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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-11-05 lam. I Regular Meeting Meeting Parks and Recreation Board November 5, 1984 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board was called to order at 7: 00 P.M. , November 5, 1984 , in the Council Chamber of the Euless Municipal Building by Chairman Ron Henson. Other members present were Mrs. Helen Lightbody, Messrs. Marland Ernest, Rod Ashford, Ken Balsinger, and George Zahn. Alternate Board member William T. Engle, Jr. , Parks Director Bob Phillips, Recreation Director Julia Wakeley, and Recording Secretary Ophelia Smith were also present. VISITORS Visitors present were Mayor Pro Tem Willie Mae McCormick, and Mr. Jim Hackett, president, Bedford-Euless Soccer Association. INVOCATION The invocation was given by Mr. Rod Ashford. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the regular meeting dated October 1 , 1984 , were approved as written. Chairman Henson introduced Mr. George Zahn who has been appointed by the City Council to serve on the Parks and Recreation Board as a regular member. Chairman Henson also introduced Mr. William T. Engle, Jr . who has been appointed by the City Council to serve as an alternate member on the Parks and Recreation Board. I . REPORT ON THE TEXAS RECREATION AND PARK SOCIETY CONVENTION Mrs . Lightbody reported that she thought the material presented at the T.R.A.P.S. (Texas Recreation and Park Society Convention) was very good and she would have liked to have spent more time there. Chairman Henson stated that time did not permit him to attend some of the meetings , as he had planned, but that he did get ' to view the exhibits. He stated they were very informative. Mr. Ernest reported that the two sessions he attended were very good, most appropriate, and well presented. The sessions were on topics that the Board has been discussing for the past two or three months. One session Mr. Ernest attended was on the Volunteer Services Program. The speaker' s theme was "Adopt a Park. " Mr. Ernest Page Two, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, November 5 , 1984 stated that he gave many ideas that were very good, and could be used in Euless. Mr. Ernest stated that he feels we should give serious consideration to some of the ideas mentioned, "Adopt a Park, 'Adopt a Street, or a 'City Block, an ' Island, or a 'Median Strip. " Mr. Ernest stated that another idea which was equally as good was "Evaluating Usage. " The group from Lubbock presented the program they have been using to implement this activity. Mr. Ernest stated that he thought both sessions were very good, and he was pleased to be able to attend. Chairman Henson stated that some of the topics discussed at the T.R.A.P. S. Convention were very timely. The Board had discussed "Volunteer Services" , and "Facility Usage" at the meeting just prior to the convention. II. AREA AND FACILITY APPOINTMENTS Mrs . Wakeley presented Board members with a brochure describing area facilities and related activities. Chairman Henson requested volunteers to name their pre- ferance of facilities to represent. Board members volunteered to serve as liaisons to specific areas as listed: • 1 . -Ron Henson - Midway Park and Blessing Branch 2 . Rod Ashford - Bear Creek Park and McCormick Park 3 . George Zahn - J. A. Carr Park, Simmons Building, Kiddie Carr Park, and Oakwood Elementary playground 4 . Helen Lightbody - West Park 5 . Ken Balsinger - Euless Junior High, Wilshire Elementary and Park, Lakewood Elementary, and South Euless Park 6 . Marland Ernest - Community Building and Special Events Chairman Henson remarked that the above named members • should act as liaisons between parks and playgrounds and Park and Recreation Directors . He stated that members should relate to activities within areas they have chosen to represent. III. REPORT ON OBJECTIVES Mrs . Lightbody reported that she had attended Park and Page Three, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, November 5 , 1984 Recreation Board meeting in both Bedford and Hurst. Chairman Henson stated that a list of coming events has been given to Volunteer Co-ordinator Leon Hogg: IV. RECREATION DIRECTOR'S REPORT Mrs. Wakeley reported that on October 2nd. the Senior Citizens went on a shopping trip to the Outlet Malls of America in North Richland Hills. They will be taking monthly shopping trips through the Christmas holidays. The Senior Citizens had their monthly luncheon on October 25th. , and Their Thanksgiving luncheon has been planned for November 15th. The Recreation Department had a Health Symposium for Department Heads on October 24th. , and eighteen City employees participated in this event. A Health Symposium will be held in the gymnasium for the remaining City employees on November 8th. There has been good response for this activity. The Great Salad Mix-Up will be held on Saturday, November 10th. , at the Community Building. The Softball Leagues will finish this season' s play the week of November 5th. Also, Tennis Leagues finish play for the season the same week. Mrs. Wakeley stated that 489 persons have enrolled for classes in Fall Session No. II. The attendance at the Community Building for October was 4 , 183 , which was 2 , 340 over the month of September. V. PARKS DIRECTOR' S REPORT Mr. Phillips stated that Bear Creek. Park is a large park, and that he refers to it as Hwy. 157 side, and the area east of Tr lwood Drive as the Trailwood side. Mr. Phillips stated the area he refers to as the Trailwood side of Bear Creek Park is the area ne would like to be named Sustaire Park. The Parks Department is clearing out underbrush and small trees, and pruning trees on the twenty-six (26) acre addition on the east side of Bear Creek Park. They are grading and leveling this new park property, and making some large open spaces. The playground equipment in the parks is checked once each month, and repaired when needed. Page Four, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, November 5 , 1984 Mr. Phillips stated that white crape myrtles have been planted near the entrance to the Municipal Building on the west side to replace the trees we lost last winter. The Parks Department is in the process of re-painting the trash receptacles in the parks . This is some of the work that the Parks Department does in the winter months. The winter months are very busy ones making repairs, re-painting and shaping things up for the busy recreational summer season. The Wilshire tennis court has been' re-striped and the lights have been checked. Mr. Phillips stated that the lighting system has been transferred to the Electrical Department. The entrance signs to the parks have been taken to the Shop and re-painted and re-routed when needed. The swimming pools have been winterized. We have been plagued with fire ants in the parks since the heavy rainfall. All the parks have been sprayed twice for these pests. The area on the south side of the Civic Center Complex has been overseeded with rye grass. West Park soccer fields , and the ball. fields at Bear Creek Park have also been overseeded with rye grass. The-Parks Department has propagated 5,000 lantana plants , and 2 , 000 copper plants in the City Greenhouse. These plants will be used for color in , the flower beds next Spring. Mr. Phillips stated that a new sign has been installed by the Parks Department on Tibbitts Drive at the Euless city limits. VI. INPUT FROM CITY COUNCIL PERSONS AND VISITORS Mrs . McCormick stated that she had nothing to add to the meeting. Mr. Hackett stated that the Bedford-Euless Soccer Association has registered 950 players for Fall. Mr. Hackett stated that they have lost three weekends in a row, due to rainfall , which really curtailed their playing season. The problem now is working in make up games. Mr. Hackett stated that the Soccer Association will be playing six teams in Medford this Fall for the first time. Two adult fields may be ready for Spring in Bedford which will relieve some of the pressure some- what in West Park and Harwood soccer fields. Mr. Hackett stated that the Soccer Association has had Page Five, Regular Meeting, Parks & Recreation Board, November 5 , 1984 their first fund-raiser, which was successful. They hope the funds will be used to improve the present facilities. Mr. Hackett stated that the Soccer -Association now has a total of seventeen (17) bleachers installed at Harwood Soccer fields. COMMENTS In answer to an inquiry by Mr. Balsinger, Mrs. Wakeley stated that to her knowledge no one has investigated possible correction of the sound problem in the gymnaium at the Community Guilding. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Parks and Recreation Board the meeting was adjourned at 8 : 35 P.M. with a closing prayer by Chairman Henson. Chairman pr)-2 Attest