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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-09-08 -ti Regular Meeting Park and Recreation Board September 8, 1975 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Park and Recreation Board was called to order at 7:45 p. m. in the conference room of the Euless City Hall by Chairman Jay Theder. Members present were Mesdms. Jolly Rawlings and Zella Stierwalt; Messrs. Olin Steele and Elden Traster. (Absent was Mr. David Williams. ) Also present were Parks and Recreation Director Frank Lindsey and recording secretary Denise Holden. VISITORS The visitors in attendance were Mrs. Willie Mae McCormick, Councilman Charles Hunt and Mr. Matt Cushing, president of the Soccer Association. I. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Mr. Lindsey passed out the 1975 swimming pool report. *See attached copy. Mr. Lindsey stated that the new Fall program was out and encouraged any questions about it. Mr. Theder, noting the class on Model airplane building, asked if the EK Products Company in town that specializes in model airplane products had been approached about the possibility of sponsoring a model airplane flying club. Mr. Lindsey stated that he would be glad to look into this possibility. He also stated that some interest had been generated in conversational Spanish classes. He said these would be studied further. Mr. Lindsey related that a Church Softball league was being formed. Games were scheduled to start September 11, at Midway Park. He also reported about the good turnout for soccer with over 400 signed up for the Fall season. Mr. Cushing added that 270 of the 400 were Euless residents. (Page Two, Regular Meeting, Park & Recreation Board, Sept.8, 1975) Mr. Lindsey stated that the present school contract states that we must let all Cities participate. He concluded his report on athletics by saying a flag football league was in the process of being formed. Mr. Cushing reported on the growth of soccer, which started last Fall with some 77 parti- cipants, grew to nearly 300 in the Spring and is now over 400. He showed the Board an intricately drawn out schedule of games for the Fall league on the facilities available. He stated he didn't know what they would do if they even had one rain-out. He pointed out the desperate need for more park land. He stated that soccer needed more playing fields, but that he wasn't specifically speaking from a soccer standpoint. Mr. Cushing stated that he had been requested by a Council member to come before the Park Board. He stated that he couldn't understand why the City would spend so much money on streets and sewers and couldn't afford a two acre area for an athletic field. Mrs. Rawlings affirmed him that the Board was most interested in the acquisition of additional park land. Mr. Theder pointed out that an area City paid part-time people to coach their sports and that all our athletic associations ask for is facilities to play on. He stated that our athletic program was good in that it gets people in these programs interested in the City's problems;. Mr. Lindsey related that there would be no way the City could afford to pay people to coach, etc. , and that most cities used volunteers. It was pointed out that actually these people who volunteer to work in these programs are saving the City money. Mrs. Rawlings asked what might be done to alleviate soccer's problem of finding enough playing fields temporarily? Mr. Lindsey stated that he would guarantee them four game fields. Mr. Cushing, after thanking Mr. Lindsey and his staff for what they had done so far, added that he didn't think the City should deposit all their money with the School Board. (Page Three, Regular Meeting, Park & Recreation Board, Sept.8, 1975) , Mrs. McCormick stated that she felt that the Park Board and Mr. Lindsey had done a marvelous job in establishing contact with the school board. Mr. Cushing left at 8:20. Mr. Lindsey stated that just prior to the meeting he had received a call from Mr. Dunn, representing the Mid-Cities Bible Church, requesting that he ask the Board if they could extend their contract for a few months. A discussion followed after which Rev. Traster made the motion that the Mid-Cities Bible Church be given a sixty (60) day extention after October 1, 1975. Mrs. Stierwalt seconded the motion. The motion carried. II. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS Mr. Theder stated that the pur- pose of the meeting was to go over the cpaital improvements drawn up in 1967, and establish their priorities and recom- mendations to fit today's needs. Mr. Lindsey related to the Board that Mr. Sustaire said that in the next year a master plan for the City would be drawn up by an outside agency through a grant. Mr. Theder went over the old proposals step by step. He also stated that in the booklet, "The Goals for Euless," the public survey showed additional parks and recreation facilities their second priority, just after the already completed hospital. Mr. Theder asked the Board what type of parks they should recommend? A lengthy discussion followed defining different type parks and about the needs of our citizens. Mr. Steele moved that in the following years the Park Board work on developing neighborhood and community recreation facilities. (Page Four, Regular Meeting, Park & Recreation Board, Sept.8, 1975) , Mrs. Rawlings seconded the motion. The motion carried. A discussion followed on projecting the number of acres that should be recommended for additional park land. Mr. Theder stated at present . the City had about 60 acres of park land, which is about 2.4 acres per 1000 people. He stated that COG recommended 5 acres per 1000 for a City our size. It was the concensus of the Board to recommend 3.6 acres per 1000 people, which means about 30 more acres of park land. Mrs. McCormick stated that she felt when building started up again some donations would follow. Mr. Theder asked the Board to be thinking about the possibilities of potential park sites for next time. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m. APPROVED: Chairman