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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-04-09 Regular Meeting Park and Recreation Board April 9, 1979 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Park and Recreation Board was called to order at 7: 10 p.m. , in the Council Chambers of Euless City Hall by Chairman Don Calhoun. Other members present were Messrs. Billy Owens, Jay Heilman, and Mrs. Sherry Kachel . (Members absent were Mr. Winn Porter and Mrs. Zella Stierwalt.) Also present were Park and Recreation Coordinator Larry Morgan and Recording Secretary Maurine Butler. VISITORS Visitor in attendance was Mrs. Julia Wakeley. INVOCATION The invocation was given by Chairman Don Calhoun. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the regular meeting dated February 12, 1979, were approved as written. PARK AND RECREATION COORDINATOR' S REPORT COMMUNITY BUILDING Previous to the meeting, members looked at a replica of the Community Building with furniture built to scale. The scale model was made by the recreation staff. Mr. Morgan stated he wants new furniture in the Community Building and is considering a type similar to that in the North East Mall . He stated they cannot afford to purchase the furniture, as one bench would cost approximately $450, but the wooden slat type bench with metal legs can be built in the park shop for about $75. He stated by using the scale model of the Community Building, they can determine how much furniture will be needed and where to place it. Mr. Morgan presented several more plans for the Community Building; a quiet area for playing cards and watching television, a snack area, and an area for playing pool , ping pong and other table type activities. The television will be on a permanent, raised stand with the controls out of reach. He stated he would like to have a mural painted on the walls that can be seen from the freeway. (Page Two, Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, April 9, 1979) Mr. Morgan stated the windows in the office area need to be replaced with either tempered glass or glass with chicken wire, for protection from balls that occasionally come through. Mr. Morgan stated he would like to see new basket ball goals installed and a hard rubber surface floor installed in the gym that would be durable, easy to repair and clean. Mr. Morgan stated the shower in the upstairs area of the building has been completed; it is for city employees to use in connection with the weight machine. He stated the old air condition equipment is being removed from the upper area and this will give additional space. He stated it has not been decided how to use this additional space. Mr. Morgan stated a fee of 50 cents per hour is being charged for using the weight machine and to date $65 has been received. He stated money received from the machine along with money received from the leagues will go into a special recreation account to defray cost of additional equipment. Mr. Morgan stated all the staff has been instructed on how to use the machine and each employee will be given instructions before being issued a permit card; all other persons must go through a ten minute orientation period on how to use the machine, to relieve any liability. Mr. Owens inquired if the money is available, could the Park and Recreation Department proceed with these plans for the Community Building? Mr. Morgan stated at the present time they are concerned with park maintenance and Little Bear Creek Park. He stated these improvements will be in next year' s budget planning. PARK PROGRAM Mr. Morgan stated they are working on park maintenance, getting pools ready, and have installed a fence to the property line at Bear Creek Park. He stated the portable restrooms at West- park will be cleaned twice a week and three times a week if necessary. Mr. Morgan stated that he and other members of the staff will be checking the parks at night for vandalism. He stated that he recently attended a convention in El Paso and received some good ideas from a tour of their parks and from talking to the person in charge of the park patrol . Chairman Calhoun stated the board members could take turns checking the restrooms and lights for vandalism. (Page Three, Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, April 9, 1979) ATHLETIC PROGRAM Mr. Morgan stated the Soccer Association has agreed to stay off of the three fields located on the airport property and give the city an opportunity to seed them during this season. The city will furnish the labor and purchase the seed; the association will reimburse the cost of the seed. He stated play on the fields will be rotated until the grass is established. Mr. Morgan stated the slow pitch "Polar Bear" tournament held in February was a success. He stated a pre-season slow pitch tournament was held recently, and a women' s volley ball team went to state. II . SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAM - KIDDIE CARR PARK Mrs. Julia Wakeley, Recreation Activity Coordinator, stated she is present to give information and help members of the board to be more familiar with the summer day camp program. Mrs. Wakeley stated day camp is for children age six through twelve. She stated the program is for a period of eight weeks, six hours a day; a child can attend two weeks as long as they are not consecutive weeks. Mrs. Wakeley stated the children are divided in to age groups, seven to ten in each group, and each group is given a name. She stated they also have a group for special and handicap children. Each age group has two counselors. Mrs. Wakeley stated many activities are planned for each day such as sports, games, arts and crafts, song and drama and at least one cook out. She stated all children walk to the South Euless pool to swim, except the special children are taken in the mini-bus. Mrs. Wakeley stated they expect to have a very qualified staff; staff members must be a class room teacher or a student whose field is in recreation or physical education and at least 19 years old. She stated letters have been sent to everyone that worked last summer with a request to reply by April 15. Mr. Owens inquired if minorities partici- pate in day camp? Mrs. Wakeley stated they have had some minorities and they soon get acquainted and fit right in with the other children. Mr. Owens inquired if there are any minorities on the staff at this time? (Page Four, Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, April 9, 1979) Mrs. Wakeley stated they do have some minorities on the staff, employed through the CETA program, a government funding program. Mr. Morgan stated he and Mrs. Wakeley recently visited North Texas University to solicit students majoring in �—, Park and Recreation to work in the summer program and received one good prospect. He stated last year they employed a total of 85 persons. Mrs. Wakeley stated they have a new building in Kiddie Carr Park, a two-story hotel , and hope to get a puppet theatre. Mr. Morgan stated the greenhouse will be constructed in Kiddie Carr Park. It will have a western front and will be approximately 30' x 96' in size. He stated the greenhouse will be open to the public and garden clubs. Chairman Calhoun inquired if money is in the budget for the greenhouse, and staff for the greenhouse and Little Bear Creek Park? Mr. Morgan stated the greenhouse is in the budget and they are getting bids at this time. Maintenance for these new facilities will be in next year' s budget. III . EULESS TO HOST SUMMER EVENTS Mr. Morgan stated McDonald' s will sponsor an Easter Egg hunt in Carr Park the Saturday before Easter. Mr. Morgan stated there is a good chance Euless will host the North West Regional Soccer Tournament and also will possibly host the Special Olympics in August for the Fort Worth-Dallas area. Mr. Morgan stated Euless will host the Multiple Sclerosis Bike-a-thon and it is now in the planning stage. The trail will be five miles long, with two check points and laid out in South Euless. He stated he does not have the staff or time to devote to. this event and is trying to find a sponsor to organize and coordinate it. He will be working with Jim Brewer, Traffic Safety Coordinator. Mrs. Wakeley stated the National Tourna- ment for Little Dribblers will be held in the Trinity High School gym. The Little Dribblers started in Euless about nine years ago. Mr. Morgan stated Euless should receive some very good publicity on these events. (Page Five, Regular Meeting, Park and Recreation Board, April 9, 1979) IV. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Chairman Calhoun reminded members that Park and Recreation Board officers will be elected at the next regular meeting May 14, 1979. V. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Cent- et-44) Chairman