be added to Southeast Park. Andy told the board that he felt a splash pad at Southeast Park would make that park more viable. He told the board that his concern about having a splash pad at West City Park may hurt the pool attendance. Stormy Smith told Andy and the board that she did not think it 2 would be an issue. Kim Houston also agreed that she did not think it would hurt the pool attendance. Kim told the board that parents that do not like to get in the water with their little child could go to the splash pad. Kim thought it might hurt some attendance but not enough to hurt the pool. Mandy Edwards asked if any of the day cares attended the pool last year. Stormy told Mandy that there were two day cares that came to the pool last year. Andy told the board that due to COVID-19 pandemic and the pool opening late attendance for day cares was down at the pool. Amber Kunes told the board that maybe if we could make a splash pad more smaller kid friendly. Andy told the board that Kathy Boswell sent him an email and wanted him to share her thought with the board. She could not attend this meeting. Andy told the board that Kathy agreed with Whirlix about the location of the all-inclusive park. Andy read Kathy’s email and told the board that she drives by Southeast Park at least twice a week and the kids that are playing there are not younger. There are older kids playing basketball, so her thoughts were to tailor Southeast Park to the older kids. Mandy agreed with Kathy about updating the basketball court, soccer fields, and adding swings. Kim suggested that we do not make Southeast Park just for the older kids but also have slides or things for kids that are about 10 years old and older. Kim suggested to the board that while the older kids are playing basketball or soccer that the pre-teens have places to play as well. Andy told the board that he wanted to point out that the surface area for an all-inclusive park is bigger, so it would be bigger at West City Park than Southeast Park. Andy told the board that Whirlix would add a structure for all able bodies to play on. Whirlix told Andy that they could reduce the cost and put a different surface under one certain structure. Andy asked the board what their thoughts on the location of the all-inclusive playground. He wanted to know if they agreed with Whilix, the all-inclusive playground being at West City Park. Mandy agreed because it seems more economical the put an all-inclusive playground at West City Park. She reminded the board that parking and the sidewalks are already there. She also reminded the board that the area is bigger than Southeast Park. Mandy told the board that being able to utilize what we already have at the park would be more cost efficient. Amber agreed with Mandy and especially if the playground equipment needs upgrading anyway. Andy told the board that definitely need upgrading, both Southeast Park and West City Park. Kim added that since the project includes both parks then it would be easier to sell it to the citizens and the City Council. Andy asked the board if they thought there would be any resistance about the all-inclusive playground not being at Southeast Park. Amber told the board that she did not think there would be any resistance if the park was going to get updated. Mandy told the board that she sees Southeast Park being more of a place where the neighborhood goes to that park. She went on to say that West City Park was more of a community park for surrounding areas to go to due to the parking, shelter, pool and sidewalks. Andy told the board the only time he sees where there may be a parking issue is when the pool is open and the Little League teams are playing, but they both are seasonal. Andy asked the board if they have a consensus with the design from Whirlix to make West City Park an all-inclusive park. The board was unanimous in their agreement with the proposal. 3 AGENDA ITEM 5.0 Hear the Presentation of the Parks, Recreation and Fossil Park Reports Andy read the reports to the board members for the parks, recreation and the Fossil Park. Andy added that the steps were being put in at the Little League fields. AGENDA ITEM 6.0 Hear Parks and Recreation Board Ideas for Future Agenda Items No future agenda items from the board AGENDA ITEM 7.0 Adjournment Mandy asked for a motion to adjourn. Amber Kunes made the motion. Kim Houston second the motion. The parks board unanimously agreed to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m. 4