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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-06-15 Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Committee June 15, 1970 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Park and Recreation Committee was called to order at 8:00 P. M. in the Conference Room of Euless City Hall by Chairman Charles HL,nt. Members present are listed as follows: Mrs. David Martin, Messrs. Ivan Gregory, Cullen H. McNair and Jay H. Theder. Also present were Mr. Frank D. Lindsey, Director of Park and Recreation, and Mrs. Ophelia Smith, Recording Secretary. INTRODUCTION OF MR. MC NAIR Chairman Hunt introduced Mr. Cullen H. McNair, who has been appointed to fill the vacancy on the Committee, due to the resignation of Mr. James Kilmer. Mr. McNair lives at 1906 Westcliff with his wife and two boys. One son will soon be eleven (11) , and the other is six (6) years of age. The youngest one will be starting school in the fall . Mr. McNair is a design engineer in the Aeronautics Division of L. T. V. in the Grand Prairie plant. He has lived in this area for the past five years, one and one-half years of that time in Hurst, after which he and his family moved to their present home in Wilshire. He is an Episcopalian. Chairman Hunt then gave a little back- ground of each of the other Members of the Committee, giving the profession and some of the main interests of each. II . RECREATION PROGRAM ATTENDANCE 1970 Mr. Lindsey presented each Member of the Committee with a chart showing the increase in attendance of the Recreation Program. Discussion followed, and Members agreed this increase in attendance is a good indicator of the urgency for more Parks and Recreation facilities. (Page Two, Regular Meeting of the ftec, eation Committee, June 15, 1970) ELECTION OF PARK AND RECREATION OFFICERS Hu.t reminded the Committee Members that the Agenda for the preser;t mee ' ' y °. as discussed at the last Regular Meeting, and one item was the electio. of Committee Chairman and Vice Chair- man. Discutisior. followed and Members agreed to set the precedent of electing officers at th e first Regular Meeting after the appointments have been made. Election of Chairman Mr' G e<ior , nominated Chairman Hunt to serve as Chairman for another term. Mr. Theder seconded the motion. Chai rma'. Hu-,t was unanimously elected to serve as Chairman for another term. (Members were not polled individually.) Election of Vice-Chairman Mr. Theder nominated Mr, Gregory for Vice- Chairman. Mrs. Martin nominated Mr. Theder to serve as Vice-Chairman. Mr.. Theder asked Mrs. Martin to withdraw her nomination for personal reasons. Mrs. Martin agreed to withdraw her nomination. Chairman Hunt nominated Mr. McNair as Vice-Chairman. Chairmar, Hunt announced the election of Vice-Chairman would be by secret ballot . Mrs. Smith, Recording Secretary, tabulated the ballots and the result is as follows. Mr. Gregory - three votes Mr. McNair two votes Chairman Hunt declared Mr. Gregory electei to serve as Vice-Chairman. (Page Three, Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Committee, June 15, 1970) IV. DISCUSSION OF WEST EULESS PARK Chairman Hunt gave the general background on West Euless Park for the benefit of the new Committee Member, Mr. McNair. He stated there are approximately twenty (20) acres of land in this site, which is undeveloped, and there is a problem of dumping of trash in the area. Also, the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School System has indicated an interest in a portion of the land for a school site. The Park and Recreation Committee needs to know what portion the School District wants before proceeding with definite plans. It was the consensus of opinion of the Committee Members that the citizens of Euless would like to have the area developed, and a nice rustic park could be developed at little cost. Mr. Theder reported that Citizens have been asking why West Euless Park has not been cleaned up and put into usable condition. He proposed that each Member of the Committee try to get as many people interested in the project as possible, citizens, clubs, etc. , and clean the park. Also, he suggested getting an area leveled for use in playing soft-ball , then kept mowed. He stated that the Girl Scouts have requested the installation of a Flag Pole. They will fly the Flag, and main- tain flower beds around the pole. Chairman Hunt reminded the Committee that Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District plans to use approximately one-half ('—z) of the acreage for school grounds, and the City needs to know which portion the School District plans to use before expending funds. Mr. Lindsey pointed out the general out- line of the area and stated that there is about two thousand (2,000) feet that needs to be fenced. He reported that he had checked with an Army Surplus Store for cable to use for fencing to prevent dumping of trash, They did not have cable on hand, but expect some in the near future, Tentative plans are for the Fire Department to do the purchasing, and the Park Department will do the installation. He stated this would be financed by the City Budget. (Pa•e Four Resular Meetin' of the Park and Recreation Committee, June 15, 1970) Plans are to use a single strand cable placed about eighteen (18) inches above the ground using the poles which were removed from the Midway Park Ball Diamonds. Mr. Lindsey stated that Fort Worth has used this method successfully for years in preventing dumping of trash in their Parks. Mr. Theder suggested using posts for fencing. The posts would be about twenty-four (24) inches high, painted white, and placed about five (5) feet apart. Estimated cost of using posts would be a little over Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars. Mr. McNair commented that he thought it would be a good idea to check this idea out carefully. Mr. Lindsey said that he would look into the matter and report to the Committee. Mr. Theder requested the Committee set up a four (4) weeks program to put the Park in usable condition, and ask the City to have the Police patrol it regularly, Mr. Lindsey informed the group that the Park Department could set this up for a fall program, but at the present, the personnel was spread so thin that he would need at least five (5) men for possibly three (3) weeks, maybe longer. The Committee Members agreed that this would be too costly for the budget. Mr. Lindsey stated, also, that when the Park is restored, additional personnel will be needed to maintain it. Chairman Hunt, in answer to Mrs. Martin 's question of the possibility of a cover for picnic tables, stated that the first thing, the area should be cleaned and fenced to prevent more dumping of trash; then furnishings could be added, (signs, picnic tables, trash barrels, etc.) Chairman Hunt also reminded the group that the West Euless Park was on the program to be cleaned during Clean-Up, Paint-Up, Fix-Up Week, but nothing was accomplished. He stated he is of the .-- opinion that the citizens feel that the Parks should be taken care of with Capital Improvement Funds, set aside in the Bond Program, and therefore, would not be sympathetic with the idea of cleaning the Park. Also, that the people might feel there is no use in cleaning the area as long as it is used for dumping trash. (Page Five, Regular Meeting of the_Park and Recreation Committees June 15, 1970) Mr . Gregory recommended that the Committee make a formal recommendation to the City Council that the City take the responsibility for putting West Park in usable condition. He stated he does not feel it is the responsibility of grouts, and he is of the opinion, the Park has become a health hazard; tht the projecJ should be set up as a Public Safety Project with interest to public health. He further commented the Park has been allowed to deteriorate to the point that it has become a health hazard. In such case, Emergency El,r.ds should be put to use to restore the Park to a degree of usability. Mrs. Martin stated that she thinks the Committee should take a stand on this project . Mr. Lindsey stated that the area could be fenced, mowed, and a spot leveled for soft-ball , and the more time consuming tasks, such as clearing underbrush, etc , could be scheduled as time permits , tin answer to a question by Mrs. Martin, Mr. Lindsey assured her that the Park is in the process of being cleared of debris deposited earlier, Chairman Hunt reminded the Committee that Mr. Gene Schrickel , Landscape Architect. , has a plan for West Euless Park on file in his office. Chairman Hunt and Mr. Lindsey made plans to meet at the Euless City Hall , Tuesday, June 16, 1970, and go to Arlington to study the plans. V. NEW RESTROOMS FOR MIDWAY PARK, Chairman Hunt reviewed plans of the rest- rooms and storage facilities proposed for Midway Park which were drawn and submitted to the City Council October 14, 1969. The original cost estimate was approximately Seven Thousand Five Hundred ($7,500.00) Dollars. The City Council had a set of plans drawn by Gene Woodard, Architect , which were reviewed by the Committee, Mr. Hunt stated the building was increased in size, and with inflation from the time the idea was conceived until the bid was let, the only bid submitted was for Fifteen Thousand-Twenty-Five ($15,025.00) Dollars, twice the amount of the original estimate. S and H Engineering Company was asked to estimate the cost , and submitted a figure of Twelve Thousand Two Hundred ($12,200,00) Dollars. Mr. Hunt stated, now we are stuck with the single bid of over Fifteen Thousand ($15,000.00) Dollars, and the only alternative is to ask the bidder to reduce his bid. (Page Six, Regular Meet n of t` ark a -'?, ° (_ ' -a or' Committee, June 15, 1970) i If he refuses, then we can t c r e ,yew , nis eeJ start over. Chairman Hunt feels that it is the duty of the mi t tce r.oet in:3e to strive to get the restrooms built at Midway Park. Pit. '• �c.de_r , ��: -:.c? that he is not in favor of the plan by Mr. Woodard at a cost of tit e o much as the original plan, He stated he thinks the fit',/ recommendations by the Park and Recreation Committee, either approve hem or disapprove them, and in either case, notify the Committee of :rt'eir c,e_: rsron. r, Mart 'H Mart', stated that in case the Council saw fit to amend a reeoui .n tlo tr : n s' ,eHj ..:y.tur ... IL to the Committee with amendments for the Committee ' s ap; o i:n` l Mr . Grenor ': crated that Park and Recreation Committee Members lose interest 4, serving on toe Committee because of difficulty in getting recommendations passed on hv the City Council , and that he, too, would lose interest if projects c could not be handled properly and things accomplished. Mr . McNeir remarked that it appeared to him that the cost of restrooms H Midway Park nad escalated to a degree that it is out of proportion. Mr, Theder stated that the Baseball Association may withdraw their offer to assume Two Thousand ($2,000.00) Dollars of the cost of this project , since it oh.vious that it cannot be ready by the end of the ball season, to store their equipment. Chairman N ,._ reminded the Committee that this Committee is only one of maws/ ror�!rni t tees. submitting projects to the City Council , and that some projects are more urgent than others and than the Park and Recreation Committee needs to exccise patience in their efforts to accomplish their desires ,. Mr . Theder made the motion to recommend to the City Council that the restrooms and stora';e facilities at Midway Park, if built, are not to exceed Seven Thousand c 0i t Hundred ($7,800.001 Dollars. Mr . McNair seeorded the motion and the Committee voted unanimously in favor of the rcc_;nnnendation. OPEN SPACES PROGRAM Chairman duet reported that the Council of Governments recommended application for fuels sebmitted to Fort Worth be accompanied by a letter He stated that Ci Manager, C. J. Griggs wrote (Page Seven, Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Committee, June 15, 1970) a second letter, after a wait of six weeks, to find out why the first letter had not been answered. VII . COMMITTEE WORK SESSION Committee Members made plans to meet Monday, June 22, 1970, 7:30 P. M. , in the Conference Room for a work session. At that time, definite plans and recommendations will be drawn up to present to the City Council at their next regular meeting. VIII . ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 10:30 P. M. APPROVED: /`Z • 1 Chairman ots; i l