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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-10-05 Euless Articles 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE , a " I MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /D / 6-16-7 DATE OF ARTICLE /0 /— 7 / D 7 NEWSPAPER,{J,(1/,,c S,n c s s ' e5S Banking on the Mid-Cities ' Worthington National Bank has con- verted its Colleyville loan production office into a full service banking center, the bank announced Sept.27. ' The banks office at 5311 Colleyville Boulevard, opened seven months ago. Worthington,based in Arlington,has two ' Arlington locations and one location in downtown Fort Worth. Also coming to the Mid-Cities is • Plano-based ViewPoint Bank, which has ' signed a ground lease on a 51,519-square- foot pad site at The Shops at Vineyard Village,located at the southeast corner of ' Glade Road and State Highway 121 in Euless.Estimated opening is March 2008, according to Staubach Retail Services. Reported by Robert Francis at 11:49 am.on Sept.27 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE l OF I MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCRAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED l 0 / 5 /0 7 DATE OF ARTICLE r 0 l 007 NEWSPAPER FWST EULESS City expects dog park soon 1 By JESSICA DeLE6N another area for dogs heavier. jdeleon@star-telegram.com than 40 pounds, said Ray Mc- EULESS—The c-EULESS—The city is expected Donald,parks and community to have a dog park by year's services director. end—and that could help Me- Bidding on construction, rilyn Brooks'dog,Gracie. which will include a chain-link Gracie, almost 2, doesn't fence and wash station, could like other dogs. start in the next 30 days. The "That's why she needs some City Council budgeted socialization," Brooks said as $150,000 for the project. she walked the Mi-Ki during a The city had received nu- recent afternoon. merous requests for a dog The pooches will be able to park.North Richland Hills and hang out and hang loose on 3 Southlake have them. acres at the Village of Bear •Euless officials chose the Creek Park on Bear Creek Park- Village of Bear Creek Park be- way. cause it's in a large apartment The space will be divided community. equally: one area for dogs "It's just a perfect fit," Mc weighing less than 40 ponds, Donald said. 1 1 1 1 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN IYOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /D /S l D 7 DATE OF ARTICLE I0/1 /& 7 NEWSPAPER FWST I Acme of bricks I Acme Brick is proud to an- nounce that Baby Clay was ..-;.,0 40, born at 6 a.m.July 4 in Den ,` ton.Clay weighed in at 6,000 I4., pouds and is 9 feet,8 inch-: es long,39 inches tall and 39 i h ,' , inches wide. .� Yes,you read that right. After four years—a ges- �'' S� tation period longer than •ect ra that of an elephant—Acme \`o�,e'°•cK,gac,4 has delivered`the world's I 0*�1.Pct Pct largest •brick, •certified by Oa of Guinness World Records. It \e`st' L�p is 3,000 times the size of a ON' re tiz. standard brick, the compa- L�a�'eS\ae a�aQ,e� ny said. acoab J'd,Q`artict` "The creation of Clay eta 6z 2.-•d•\ demonstrates exceptional I ee tt` den r O expertise among our brick ��`e��so�ap\�so making staff. This was. a Q ,ar huge, unprecedented chal- t 0 lenge for them," Dennis Knautz, president and chief executive, said in a state- ment. I And now,Clay is on tour. On Friday, it began a 7,000-mile tour from Acme's Denton plant. This month I and next, the brick will visit all 67 Acme offices and plants in Texas and seven I adjacent'states.Clay is made from materials from each of Acme's 23 brick plants around the Southwest. I The brick is being dis- played today at noon at Acme's Euless sales office, 801 Airport Freeway,and at 4 I p.m. at Acme's Fort Worth headquarters, 2821 W Sev- enth St. - ' A complete schedule of I Clay's appearances is on the Acme Web site, wwwbrick .com. Acme was founded in I 1891 near Fort Worth. It,is now a part of Berkshire Hathaway,headed by famed I investor Warren Buffett. I DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE l OF 111 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR I DATE DISTRIBUTED /U ! S 1 DATE OF ARTICLE // I 0 —7 NEWSPAPER FWST BRIEFS San Francisco Oven opens today in Euless EULESS—San Francisco Oven,a bistro-cafe chain, opens a 135-seat location today in the Vineyard Village Shopping Center,3010 Texas 121.The restaurant is owned by franchisee Badna Investments.The interior is floor-to-ceiling San Francisco flavor,featuring large- scale photographs of Bay Area landmarks.A replica of the Golden Gate Bridge separates the dining room from the service counter.The menu features Bay Area favorites such as pizza Napoletana and calzones,as well as sandwiches,soups and salads.This is the chain's fourth Metroplex location. —Sandra Baker 1 1 1 i h 1 i IDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 1 OF c MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOY ETT BROWN (YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 7S— 0 DATE OF ARTICLE /& / / / O 7 NEWSPAPER FWST 1 UNITED WAY x 1 Northeast transit ' � �,ns ; 1 $� ti ,, 1 program } E ,.. rides high - --- ', . - -'#-2-, , -‘ _ 4 �� ., , „ „ ', a 1 � Word about the free,week- day service is spreading. � � � I By DAVE FERMAN dferman@star-telegram.com r P -�yrs i rt£BEDFORD — Just about this • time last year, Faye Beaulieu ° ' Iwas worried:Designed to help h • ,.'",,,`'''-'& low-income workers find reli y - s i ^B•aV �s able transportation, the HEB • ' . " saw Transit project was getting off' ��?• '� itAr 7,� I to a slow start, with only a : a * handful of people taking 15 to .Rena Patterson of Euless received an HEB Transit ride from her apartment to offices in Bedford on Friday 20 rides in the first month. morning. STAR-TELEGRAM/IAN MCVEA. "We knew the need was I there. There was no doubt in our minds, and we thought we'd be overwhelmed with rid- ers,"said Beaulieu,project di- HEB Transit 1United rector for Way/North HEB Transit is a partnership among the United Way of Tarrant east. "We thought people County,the Workforce Development Board of Tarrant County would be coming out of the and the North Central Texas Council of Governments.To deter- 1 woodwork. But it was harder mine eligibility or receive a transit pass,contact one of the to find the niche client than we following organizations: anticipated." II Catholic Charities,817-534-0814 Ayear later, ■Christian Connection,817-283-8746 the clients have I been found:The free Monday. mi Mission Central,817-595-0011 Friday service gave 2,030 rides ■St.John the Apostle Catholic Church,817-284-4811 through the end of August; II Travelers Aid(D/FW Airport),972-574-4420 Idaily hours are now 6 a.m.to 6 In Workforce Solutions Mid-Cities Center,817-399-7500 p.m.; and starting in Septem- ber,Dallas/Fort Worth Airport To donate workers became eligible. The United Way of Tarrant County is trying to raise$24 million II "We are close to vehicle ca- to fund nonprofit social service agencies.The organization pacify,"Beaulieu said. began its annual fundraising campaign Sept.7.To donate:Unit- HEB Transit uses American ed Way of Tarrant County,210 E.Ninth St.,Fort Worth,TX Red Cross vans for what is 76102,or www.unitedwaytarrant.org. 1 I I DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF cR I MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED l o /S l0-7 DATE OF ARTICLE / / / / 6 7 NEWSPAPER FWST much like a taxi service, said see that it works and that it re- ' project manager James Pow- ally is an attempt to get people ell, who is also a transporta- on their feet.We've had to es- tion planner with the North tablish that trust." Central Texas Council of Gov- Also, she said, volunteers. ernments. People book rides 48 hours in advance; in Au went to churches, apartment gust, the service gave 259 complex managers and civic rides,he said. / organizations to get the word The rides must begin or out. The goal was to reach end in Hurst, Euless or Bed- workers who might use the ford, Beaulieu said, although program,she said. the service will also take peo- Adding Travelers Aid to or- ple to CentrePort atD/FW Air- ganizations distributing pass- port or the Texas Health&Hu- es will help a "substantial" man Services Commission of- number of airport workers, fice on John T.White Road in said Bruce Freeman,the orga- east Fort Worth, nization's executive director. Seven community groups, "Their transportation chal- including Catholic Charities, lenges may hinder them from Christian Connection and being as reliable as they could Travelers Aid Dallas/Fort be,and there aren't that many Worth, distribute ride passes. affordable options,"he said. The United Way contributed Powell said the association $25,000 in seed money to start with the airport is a major step the program, which is now forward for the program, supported through contribu- which anticipates providing tions from local churches and 3,000 rides in its second year. Workforce Solutions,as well as "There are still a lot of skep- federal money administered tical people,but I think if they by the Council of Govern- try it once,they will see that it ments,Beaulieu said. works.We have a lot of people Many riders have no other who depend daily on it." reliable transportation,which prevents them from keeping a steady job, she said. By using DAVE FERMAN,817-685-3957 the service, they can save for car repairs or a down pay- ment. The more riders there are, the more word spreads about the reliability of the service and the more people use it, Beaulieu said. "You have to build trust," she said. "To tell a potential client that someone will take you to work and take you back for free, well, it sounds too good to be true. People don't necessarily trust something that's free until they use it and I 1 IDISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / OF 7 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /0 / S l v -7 DATE OF ARTICLE 9 /30/07 NEWSPAPER FWST Empty 1 • • leave area cities I feeling unfulfilled IBy JESSICA DeLE(SN "Obviously, grocery stores deleon@star-tele ram.com didn't work there,"he said. 1 g + ..w "- r" ,,af They're the old grocery stores Supermarkets present "' '-' F and restaurants that once problems for reuse.The build- 4 ', ings usually have one floor,l8- teemed with customers. foot high ceilings and support aM . Now they sit empty, some structures that divide the t r ._,,4:t.,„4..,,,,,,,,,, ,s ,,r times for years, despite theirI visible locations, building, said Terry Clower, � se P yj!� �{ associate director of the Cen �r �w ; a h � Except in booming Keller . F Lv , � i{ ter- for Economic .Develop- L:1$:'''� '� }���z��'�A g � � ��'� � r° ,` 45. and Southlake, officials r r Fhb ca + merit at the University of � a� throughout Northeast Tarrant ` h ` 3tt= ys North Texas in Denton. -L' „,,,,,,,,,,e.:1405-to, Y I County face the challenge of �' k The design makes it more ' ` � , r }5� � a� filling large vacant buildings. ` difficult to attract other busi- ��° r Until they're reoccupied,cities nesses because of the limited �- I lose out on potential revenue �� � �; uses, "which is why we see �t 4 5v from sales,equipment and in many old grocery stores turn = - t25 ventory taxes. And they lose04` -�= out on foot traffic that might into bingo halls,”Clower said. I improve sales at neighboring The vacancy can also be- businesses. Meanwhile, resi- come a self fulfilling prophe- dents complain about what �'' he said: The longer the they perceive as blight. building sits empty, the more I "You've always got that businesses don't want to lo- building," said Bill Ridgway, icate there, and the space can Euless' economic develop- turn into an eyesore. Or,in another scenario,the Iment director. building has a secondary use, Wal-Mart effect Clower said. For example, a grocery store may close,and a , City officials say they most _ 45'. x�i�r dee discount retailer will I want to see their former su- permarkets P - take its place—generating far �, :� � V � permarkets occupied because u less sales tax revenue. of the potential tax revenue. , „ , -, ,. ;- { - - ,, Y But why are so many grocery ,, , y, t + - A Taken over by the city ..:,,,,,,-74,,,$341-,v,,,::„.-G�R -t` ' P'1 � {1 , � I stores empty? - ' 3 �" Y' i�+ 7 *-,.-� t`{,: - "One word:Wal-Mart,"said Some cities have converted ,� Scott Welmaker, Colleyville's the vacant buildings for their �: economic development manown use. STAR-TELEGRAM/IAN Moven Hurst is transforming Ca- Bedford ager. vender's, a former Western Harrigans Grill and Bar,1501 Airport Freeway,7,401 square feet groceryColleyvilles es Kroger empty clothing store at 845 W. Pipe- How ong empty:Four years Property value:$900,000 g line Road,into a senior center. Officials'wish:Restaurant I bertsons, both privately The building,which had been owned and diagonally acrossoraouteyears, Other information:Companies have told city officials that the the street from each other on couldvacant be occupied upiedreby July property doesn't have enough parking,and motorists may find it Colleyville Boulevard. - 2009 hard to get to. IWelmaker hopes that if one The senior center will be supermarket gets filled, the next to a city park and be part other will soon have a buyer. He would like to see cloth ing or linen stores. DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF /1 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR I DATE DISTRIBUTED /0 /S l D DATE OF ARTICLE CI l.3 C) /' 7 NEWSPAPER FU'ST of a development that will in- The old Kmart at 701 S.In I clude a new fire station, dustriel Blvd sat empty for at Vacant buildings in Northeast Tarrant County homes and stores,city spokes- least five years until 2001, im L: 1 woman Ashleigh Whiteman when the building become the Gra ° said. DFW Technology Center. It's y ;3; w 4n "It reallyjust made sense," now the corporate headquar- la��;`��`�,i Whiteman aid. ters for Reynolds Asphalt. S""thro�' „mak" In North Richland Hills,of- After four years of waiting, 1709 t 0� �g ' '.S,otI� CES, s r gt ficials plan to convert the for- Bedford officials expect that a sw • �S i K� L 11 4 �A . mer Food Lion store at 4131 60,000-square-foot call center 2; ,Y h ` ` 3 i �� 37 .� 3 r %z s x 4 o^46 a�u y t I Rufe Snow Drive, empty since will move into the Bank One , R z6a 1997,to city offices.The state's building at 1900 L. Don Dod- M l Nei' m 1 �, �`. �^ t ,t� planned expansion of North- -son Drive by the end of the '.. 11111110.1.01110411#° ' �<5� `'' ' CoHeyviIle ` Y xp F�Sg�2i�'M�}�c���3'k� east Loop 820 will likely force year. Officials hope they can �� 11z ,K a �, the building that houses the ` £ 0,--',11 £ Ii T1s t�� I fill the rest of the 200 000- city's library,recreation center square-foot building. °S �_ uk* '`m oo31938� &�y sr m1eek.5 4; and other offices near Rufe And JPS Health Network is 'B'd' A� aiar ry Snow to close. putting a clinic in a 20,000 ®®m` ^m *1 `` The city is building a recre- square-foot section of the for ' ation center and library at mer Winn-Dixie on 6601 Wa Halm Hurslc Home Town NRH off Davis, tauga Road in Watauga. City 1u Q . Boulevard, but other offices Sometimes cities and busi- ,n 1i " i will need space. No timeline nesses must be flexible.'The, F°'� . zi 3 Vr �' has been set for moving into old Winn-Dixie shopping cen- ,,, ap '° b n % of i � A 5 Mapped area x ;x• �i;. x = t S.� fl�'t the Food Lion store;the high- j ter on 143 E.Harwood Road in way expansion project maybe Hurst, vacant for five years, I years away. Cities throughout Northeast Tarrant County are trying to find When local governments will have two businesses in- buyers or tenants for vacant buildings.Here are some of the area's take over buildings,they're al- * l stead of one. larger,empty buildings: so giving up, Clower said. Bicycles Inc., now in Bed- 1.Harrigan's Grill&Bar,Bedford I They're taking the building off ford, will take up half the 2.Albertsons,Colleyville the tax rolls and not getting 44,000-square-foot building, B.Kroger,Colleyville . the sales tax revenue that they with the other business to be 4.Former Tarrant Printing building,Euless , used to. determined. A dialysis center 5.Albertsons,Grapevine I "It becomes, 'We're kind of will also move into the shop- 6.Tom Thumb,Hurst ping center. 7.Sam's Club,Richland Hills stuck with that r building,' " he 8.Food Lion,North Richland Hills said. Dallas-based Realtor Croe- 9,Albertsons,Watauga I sus Capital Partners, which __ __ ----- .- Patience can pay off - bought the center in Decem- Sometimes cities have found ber from a Florida real estate they have to be patient. investor, plans to update thew Euless waited for nearly a center with new landscaping s dozen years before-a former and a new facade. ,�f ' "si, k k ' r � Sutherlands building materi- Trip Green of Croesus said als store,at 1010 N.Industrial that the company was attract "°,m T `7 N mow.° Blvd.,found a tenant. ed by the area's solid demo- Residents often •asked graphics and income levels i - about the building at town hall and that it wasn't spooked by - ° I meetings. the building's long vacancy. ' "It had become a very bad v. "What we saw is what it STAR-TELEGRAM/STEWART F.HOUSE joke,"Ridgway said. could be, not what it was or I Professional Turf Products not what it had been,"he said. Colleyville took over the space about a I Albertsons,4801 Colleyville Blvd.,60,000 square feet year ago."The city cooperated Staff'writer John Kirsch contributed to How long empty:Six months Property value:$4.2 million with them in every way possi- this report,which includes material Officials'wish:Soft-goods/clothing store ble," Ridgway said, including from the Star-Telegram archives. I giving the company sales tax incentives. JESSICA DELEON,817-685-3932 1 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE 3 OF I MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GE ELL LIBRARYADMIJN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR q DATE DISTRIBUTED �� I5 /� 7 DATE OF ARTICLE / v NEWSPAPER FWST 1..,.:::-----....-_.-.'..- I - /4-i,..' '"-$4--ialtila1440,-;41w-'4,*•ta. ..- . - zee Y' �u .F.4-9.4W;;:' 3 �8 e 'rte * ''..'::::6:c.' , ° ',? pP��' 4- .. r w • �:G• \ Euless a°i, , ,a" ^" .6\°c‘' \O� 200 W Eu Pry'nt%n �ARTELEG2gM�sTEWARTF HOU.. I "'P.." � �. , te�eetiIt.�1��� P\bets Novy, 5Sonbr erne 131vd•,74,9465r1din� se �g9 sQ Ja�ve \oSed ire WMa 'owislr;A:c.re About three years pr I �d"�$eQe ote ti�orso Other%nforragrOn's o�etail,especially value: 6� Q< • to• Eco matine. pedally a Costco $1.5 million \\e 6s �oc`c` co". alsonomic Deve/o Thebuildin 'Targ:di°rn e�,``�R e Go�e`)�.t'�ooa5�a�`o�a\ used to be a T �hD'rectorBill Rdhavingasbestos re' CO e1,b, e�Q 5) ,Sre mb. gwaj'said mod��047�oo�ay`sN`' \O tes hebuing 01�"sorra * d s i� ti' s c% ' O S r �d ".s , a ., n Y s 2Y '11.2 rt -} Y,, {fF� , b{ r �ka yX ay sgw '' k rtg a e a r ar ury t 4, ,q r -. b *� � „«ro'ao__ ,”„ t+3 ,€ +'m3�„:4 z µ ia _ Y (« t F " �+L ^ R �j rt rs�,214 ii, . + ; +{ :::1 w 33 3Kv,. r .. � • iFfi. 9.r" ,_rSa�a.ccSTAR-TELEGRAM/STEWART F.HOUSE SEC4 g A Hurst ,,.. j t eN Tom Thumb/Mayfair shopping center,666 Grapevine Highway, Ln, .r'h'tY.Yf.'d19 t Sn 1aP.�' '3,,i" _ ,9, ,1- h f. ,. q ., nt4;''.',9�,.... � .. v *r o 197,745 square feet STAR-TELEGRAM/STEWARr F.HOUSE How long empty:Three years Property value:$14 million Officials'wish:Retail store or restaurant Grapevine Other information:The Tom Thumb,which moved next doc'N,is Al ons,2100 W.Northwest Highway,66,958 square feet part of a shopping center that includes several restaurants and H long empty:Five months stores that are still operating. PropProperty value:$3.8 million Officials'wish:Grocery store/retail store n. . . Ot r information:The building was one of the first Albertsons ,9**. W ,�Ruk, stcs in the area,Grapevine Assistant City Manager Tommy Hardy � a i 5 7; '� said.Many Albertsons stores have been closing,and this store ��' r 4.`. we with a round of closings this year,he said. y p. North RichlandHills STAR-TELEGRAM/IAN McvE Food Lion,4131 Rufe Snow Drive,37,025 I How long empty. 10 years Pro a square feet - Officials'wish:The ci p m'value:$1.9 million services displaced byl t e expansion tf Northeding nor 8 tate .'' I Other information:North Richland Hills bought the building in December 2003 for$650,000. • DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF 111 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HEN MCKAMIE RID GIVAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR I DATE DISTRIBUTED /r /s w DATE OF ARTICLE / / / NEWSPAPER FWST I I e CrK'x V$�8 , -s�' k x�d�8 'k e. q 'F� k 4 �s��ar, siekiAe, �� ,Y x;` € .ir".aFNo es 7 s � � ' ; s �d�x Fsx;2,s nes r a . � �`�:x �`x}k'"��'` MIS "w < e m11 EGA I a :� t�wr trx yaw e�.X. S x m { t C A n � e21 t < r 591sA. we. , Jet_ ° I �� ,X.' A'25' 2 ' t� ce teed., Q.co? pp pt .iii0Gr`a�6b'1 p�5 Jeryea<s aJ`ea ' 0 a�,s C e0C1 ti P stO\t ad Pc° I N°'N w.�,vr�sra•t°���tr Gia t to vi ter° va\": a $ ya jY Owe art , 4 j I the cycl Abes$d O�ci//s des PtY:TN,oe Snoiy��/V srgR:1:011: �Mi�aayeaeafOr�:o bUsinSsars p�OPe 59,"61s9Uar NMcvc4°vera//stoee�eberts n•s auPer Saver /4e.$3,3 duoton Int ated store°csoy�e5: h 't.Alides CUP�edth IStagyrereBra � e Metro e�sOns;e em a��hi� Je, . De Plea. f'as buin es ra!'�an Led Part o g fp tgPP2isar pistnq./oh FCS• of h gnoft • reel, I I I1 I 1 I I 1 DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE_ / OF' MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN IYOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARYADMIND LIBRARYREF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED /0/._S- l v DATE OF ARTICLE /5 /� NEWSPAPER FWST ig #1411.3 :".4.4 ` - - r 'w 2 •lCel/er rJ ;:,:::"L':::: -,,•:'-,;:"..:: � fl� _ .,nom-,� "� � ��w� � � V .....,,,,,,,„ ,„,*-4,,,,I. — ,-- ,-, .r... .,„ i. .._.i...;.›.--: . - 9 „, ..„,,,,,„. ,.,. g ..,„:„........„.„.„..:,...„...,.. :.,...„,„„„„,„ _ m E IJV: fE -. r '30 y. b _ l - = fi � ' . ' >�,__ ,_ , ...„‘ .;'- �'. .�� "% "". tom' d.- - _ .i�a 0 a1 „.,... .„ ,, .7. _ . ....„ .: ..,,..„,,,,.:,,,.,„,„„„ „:,.:. „.„.„:„:„:„.,,,, _ • i i ,0 . „ „... „ .,. ii atii-- - t Edge.FM / r 1 4 y3.... ::.',;.7..,..'.'-2,:.1,:;,',,,,,,.. -'''',,,:lt!--'..st•- ga og4itit* • - arso'..-1Mik ,,..'1.-=-,'-'-''' '--;',',.' t: ! • - i rep . ` S' Rjt *'#— 'YS'Ra"r's'e 'c2”:x'm 5,e Y 6 ,tom = .- „t ttiI Y m r� - An adventurous mom and thre - e energizer Inds find the best places in Tarrant County to climb, swing and romp By FELICIA PINKNEY Special to the Star-Telegram Finding the right playground—especially if you have kids of all ages is like shopping for a new car:You have to test drive a few I before you find the right one.Thankfully,Tarrant Countyis home to hundreds of public playgrounds. But which ones are best?We left that to the experts:kids and an eagle eyed parent. Note:All playgrounds are covered in wood chips unless otherwise noted. The mission:Search the area for some of the best playgrounds in Tarrant County The requirements:Lots ofI "room to romp,shade,restrooms,seating and a place for the baby to play safely The playground posse:The monkey bar master,age 6;her swingin'sidekick,age 4;a blanket bearing baby who's just along for the slide,age 20 months;and a picnic-packin'mama,age"never mind” DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF 31 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C. BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR I / DATE DISTRIBUTED /0/ S / 07 DATE OF ARTICLE /D /510 7 NEWSPAPER FWST Our top three: „ Glenview Baptist Church I IDJ.W. Dunlop Sports Center ,rrl ' ©4805 N.E. Loop 820,Fort Worth 1500 N.W.Green Oaks Blvd.,Arlington The scene: Right near the border of Fort Worth and The scene: Right down the street from River _. Haltom City is one of the best-kept secrets among indoor I Legacy Parks sits the Sunrise Creative Play- play areas—and there's no admission fee. a l- Playground:Three-story a perfect place for kids to have fun -moi Yg treehouse has five slides,one without the hot Texas sun bearing down on of which is the tallest spiral slide in Texas,says Glenview I them. Senior Pastor Dennis Baw.Mazes throughout the tree- Playground:This site has nearly everything we look for house lead to various levels of fun and adventure. in a playground: It's large and shady,and little ones can Tot spot:The"Romper Room,”for crawlers and new walk ers,has small slides and a tot size treehouse.Nearby is a play safely on the big-kid stuff;the screened-in play I soft play zone with tiny tunnels and more for little climbers. structure prevents falls from high up. Includes rocket Shade: No need to worry about Mr.Sun here,since it's shaped playhouse,climbing wall,lots of monkey bars, slides and cool hiding places.Note:Watch out for cob- all indoors. webs underneath the play structure. Restrooms:Yes '. Tot spot:Several baby swings,slides,monkey bars and a Seating: Benches throughout the play area;or plop down padded surface on the floor with other parents Shade: Plenty Fave feature:The entire playscape,which is big enough I Restrooms: Portable toilets for moms and dads to climb into Hours:Open to the public 10 a.m.–noon first,third and Seating: Benches throughout the play area;some built into structure fifth Mondays for kindergartners and younger;817-281- Fave feature:The deep,roomy sandbox,which is in the 3361,www.glenviewchurch.org(click on"Ministries," I Tot Lot.Sandcastle fun awaits;bring your own bucket. then"Preschool&Children's Ministry") - Hours:5 a.m.-10 p.m.daily Others worth a visit: © Trinity Park O Candleridge Park I 2401 University Drive,Fort Worth 4301 French Lake Drive,Fort Worth The scene:Just down the road from the Fort Worth The scene:The CandleRidge neighborhood, Zoo,along the banks of the Trinity River,this lush park is tucked just off South Hulen in southwest I one of the city's most popular places for kids to romp. Fort Worth,is home to this peaceful park, Playground:With so much to choose from,children which is surrounded by bike/walking trails won't know where to go first:slides,tunnels,swings, and features a large pond and spray foun things to climb on and into.The play area is massive;it tain. I can get crowded,especially on weekends and holidays. Playground:Old and new play structures; Note:Check out the duck pond,which you'll find if you six slides,four swings,merry-go-round, climbing wall;ground covered with gravel. follow the winding road through the park. Tot spot:Two play zones have smaller slides,not-so- This playground is smaller than the others I scary tunnels and other amenities for younger kids;baby on our list,but that's a plus if you want to swings are near the ones for big kids. avoid the crowded ones. Shade: Plenty Tot spot:One play structure,which in- I Restrooms: Portable toilets cludes a mini slide,tunnel and chain-link Seating:Several benches in the play area climber Fave feature:The miniature train that takes a 5-mile trip Shade: Plenty throughout the park.Tickets are$3 for adults and$2.50 Restrooms: No I for kids and seniors;cash only.Check www.fpmt.us for Seating: Benches surround the play zone times. Fave feature:The duck pond.We brought Hours 5 a.m. 11:30 p.m.daily all our discarded bread crusts and fed them to the ducks,turtles and other critters. • I Note:Watch out for the jagged rocks lead- ing down to the pond. Hours:5 a.m.-10 p.m.daily I 'DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE OF 3 MAYOR CITY CNCL CITY ATTNY CRIM HENNIG MCKAMIE RIDGWAY(2) BOYETT BROWN 'YOUNG McDONALD COLLINS C.BARKER GETCHELL LIBRARY ADMIN LIBRARY REF ANIMAL CNTR DATE DISTRIBUTED 0U DATE OF ARTICLE / L'/3 �0 7 NEWSPAPER FUST I ®Johnson Road Park 640 Johnson Road,Keller The scene:Across the parking lot from CI Eastside YMCA the Keller Library and senior center is 1500 Sandy Lane,Arlington this neighborhood playground,which is The scene: Rome wasn't built in a day, • often referred to as"Castle Park." but this playground was.Along with Playground:The castlelike play struc- nonprofit organization Kaboom ture has bridges and towers all around. and the Build A Bear Workshop,volun There's also a sandbox,a climbing wall, teers built this colorful playground in several sets of swings and a ship-shaped August to give children in the commu ' playhouse;the play area is huge and nity a place to play. offers many great spots to play hide-and Playground:Climbing walls,colorful seek. slides and swings will keep big kids busy Tot spot:The"Tot Lot"has baby swings, for a while. ' slides and lower-to-the-ground monkey Tot spot: Little ones have their own bars.The padded surface is perfect for slide,tunnels and other fun stuff in those who are prone to tumble. "Tot Town." Shade:Not much, unless you sit in the Shade:A little pavilion Restrooms: No Restrooms:Yes Seating: In pavilion and gazebos near Seating: Benches built into the actual the play area play structure;picnic tables in pavilion Fave feature:The tiny log cabin near I Fave feature:Hand-operated bulldozers; the playground,which had an interest- ing can scoop and dump wood chips and bench made out of an old car seat Hours:6 a.m.-sundown daily;817-451 channel their inner Bob the Builder Hours:6 a.m.-10 p.m.daily 8276 I 0 Chisholm Park 2200 Norwood Drive, Hurst The scene:The largest park in Hurst,Chisholm Park offers something for nearly every- one:fishing,swimming,jogging trails and more. Playground: Plenty of room to run and lots to do here,with a couple of play areas;six slides,several climbing walls and a handful of swings. I Tot spot:Smaller structures for little ones;parents may need to follow them on those that are not enclosed or are a little high off the ground. Shade: Plenty over the park itself but none over the playground Restrooms:Portable toilets,including a family-size one I Seating: Benches throughout the park Fave feature:The fishing island by the duck pond,which is across from the playground Hours:6 a.m.-10 p.m.daily • Town Park 1099 Mid-Cities Blvd.W., Euless ®500 N. Main St.,Mansfield The scene:Just off Texas 121 is a trifecta The scene: Built last year,the park is I - for busy little bees. on the outskirts of downtown Mansfield Playground: Besides swings,this cozy Playground:Two play areas,which are playground has all you need:plenty of partially padded,offer plenty of room room to roam,a couple of slides and lots to roam;five slides,swings,jungle gyms Iof shade. Follow the walking trail south made of ropes,climbing wall,lily pads, and it leads to Trailwood Park,where paddlewheel;big-kid swings were being another playground awaits;go east and replaced on our visit. Lyou hit pay dirt again at McCormick Park. Tot spot:Smaller play zone with slides, Tot spot:Little kids have to share the playhouse,music-maker toys,baby same structures with the big kids here. swings Shade: Plenty Shade: None over the play area Restrooms: Portable toilets Restrooms:Yes Seating: Picnic benches nearby Seating: Benches around playground Fave feature:The fact that we could and in pavilion walk the trail a bit and discover more Fave feature:The spinning monkey ' places to play - ' bars were fun—for moms and dads, Hours:9 a.m.-11 p.m.daily too. Hours:6 a.m.-11 p.m.daily.