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EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE MONDAY, DECEMBER 11TH, 2023 WORK SESSION FOR THE GARLAND CITY COUNCIL.[1. Public Comments on Work Session Items]
AGENDA THIS EVENING.ITEM ONE, PUBLIC COMMENTS ON WORK SESSION ITEMS. OKAY.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS.
I WOULD CALL 'EM UP, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS.
SO, MISS LIPSCOMB COMING UP SO FAST.
AND IF YOU CAN GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I'M BERTHA LIPSCOMB WALLACE AND I'M A PRESENT RESIDENT OF 5 21 CLARK STREET.
THAT HAS BEEN THE HOME WHERE I WAS RAISED IN, KEPT IT WITH MY FATHER AND MOTHER'S PASSING AND I'VE COME BACK HOME IN THAT SPACE AGAIN OVER THE PAST YEAR.
ALRIGHT, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE, UH, HUFF PROJECT PARK PROJECT.
AND UH, FIRST I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO YOU, MAYOR.
LAME TO THE MAYOR PROTE, TO ALL OF THE COUNCILMEN AND COUNCILWOMEN THAT ARE HERE.
IF I ONLY GOT THREE MINUTES, I'M GONNA HAVE TO REALLY GET SHORT
SO I'D LIKE TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU.
I AM BERT EL LIPSCOMB WALLACE, THE CURRENT RESIDENT OF 5 21 CLARK STREET, WHICH I MENTIONED, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT TWO, WHICH IS IN EAST GARLAND.
I WAS BORN IN 1946, RAISED IN THE EAST GARLAND NEIGHBORHOOD.
I ATTENDED GW CARVER SCHOOL, GRADUATED IN 1964, WENT OFF TO TW, MOVED FROM SEGREGATION TO INTEGRATION ALL IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS TIME.
MOVING FORWARD TO WHERE I AM NOW, BOTH OF MY PARENTS WERE VERY, VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY WORKING, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA WITH THE LU HUFF RECREATION CENTER.
THEN MOVING TO WHAT YOU NOW HAVE AS THE LU HUFF PARK.
SO THEY WERE THERE IN A SPACE OF COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO WORKED WELL TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE COLORED, THE NEGRO AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
I STAND IN THAT AREA GOING FORWARD FROM WHERE I WAS TO WHERE WE ARE NOW AND TO ADDRESS THE THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN CALLED TO BE A STAKEHOLDER IN THE SAME AREA WORKING ON THE LOU HUFF PARK PROJECT.
AND THEN THE OTHER THINGS, AS I BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT IT WAS I KIND OF STAND BETWEEN TWO SPACES.
ONE IS I'VE BEEN CALLED IN TO HELP GIVE INFORMATION ON THE NEW PROJECT FOR THE LOU HUFF PARK.
AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, I'M A RESIDENT, SO I FEEL LIKE AT TIMES I'M ON THE INSIDE.
BUT THEN THERE ARE TIMES THAT THINGS ARE SPOKEN THAT I FEEL THAT I'M ON THE OUTSIDE.
SO I STAND BETWEEN WHAT IS PROGRESS AND WHAT I FEEL AS A RESIDENT.
AND THEN WHAT I'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO IN THE COLLABORATIVE PART IS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND A CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON WITH THE PARK.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME THINGS AND SOME PLACES THAT I HAVE NOT FELT AS COMFORTABLE WITH.
AND WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS TO JUST TALK ABOUT AS A STAKEHOLDER, SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE OBSERVED BY BEING IN THE INSIDE POSITION AND IS THAT MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS HAVE, OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, WE'VE WANTED TO SEE THE LU HUFF RECREATION CENTER AREA TO BECOME AN ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND LONGTIME COMMUNITY LEADERS DID NOT KNOW OF THE DEDICATION OF THE LU HUFF PARK AND DID NOT OFTEN RECEIVE AN INVITATION.
SO WHEN THE LOU HUFF PARK WAS DEDICATED IN 1964, ACCORDING TO RECORDS, MANY OF THE RESIDENTS WHO WERE THERE TO HELP WITH THE DEDICATION AND ALL THE WORK THAT CAME FORTH WITH THE LOU HUFF PARK RECREATION CENTER, THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THE PARK EXISTED.
SO WE ARE DEALING WITH THINGS IN THE AREA OF PROGRESS COMES FORWARD, BUT WE MAY NOT ALWAYS KNOW ABOUT IT.
AND THEN TO BE SURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE IN THE PLACE
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TO SET US PACE FOR US AS WE HAVE GONE FORWARD, OUR PARENTS, WE WANNA BE SURE THAT THAT STAYS IN PLACE AND WE ARE MOVING FORWARD TO BE SURE THAT WHAT HAS COME BEFORE US, WE ARE ABLE TO BE SURE THAT IF GARLAND IS NOW 97TH THROUGHOUT THE USA, WE WANNA BE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP THAT AND PUSH IT FORWARD WHEN, WHENEVER WE COME TOGETHER TO WORK ON THINGS.THE OTHER THING IS THAT ALTHOUGH ASKED TO BE THE INSIDER FOR THE LHO PARK PROJECT AS A RESIDENT AT 5 21 CLARK STREET AT AVENUE D ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF AVENUE B, THE PARK AND RAINBOW ESTATES, I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S NOT FOR RESIDENTS ON THAT SIDE OF THE STREET AND THAT THERE WILL BE NO ACCESS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THOSE RESIDENTS.
WE COULD USE THE PARK IF WE FOUND A SAFE WAY TO GET TO THE PARK WHO WILL REALLY BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE PARKS IS MY QUESTION.
WITH THE NEW CHANGES, HOW WILL THE CITY NOW KNOW WHO THE RESIDENTS ARE AND WHERE THEY LIVE? AND EXAMPLE WILL BE, WILL CAPS BE ABLE TO USE THE PARK FOR ONE OF THEIR EVENTS? POSSIBLY CAPS DID NOT LIVE ON THE RAINBOW SIDE OF THE STREET.
SO THOSE QUESTIONS ARE WHAT'S RUNNING THROUGH MY MIND AND THINGS I THINK WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE CLEAR ABOUT AND THAT WE ADDRESS BECAUSE IT'S STILL ABOUT THE RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE HAVEN'T TIED THAT DOWN.
SO WE ARE CLEAR ABOUT THE USAGE.
IF THE MOUNT, WHICH IS A CHURCH LOCATED, LOCATED ON HIGHWAY 66, WANTED TO HAVE AN EVENT AT THE PROPOSED PAVILION, WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO USE IT? THAT'S ON THAT SIDE OF THE STREET WITH BOTH, UH, THE RAINBOW ESTATE AND SAMS CHAPEL, THE OTHER CHURCH AT THE END.
SO IF WE ARE DOING PAVILION, WILL IT YET BE AVAILABLE TO SOME OF THOSE OTHERS THAT ARE LOCATED ON THAT SIDE OF THE STREET? WHAT WAS LONG TERM AND WHAT IS THE LONG TERM SURVEY SAY ABOUT THE PRESENT USE OF THE PARK BASKETBALL COURTS, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT BY THE RESIDENTS OF THE RAINBOW NEIGHBORHOOD OR EVEN BY NEARBY NEIGHBORS? WHAT WILL BE THE PRESENT USAGE OF THAT PARK AT $4 MILLION? MINE HAS BEEN, I'VE GONE, I'M THE PERSON WHO KEEPS CHECKING TO SEE IF WE ARE IN THE PLACE WE NEED TO BE.
I DON'T SEE VERY MANY PEOPLE USING THE PARK.
I DON'T SEE KIDS PLAYING IN THE PLAYGROUND.
SO WE NEED TO BE, FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, VERY CAREFUL THAT WE ARE IN THE SPACE, THAT WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE USED AND NOT $4 MILLION WILL BE PLANNED FOR A FACILITY, A PARK.
EVERYTHING THAT SHOULD BRING US TOGETHER IS WHAT THIS PROJECT SHOULD BE.
AND JUST ONE THING THEY SAID, OH, DON'T STEP BACK, BUT, BUT THAT IS THE LOU HUFF RECREATION CENTER IS YET SO TIED TO THE PARK ALSO.
SO AS WE PLAN, WE WANNA BE SURE THAT WE KEEP ALL OF THAT TOGETHER AND THAT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE THAT OUR PARENTS DID IN 1950, THAT IT STILL STEPS FORWARD AND THAT WE CAN STEP IN A PLACE TO TAKE IT EVEN HIGHER.
EVERY PLACE I AM AND EVERY PLACE I WANNA GO, I WANNA BE AN ASSET.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL TONIGHT.
AND COUNSEL, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THAT WAS, UH, THAT THREE MINUTES WAS RETROACTIVE FOR A LOT OF YEARS AND A LOT OF, A LOT OF INPUT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAD, SO THANK YOU MA'AM.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS OUR ONLY SPEAKER FOR THE EVENING.
ALRIGHT, AND WE WILL DISCUSS THAT ITEM HERE SHORTLY.
[2. Consider the Consent Agenda]
ON TO ITEM TWO, UH, TO CONSIDER THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, FOR TOMORROW NIGHT.I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY, ANY REQUEST TO HAVE ANY ITEMS PULLED, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S TIME.
[3. Written Briefings]
TO ITEM THREE, WRITTEN BRIEFINGS.ITEM THREE A APPROVAL TO EXECUTE A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION FOR DOMINION ACQUISITION LLCS APPLICATION FOR 4% LOW INCOME TAX CREDITS.
ITEM THREE B, ONGOING SUPPORT FOR SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATIONS AND PROCESS TRANSFORMATIONS.
THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING, DOESN'T IT?
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TO THE PSL GARLAND, MOB LP TENANT IMPROVEMENT INCENTIVE AGREEMENT AS IF ITEM B WEREN'T ENOUGH.[4.a. Introduce Municipal Court Director Kimberly Jozwiak]
THAT IS ALL OF OUR WRITTEN BRIEFINGS THAT WILL MOVE US ON TO OUR VERBAL BRIEFINGS FOR THE EVENING.UH, FIRST UP, UH, WE HAVE AN INTRODUCTION.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A, A NEW MEMBER OF TEAM GARLAND TO INTRODUCE TO US TONIGHT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M, UH, HERE WITH ME TONIGHT IS KIMBERLY JOES WALK.
KIMBERLY AND HER HUSBAND ARE COMING INTO GARLAND FROM ODESSA, WHERE SHE WAS OUR MUNICIPAL COURT DIRECTOR.
SHE IS OUR NEW MUNICIPAL COURT DIRECTOR HERE IN GARLAND.
AND, UH, SHE ARRIVED ABOUT A MONTH AGO, RIGHT? YES.
UH, KIMBERLY HAS WORKED IN MUNICIPAL COURTS ALL OVER THE STATE FROM CORPUS CHRISTI, UH, SPENT SOME TIME IN ALLEN, WORKED WITH OUR MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE, UH, BANUELOS AND, AND FATE, AND IS NOW, WELL, WAS IN ODESSA.
SHE MOVED HERE WITH HER HUSBAND.
SHE ALSO HAS A SON THAT'S IN THE, UH, THE MILITARY.
UH, YOU KNOW, ONE INTERESTING THING ABOUT, UH, KIMBERLY'S CAREER IS SHE WAS A, BOTH A MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE AND A, UH, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE FOR EIGHT YEARS, I BELIEVE, IN BRENHAM, TEXAS.
IS THAT RIGHT? SO, UH, SHE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, THE LAST 30 DAYS GETTING TO KNOW OUR COURT STAFF, UH, HAS SPENT SOME TIME WITH ME, OF COURSE, AND OF COURSE OUR MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES.
UH, I'M DELIGHTED TO HAVE HER HERE.
I THINK SHE'S GONNA DO A FANTASTIC JOB.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT ALLOWING ME TO KIND OF COME UP AND, AND SAY A FEW WORDS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO GIVE HER A, TO SAY SOMETHING.
SO YOU GOT ANYTHING,
I'M ACTUALLY VERY EXCITED, UH, ABOUT BEING HERE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, MOVING THIS COURT FORWARD AND BECOMING A BENCHMARK COURT FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE, AND THE METROPLEX AND, UH, WOW.
UM, BUT AT ANY TIME Y'ALL WANT TO VISIT OR CONTACT ME ABOUT THE COURT FOR ANY REASON, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE.
[4.b. Lou Huff Park revitalization project]
ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM UNDER VERBAL BRIEFINGS.ITEM FOUR B LOU HUFF PARK REVITALIZATION PROJECT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
VERY EXCITED TO COME FORWARD TONIGHT AND PRESENT THIS PROJECT.
UM, WE'VE BEEN, UH, WORKING ON THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND, UM, AND YOU'LL GET A FEW OF THE TIDBITS, UH, TONIGHT ABOUT THE DATES THAT, UH, WE DID PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
AND, UH, JUST TO GIVE, UH, JUST A BRIEF EXPLANATION FOLLOWING OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, IT TOOK A A FEW MONTHS TO GET EVERYTHING PULLED TOGETHER.
A CONCEPT PLAN DEVELOPED THAT, UH, WE FELT CAPTURED THE ESSENCE OF WHAT, UH, FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM THE, FROM THE, UH, MEETINGS.
AND SO, UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO, UH, PRESENT THAT TONIGHT.
UH, WE'LL GO THROUGH, UH, ALL THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, UH, EFFORTS THAT WE PUT FORWARD, AND THEN, UM, SHOW THE, UH, CONCEPT PLAN AT THE VERY END.
UH, SO WE'LL HAVE, UH, SOME TIME TO KIND OF GO THROUGH SOME OF THE IDEAS ABOUT, UH, PLACEMENT OF THE MAJOR FEATURES AND, UM, SOME OF THE IDEAS BEHIND, YOU KNOW, WHY, UH, THOSE AREAS WERE CHOSEN AND HOW IT FITS INTO THE LARGER CONTEXT.
UM, SO IN, IN OUR APPROACH TO ENGAGEMENT, UH, OUR MAIN PURPOSE WAS TO LISTEN, UH, LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVE, UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PARK, UH, WITHIN THE LOCAL CONTEXT, UH, ESPECIALLY, UH, THE STRONG TIES TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, FROM THERE WE WANTED TO DEVELOP, UH, AN INSPIRING VISION, UH, FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PARK, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SO, IN DOING SO, WE, UM, DEVELOPED A, UH, KEY STAKEHOLDER GROUP.
UM, AND WE'LL GO INTO, UM, SOME OF THAT IN, IN JUST A COUPLE SLIDES.
UH, FROM THERE, OUR GOAL WAS TO CREATE A, A MASTER PLAN THAT CAPTURED, UH, THE ESSENCE OF THE FEEDBACK, UM, TO FURTHER THE COMMUNITY INPUT AND, AND THE, AND INCORPORATE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT, THAT WE, UM, UH, THAT WE OBTAINED FROM THOSE MEETINGS.
UM, FROM THAT POINT, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE
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ARE NOW, IS, IS LOOKING AT THE DRAFT MASTER PLAN.FROM THERE, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS FINALIZE THAT, UH, SO THAT WE CAN GET GOING ON DETAILED DESIGN.
UM, JUST A A WANTED TO PUT A SLIDE IN FOR, UH, JUST A GENERAL OVERVIEW, SOME FACTS ABOUT THE SITE.
UH, IT'S, THE PARK IS NAMED AFTER THE PROMINENT CHERISH AND RESPECTED GARLAND RESIDENT, LULA L HUFF.
UH, THE PROJECT BUDGET IS SET FOR $4.4 MILLION TO RENOVATE THE PARK.
UH, THE REVITALIZATION WILL BE AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF CONNECTION FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND REESTABLISH, REESTABLISH A SENSE OF COMMUNITY IN THE PARK THAT WAS PRESENT, UM, MANY DECADES AGO.
UH, THE PARK IS ADJACENT TO THE GPNL OPERATIONS LOCATION, AND, UH, THE EXISTING RECREATION CENTER IN PAVILION WAS CLOSED IN 2002 AND IS CURRENTLY USED FOR STORAGE.
AFTER WE, UH, UH, DID SOME ANALYSIS, WE BROUGHT AN ARCHITECT IN, LOOKED AT THE STRUCTURE, UH, DETERMINED THAT IT CANNOT BE REPURPOSED.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF, UH, STRUCTURAL ISSUES WITH THE BUILDING AND, UM, THERE IS, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO REIMAGINE THE PARK TO CREATE A NEW SENSE OF COMMUNITY, UH, USING, UH, DIFFERENT ELEMENTS TO DO THAT.
UM, THE NEARBY GALE FIELDS RECREATION CENTER SERVES AS THE NEARBY RECREATION CENTER.
UH, THAT'S JUST A HALF MILE DOWN EMBRY, UM, OR SORRY, DAIRY ROAD.
UH, THE PLAYGROUND AT LUHA PARK WAS RECENTLY RENOVATED OR REPLACED AS PART OF THE 2019 BOND PROGRAM.
IT'S AROUND, UH, 5,800 SQUARE FEET.
UH, THERE'S A SOFTBALL FIELD ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE PARK, UM, THAT IS CURRENTLY MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OF GARLAND AND IS AVAILABLE AS A RENTAL FIELD.
UM, THERE'S AN ACTIVE PROJECT IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY TO STABILIZE A PORTION OF THE CREEK CHANNEL THAT RUNS THROUGH THE PARK, UM, SO THAT THE, UM, DAYCARE CENTER THAT'S, UM, WITHIN THE PARK BOUNDARIES IS, UM, YOU KNOW, REMAINS STRUCTURALLY SOUND AS WELL.
SO THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT IS TO CREATE A MULTI-GENERATIONAL GATHERING SPACE, UM, PROVIDE, UH, SAFETY, UH, WHICH WE HEARD QUITE A BIT, UH, DURING OUR MEETINGS IS ABOUT, UM, HELPING TO PROMOTE SAFETY IN THE PARK.
UM, THIS IS A PARK WITH A, A LOCAL PARK WITH A LOCAL FOCUS, UM, MEANING THAT, UH, THIS IS NOT A PARK THAT'S INTENDED TO DRAW, UH, LARGE, UH, AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE AS A REGIONAL DRAW.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, UM, INTENDED FOR, UM, LOCAL ACCESS TO.
SO, UM, IT, IT, IT'S NOT A LARGE PARK.
SO, YOU KNOW, A LARGE AMOUNT OF AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE DESCENDING WOULD, WOULD CREATE, UM, ISSUES, UH, WITH ACCESS AND, AND USAGE OF THE FACILITIES.
SO, UM, WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS, IS CREATE A WELCOMING GATEWAY.
I MEAN, WITH IT BEING OFF OF HIGHWAY 66, UH, IT IS A GATEWAY INTO THE GAR INTO THE CITY.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE DRIVING ON 66 ARE ABLE TO NOTICE THAT IT'S THERE AND THEY KNOW HOW TO GET THERE EASILY.
UH, SO WE WANT TO CREATE A PROMINENT ENTRANCE INTO THE PARK.
UH, THERE IS A, WE WANT TO HELP PROMOTE A STRONG CONNECTION TO THE RAINBOW ESTATES NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS JUST EAST AND NORTH OF THE PARK.
UM, INCORPORATE CREATIVE LANDSCAPING, UH, VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING SPACE, UM, TO INCLUDE BOTH PASSIVE AND ACTIVE SPACES.
UH, WE WANNA CELEBRATE THE HISTORICAL TIES TO LOU HUFF AND THE COMMUNITY.
UH, AND AS WE HEARD DURING, UM, OUR, UM, MEETINGS WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT THERE ARE OTHER PROMINENT MEMBERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HONOR IN THAT PROCESS AS WELL.
AND WE WANNA REIMAGINE THE SPORTS FIELDS AND THE SPORTS COURTS.
UH, CURRENTLY THE TENNIS COURTS THAT ARE OUT THERE, UH, ARE OFTEN USED, UM, AS, UM, SOCCER, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME IN AND, UH, ACTUALLY CUT THE NETS AND USE IT FOR SOCCER.
UM, AND, AND OFTENTIMES WE FIND IN OUR RENTALS OF THE BASEBALL FIELD THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTING THE FIELDS ARE USING IT FOR SOCCER PRACTICE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, SO SOCCER SEEMS TO BE VERY POPULAR IN THIS AREA.
UM, AND SO WE ALSO WANT TO INCORPORATE A MEMORIAL AND PUBLIC ART.
AND SO AS WE, YOU KNOW, DEVELOP PARKS, WE WANT TO CREATE THESE CREATIVE SPACES, INCORPORATE ART SO THAT IT ALLOWS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE STORY.
UM, AS WE WERE MEETING WITH OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STORY IS TOLD, AND WE CAN DO THAT THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS, UH, THROUGH ART AND INTERPRETIVE PANELS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, WE ALSO WANT TO INVESTIGATE OTHER ENHANCEMENTS TO TIE THE PARK TO OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS, INCORPORATE PROGRAMMING WHEREVER WE CAN, AND, UM, PERHAPS REUSE SOME OF THE MATERIALS THAT ARE ON SITE SO THAT, UM, WE CAN, UM, HOLD ON TO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE MEMORIES AND, AND REPEAT SOME OF THOSE MATERIALS THROUGHOUT THE SITE, UH, TO HELP TELL THAT STORY.
UH, SO JUST, UM, GOING INTO, UH, THE EFFORTS
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THAT WE MADE THROUGH THE, UM, CITIZEN ADVISORY GROUP OR THE KEY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, UH, WE MET WITH, UH, THAT GROUP TWICE, UH, IN FEBRUARY AND IN APRIL.UH, THE, UH, THE GROUP WAS COMPRISED OF MEMBERS FROM THE RAINBOW ESTATES NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UH, GARLAND NAACP, UH, THE CARVER ALUMNI PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, THE CAPS, UM, FORMER RESIDENTS, CLERGY MEMBERS, COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE, UH, WHO'VE PREVIOUSLY FREQUENTED THE PARK.
UH, THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO GRASP THE SIGNIFICANCE AND RELEVANCE OF LOU HUFF, UH, WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND PROMPTING THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO SHARE THEIR PERSONAL STORIES.
UH, THIS SLIDE SHOWS A WORD CLOUD ON THE RIGHT.
UM, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE WORDS THAT ARE BOLD AND, YOU KNOW, LARGER AND MORE BOLD, UM, AS WORDS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING.
AND, UH, REALLY, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TRYING TO GRASP AS, AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THE PARK MEAN TO THE COMMUNITY? AND, UH, THE PARK WAS, THERE'S A QUOTE MENTIONED HERE AS A QUOTE.
THIS PARK WAS AN AREA OF PERSONAL GROWTH AND A GATHERING HUB.
UM, SO I'VE, WE'VE LISTED SEVERAL QUOTES THAT WE HEARD THROUGH, THROUGH THE, THROUGHOUT THOSE MEETINGS.
AND, UH, YOU CAN SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS PARK WAS A FOUNDATION THAT SHAPED MANY PEOPLE'S FUTURES.
UM, IT WAS A PLACE TO MEET AND GATHER.
UH, IT, IT HELPED BUILD, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE FROM, UM, FROM WHO THEY WERE TO WHO THEY BECAME AS ADULTS.
UH, BUILDING BRIDGES WAS A, A RUNNING THEME THAT WE, THAT WE HEARD THROUGHOUT THAT, UM, THROUGHOUT THAT, UM, PROCESS.
AND, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, POSITIVE MEMORIES THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, THE LU HUFF PARK, UH, AT THAT TIME.
SO AS WE HEARD ALL OF THAT FEEDBACK, UH, YOU'LL SEE THE LOGO THAT WAS DEVELOPED ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT, THAT, UH, ENCAPSULATED, UM, THOSE SENTIMENTS AND IDEAS FROM THAT ENGAGEMENT.
AND, UH, WHAT WE, UH, DEVELOPED IN THE END WAS A LOGO THAT, UM, THAT HELPED DRIVE THE, THE DESIGN FORWARD IN TERMS OF HOW THAT FEEDBACK GOT INCORPORATED INTO HOW THOSE, UM, ELEMENTS GOT LAID OUT IN THE PARK.
AND SO THE, THE KEY FOCUS WAS CELEBRATING LEGACY, COMMUNITY AND CULTURE.
UM, THAT BEING OUR, OUR DESIGN THREAD, IF YOU WILL, TO HELP, UM, WEAVE THE CONCEPT THAT WE, WE DEVELOPED, UM, THROUGHOUT THAT, UH, CONCEPT.
AND SO, UM, OUR GOAL WAS TO BUILD ON THE LEGACY OF THE COMMUNITY AND THAT COMMUNITY AND CULTURE WAS A BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE.
UH, BRIDGING THE COMMUNITY AND CULTURE, UH, TO HELP REIMAGINE THE FUTURE.
AND WE WANT TO CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THE LEGACY OF COMMUNITY AND CULTURE HELPS, UM, HELPS US REMEMBER WHERE WE WERE AND HELPS TAKE US TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE IN THE FUTURE.
UM, SO WE ARE VERY FUTURE FOCUSED, AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS CREATE A SPACE THAT PROVIDES THE, THE YOUNGER GENERATION NOW AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH THE SAME SPACE THAT THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS HAD AT THAT TIME.
UH, THE PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT FOLLOWED THOSE MEETINGS, UH, WERE HELD ON MAY 18TH AND JUNE 1ST.
UH, THE ONE AT MAY 18TH WAS HELD AT FIELDS RECREATION CENTER.
THE SECOND ONE, UH, WE TOOK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, AT SIMS CHAPEL CHURCH.
WE BROUGHT IN, YOU KNOW, RECREATIONAL TRAILER AND HAD, UH, GAMES AND, UH, WE WENT AROUND AND, UM, HANDED OUT FLYERS TO EVERY DOOR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO TRY TO GET THEM OUT.
AND, UM, UH, WE HAD THE SAME EXERCISE AT THAT MEETING AS WE DID AT THE REC CENTER.
SO WE HAD A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT, UM, WHERE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO CHOOSE, AND I'LL GO OVER IT IN JUST A MINUTE, UM, THE LEVEL OF, UH, IMPROVEMENTS TO EACH AMENITY THAT WAS PROPOSED FOR THE PROJECT.
AND SO, UM, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND WE GOT SOME, SOME GREAT FEEDBACK IN THAT.
A LOT OF MEANINGFUL FEEDBACK, A LOT OF, A LOT OF DISCUSSION, A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT.
AND, UM, SO JUST TO HIGHLIGHT MAJOR THEMES THAT WERE DISCUSSED WERE CLEANLINESS, SAFETY, ARTS AND CULTURE, PROGRAMMING SPACE AND ACCESS.
UM, SO AS WE, AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GET, WE DEVELOPED A SURVEY AS PART OF THIS EFFORT.
SO DURING THOSE MEETINGS, UH, WE HAD A QR CODE.
WE ALSO HAD WRITTEN SURVEYS TO, UM, TO DISTRIBUTE TO EVERYBODY.
AND, UH, SO WE SENT OUT, UH, ALSO FLYERS WITH QR CODES AT, UH, CITY HALL LIBRARIES REC CENTERS.
UH, WE HANDED OUT 163 DOOR HANGERS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UH, WE PUT ADS ON THE CITY WEBSITE, UH, THE GARLAND CITY PRESS, AND ON FACEBOOK AND NEXTDOOR, UH, SURVEYS WERE PROVIDED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
UH, 43, UH, SURVEYS WERE COMPLETED, UM, BY THE STAKEHOLDERS, UH, OR BY THE PUBLIC.
UM, AND ALL WERE INVOLVED KIND OF IN THIS, IN THE EARLY STAGES OF
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THE PROCESS.UM, AND AROUND WE CALCULATED ESTIMATED AROUND 40 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE HUFF BUCK, UH, VOTING EXERCISE, WHICH I'LL GO OVER ON THE NEXT SLIDE, OR MAYBE TWO SLIDES,
UM, SO WE, WE, WE TOOK OUT ONE, UH, SURVEY QUESTION JUST TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT, UH, SOME OF THE RESPONSES THAT WE DID RECEIVE.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE PARK? UH, SO PEOPLE LIKE THAT, THERE'S LOTS OF OPEN SPACE.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
UH, THERE, UH, IT IS ACCESSIBLE TO, UM, AREA RESIDENTS NEARBY.
UH, THE PARK IS A GREAT PLACE FOR KIDS.
UM, THE HISTORY AND ITS POTENTIAL, UH, THE PARK IS CLOSE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I GREW UP THERE.
UH, WHAT DO PEOPLE NOT LIKE ABOUT THE PARK IS THAT IT'S NOT FULFILLING ITS POTENTIAL.
UH, THERE, UH, THE MAINTENANCE IS, UH, LEFT TO BE DESIRED.
UM, THE VISIBILITY NEEDS TO IMPROVE, AND THAT KIND OF WORKS INTO THE SAFETY ASPECT.
SO IT'S NOT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THE PARK INTERNALLY FROM THE ROADWAY.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE IN ANTICIPATING SOME, SOME CLEANUP OF THE UNDERBRUSH ALONG THE CREEK.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AS THE, THE REC CENTER, THE OLD BUILDING IS, UH, IS REMOVED, PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE MUCH FURTHER INTO THE PARK.
WHEREAS NOW, UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF HIDING OPPORTUNITIES BACK THERE, WHICH IS KIND OF A PERPETUATING, VICIOUS CYCLE OF LACK OF PARK USE BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THERE.
UM, UH, SO YEAH, IT'S NOT WELL SEEN.
IT'S A HIDEOUT SPOT AND PEOPLE GO TO HANG OUT AND, AND DO ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.
SO HERE'S A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE AT FUELS RECREATION CENTER.
UH, WE HAD, UM, A DECENT TURNOUT.
WE HAD, UH, LOTS OF PEOPLE EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE.
AND, UH, SO I'LL GO INTO THE HUFF BOX.
UH, SO THE HUFF BUCKS IS WHAT OUR CREATIVE CONSULTANT TEAM PUT TOGETHER.
UM, IT'S A GREAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TOOL TO HELP, UH, PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE COST OF WHAT IMPROVEMENTS REALLY ARE IN THE PARK.
AND SO EVERYBODY GOT ONE, 3 MILLION HUFF BUCKS TOTAL ONE, WHICH BASICALLY MADE UP OF ONE $1 MILLION BILL, TWO HALF MILLION DOLLAR BILLS, AND THEN 10 $100,000 BILLS.
AND SO, UH, IT WAS, IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO, TO MAKE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT WHAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT OF THESE MAJOR ELEMENTS.
UM, WE HAD, OR SORRY, AN EXAMPLE OF THREE PAVILIONS, UH, STANDARD IMPROVED AND ENHANCED, UH, SPORT COURTS, THE BRIDGE AND, UM, WHAT TO DO WITH LIKE, THE EXISTING TENNIS COURT THAT'S OUT THERE.
AND SO, UH, IT REALLY, UH, FORCED THE DISCUSSION TO HAPPEN WHERE, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE TALKING WITH EVERYBODY, THEY'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT TYPE OF PAVILION ARE WE TALKING ABOUT FOR, YOU KNOW, A MILLION DOLLARS VERSUS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS VERSUS, YOU KNOW, 250 OR $300,000.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE SIZE, YOU KNOW, IS DIFFERENT.
YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF THINGS YOU CAN DO WITHIN THE PAVILION SPACE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE ENHANCED PAVILION, UH, ALLOWS ROOM FOR BASKETBALL COURTS UNDERNEATH IT, WHEREAS THE IMPROVED ONE, UH, MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH CEILING HEIGHT, YOU KNOW, TO PROVIDE THAT.
THE STANDARD ONE, YOU KNOW, STILL HAS ENOUGH ROOM FOR SEATING AND SHADE AND ALL THAT, BUT IT'S NOT AS BIG.
IT MAY NOT HAVE SOME OF THE, UH, YOU KNOW, EXTRA BELLS AND WHISTLES THAT THE ENHANCED ONE WOULD HAVE.
YOU KNOW, THE BRIDGE YOU CAN SEE, AND I KNOW, SORRY, THE, UH, PICTURE'S A LITTLE BIT SMALL, BUT YOU KNOW, THE BRIDGE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ENHANCED HAS, YOU KNOW, PYLONS, IT HAS AN ARCH, YOU KNOW, UM, TRUSS, UM, THE NEXT LEVEL DOWN HAS BASICALLY THE SAME ARCH TRUSS WITHOUT THE, THE PYLONS.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS A STANDARD BRIDGE, WHICH IS STILL REALLY NICE.
YOU MIGHT SEE THEM AROUND, LIKE THE NEW, UH, BRIDGE THAT WE PUT IN AT LAWN WIND PARK ACROSS CENTER, UH, ACROSS DUCK CREEK, ALONG CENTERVILLE WOULD BE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE STANDARD BRIDGE WOULD BE IN THIS SCENARIO.
SO STILL A VERY NICE BRIDGE PROVIDES THE FUNCTION FUNCTIONALITY OF CROSSING THE CREEK, WHICH ALSO WILL, YOU'LL SEE, WILL HELP, UH, CIRCULATION AND ACCESS THROUGH THE PARK.
SO THE RESULTS OF THE HUFF BUCK VOTES, UM, WERE THAT THE ENHANCED BRIDGE, UH, MORE PEOPLE VOTED FOR AN ENHANCED BRIDGE.
UH, MORE PEOPLE VOTED FOR AN IMPROVED PAVILION.
IT WAS ACTUALLY VERY CLOSE BETWEEN IMPROVED AND ENHANCED, UH, ON THE PAVILION.
UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, LOOP TRAILS, INTERIOR LOOP TRAILS, UH, PEOPLE VOTED MORE FOR THE ENHANCED TRAILS.
UH, THE, THE SPORTS COURTS, UH, PEOPLE, UH, VOTED MORE FOR ENHANCED.
AND THEN FOR THE TENNIS COURTS, LIKE WHAT TO DO AT THE EXISTING TENNIS COURT.
MORE, MORE PEOPLE VOTED FOR FUTSAL AS A PROPOSED USE, UH, TO REPURPOSE THAT COURT.
UH, I DID HIGHLIGHT ONE SURVEY QUESTION HERE ON THE LEFT,
[00:30:01]
UH, WHICH IS, PLEASE SELECT WHAT PURPOSE A PAVILION AT LOU HUFF PARK WOULD SERVE THE COMMUNITY.AND YOU CAN SEE 74% MAJORITY, UH, ADDED.
UM, MENTIONED THAT THEY WANTED TO IT TO BE A PLACE FOR LARGE GROUP GATHERINGS, WHICH IS WHAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY, UH, USE THE PAVILION FOR.
AND THEN, UH, A PLACE FOR CITY SPONSORED EVENTS, UH, SHELTER, AND THEN A PLACE FOR PUBLIC ART TO BE DISPLAYED.
SO YOU CAN SEE KINDA WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO DO WITHIN THE PAVILION SPACE.
UH, AND I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, TWO, THREE OTHER SURVEY QUESTIONS.
ONE IS THAT, UH, RESPONDENTS WOULD PARTICIPATE.
WHAT WOULD, WHAT ACTIVITIES WOULD RES WOULD THE PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN AT A, AT AN IMPROVED PARK? SO THEY WANT TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND FITNESS, DEVELOP OR LEARN NEW SKILLS, UH, CELEBRATE OCCASION, SPECIAL OCCASIONS.
UM, THEY WANT EVERYDAY UNSTRUCTURED PLAY.
UH, INTERACT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, MEET NEW PEOPLE, LEISURE TIME, UH, EXPERIENCE, UH, BEING PART OF A TEAM ACTIVITY, GARDENING AND PARTICIPATE IN NON-ATHLETIC ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS.
UM, SO PEOPLE ARE JUST REALLY LOOKING TO HAVE COMMUNITY SPACE.
YOU CAN SEE FROM, FROM THOSE RESPONSES THAT PEOPLE ARE JUST LOOKING FOR PLACES FOR GATHERING AND COMMUNITY GATHERING.
UM, WHAT TOP 10 ELEMENTS DO THEY WANT TO SEE? SAFETY, WALKING TRAILS, RESTROOMS, ADDITIONAL PLAYGROUNDS, UH, BASKETBALL COURTS, SOCCER FIELDS, FAMILY PICNIC, PAVILION, EXERCISE, AND PICKLEBALL.
THIS IS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER IN, IN RANK NECESSARILY, UM, JUST BEING TOP 10.
UM, AND SO ALSO THE TOP PRIORITIES THAT SHOULD BE PROMOTED AT THE PARK IS UPDATES, EXPANSION OF THE TRAILS, ADD MORE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, PROMOTE MORE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, UH, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, MAINTAIN GREEN SPEED, UH, GREEN SPACE.
SO, UM, IT'S, WELL, THE GREEN SPACE THAT IS OUT THERE IS, IS MORE WELCOMING.
UM, AND THEN COMMU BUILD COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
SO ALL THAT BEING SAID HERE IS THE BIG REVEAL FOR THE, THE DRAFT CONCEPT PLAN, YOU KNOW, PENDING ANY, UH, COMMENTS THAT MAY COME OUT OF TONIGHT'S MEETING.
UH, I WILL SAY THAT, UH, WE DID PRESENT THIS SAME SLIDESHOW TO THE PARKS BOARD LAST WEEK.
UM, WE DID, UM, GET SOME COMMENTS FROM THE PARK BOARD, UH, MEMBERS LAST WEEK.
AND, UM, WE WILL BE INCORPORATING SOME OF THOSE AS WE, AS WE GO, UH, LARGELY, UM, MAINLY AROUND, UH, TRAIL CONNECTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, SO LET ME WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, IN THIS MIDDLE SPACE IS WHERE THE CURRENT REC CENTER BUILDING IS.
AND, UM, THIS IS WHERE THE EXISTING PLAYGROUND IS.
NUMBER 11, SORRY, MY MOUSE WENT OFF A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN HERE'S THE EXISTING TENNIS COURT.
THIS PARKING LOT IS EXISTING, AND THIS IS KIND OF WHERE THE CREEK CHANNEL RUNS THROUGH THIS KIND OF LINE OF, OF HEAVILY TREE AREAS.
SO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE PARK IS THE RAINBOW ESTATES NEIGHBORHOOD OFF OF PARKER DRIVE.
AND, UH, THIS IS THE MAIN PARK ROAD INTO, UH, THE PARK FROM, UH, AVENUE B.
AND THEN THIS IS THE GPNL FACILITY UP NORTH.
SO WALKING YOU THROUGH WHAT WE WANT, UM, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS THIS BEING THE MAIN ENTRY.
WE WANT IT TO BE THE PROMINENT ENTRY FROM, FROM AVENUE B, SO THAT AS YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN, YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE ARRIVED AT LU HUFF PARK, AND THAT WE'RE DRAWING YOU INTO SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING INSIDE.
UH, YOU'LL NOTICE ALL OF THESE GRAY LINES THROUGHOUT THE, THE, THE PLAN ARE THE WALKING TRAILS PROPOSED WALKING TRAILS, UH, THEY WILL HAVE LIGHTING.
UM, IT'LL BE ROUGHLY ALL IN ABOUT A MILE WORTH OF, UH, PARK LOOP TRAILS.
UM, AND BEING A LITTLE BIT ON THE ENHANCED SIDE OF THE, OF THE LOOP TRAILS, UH, ARE ON THE TRAILS.
AS PART OF THE SURVEY THAT WE, THAT WE, THAT WE GOT BACK, PEOPLE ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN INCORPORATING ENHANCEMENTS LIKE SEATING AND FITNESS STATIONS AND SHADE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO THAT AS THEY'RE GOING AROUND, THEY HAVE THINGS TO DO AS THEY, AS THEY WALK ALONG THE TRAIL.
UM, THE, THE SITE HAS A LOT OF TREES, AND WE'RE PROPOSING TO UTILIZE AS MANY TREES AS WE CAN, PLANTING NEW TREES.
UM, AND SO, BUT AS I MENTIONED, THE CREEK THAT RUNS THROUGH THERE, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY, UH, CLEAN UP THE TREE LINE ALONG THE SHORE, LIMB UP SOME OF THE UNDERBRUSH.
WE'RE NOT, WE DON'T WANNA TOUCH ANY OF THE TREES UNLESS THEY'RE, UM, YOU KNOW, SICK AND A NEED TO BEING REMOVED.
BUT IN DOING SO, THAT AC THAT VISUAL ACCESS FROM AVENUE B, UH, WILL BE GREATLY INCREASED.
AND SO AS PEOPLE ARE DRIVING, UH, POLICE OFFICERS ARE DRIVING, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK INTO THE PARK AND EASILY, YOU KNOW, SEE THE ACTIVITY THAT'S HAPPENING IN THERE.
[00:35:01]
THIS, THIS EXISTING PARKING LOT, WE ANTICIPATE SOMEWHERE AROUND 30 TO 40 PARKING SPACES.UM, WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS, WE ANTICIPATE MORE INTEREST.
AND SO WE'RE PROPOSING AS, UH, A, A POSSIBLE, UH, ADD ALTERNATE TO THE, TO THE PROJECT, THIS, UM, SUPPLEMENTAL PARKING LOT UP HERE, NEXT TO THE ENTRANCE TO THE GPN HEALTH FACILITY, DEPENDING ON HOW THE BUDGET WORKS OUT.
UM, SO THIS INTERIOR SPACE, WE FEEL IS REALLY THE HEART OF THE PARK, AND WE FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR GATHERING, UM, THE FAMILY AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO, UM, YOU'LL NOTICE AS PART OF THIS LOOP TRAIL SYSTEM THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO GO OVER THE CREEK, THIS WOULD BE THE, WHERE THE BRIDGE IS.
AND SO WE WANT THE BRIDGE AND THIS NUMBER 10 BEING THE PAVILION TO BE ON A STRONG AXIS SO THAT WHEN AS YOU'RE CROSSING THE BRIDGE, YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, THIS NUMBER EIGHT, WHICH WE'RE CONSIDERING THE CULTURE RING AND THE PAVILION AND THE MULTIPURPOSE COURTS ALTOGETHER.
UH, WE REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS IS A GREAT, UM, UH, COMBINATION OF, OF COMPLIMENTARY USES, USES, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT TYPES OF PARK USERS WOULD BE IN THIS SPACE, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS CULTURE RING, UM, THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE SHOWING A, A GREEN CIRCLE IN THERE, WHICH IS, IS AN EXISTING TREE THAT WE WANT TO UTILIZE.
SO THIS CULTURE RING WOULD BE A SPACE WHERE, UM, THE ART PIECE CAN COME INTO PLAY.
THE, A MEMORIAL OF SORTS CAN COME INTO PLAY.
WE CAN REUSE SOME OF THE MATERIALS FROM THE OLD BUILDING, INCORPORATE THEM INTO THE SPACE SO THAT ITS PROXIMITY TO THE PAVILION WOULD BE VERY CLOSE, THAT PEOPLE IN THE PAVILION CAN SPILL INTO THIS CULTURE RING SPACE.
UM, UH, LEARN THE STORY ABOUT THE PARK, ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN THE MULTIPURPOSE COURTS, UH, WOULD BE ADJACENT TO AS KIDS AND FAMILIES ARE USING THE PAVILION SPACE.
SO ALSO ATTACHED TO THE PAVILION, WE WOULD PROPOSE TO HAVE THE PERMANENT RESTROOM BUILDING.
SO ALL THOSE USES WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF IN THAT SPACE TOGETHER, UM, WITH CLOSE ACCESS TO THE, UM, ACCESS TO THE PARKING LOT.
UM, AND SO THIS BEING THE PLAYGROUND SPACE THAT WE JUST REPLACED IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE FIXED IN THAT POSITION.
UH, WE COULD POTENTIALLY EXPAND IT IN FUTURE PROJECTS.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT CAME FROM THE PARKS BOARD LAST WEEK, IS POTENTIALLY, UH, LOOKING AT WAYS TO EXPAND IT.
UM, AND THEN THIS TENNIS COURT WOULD BE, UH, REPURPOSED FOR FUTSAL, UH, WHICH WE FEEL THAT SEPARATION OF USES FROM THE FAMILY SPACE WOULD BE, UM, APPROPRIATE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE, THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT ARE USERS OF THE SAL SPACE WOULD BE VERY COMPETITIVE, KIND OF A DIFFERENT AGE GROUP.
AND SO WE FEEL LIKE THAT LAYOUT, UH, LENDS ITSELF WELL TO, UM, A VARIETY OF USES AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
UM, YOU'LL NOTICE HERE ON THE LEFT, THIS IS WHERE, UM, THE CURRENT BASEBALL FIELD IS.
WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS REMOVE THE BASEBALL FIELD FENCING, UM, AND, AND EXPLORE HOW MUCH VERSATILITY WE CAN USE THAT FIELD FOR IN TERMS OF RENTALS.
'CAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL A DEMAND FOR RENTALS.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, POTENTIALLY HOW, HOW CAN WE REUSE SOME OF THE LIGHTING THAT'S OUT THERE AND STILL PROMOTE SOME OF THAT, UM, VERSATILITY.
UH, BUT ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT A RESERVATION TO THE FIELD, NO ONE CAN REALLY GET IN.
AND SO WE WANT TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYBODY TO USE THAT SPACE.
SO WE'LL EXPLORE, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE SAFETY, UM, FENCE, UH, SAFETY FENCE ALONG ALONG THE MAJOR ROAD.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE PARK ROAD AS WELL, UM, TO HELP MAKE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, UH, AS THEY'RE PLAYING IN THERE.
AND THEN THIS BACK AREA, WE WOULD WANT TO CLEAN UP THE TREES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN, UM, SEE THROUGH THE TREES INTO THIS BACK AREA OF THE PARK.
UM, WHICH THERE'S AN ACCESS POINT CURRENTLY.
AND, UH, WE DON'T WANT THAT TO BE KIND OF A FORGOTTEN AREA OF THE PARK.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S STAYING, UH, SAFE AND, UH, THE WHOLE AREA IS, IS FEELS SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE.
UM, I WANNA MENTION ONE LAST THING AND I'LL, AND I'LL STOP, UH, TO OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS.
BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS, UH, THIS CONNECTION HERE TO, UH, PARKER DRIVE.
UH, WE ARE PARTNERING WITH, UH, SEVERAL CITY DEPARTMENTS ON THIS PROJECT.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, ONE OF THEM BEING, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY, WHO WANTS TO INSTALL A, UH, BULLET NEIGHBORHOOD BULLETIN BOARD.
AND SO THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE THAT.
UH, ONE THING THAT CAME OUT OF LAST, UH, WEEK'S MEETING AS WELL WITH THE PARKS BOARD IS POTENTIALLY HAVING A SECOND BULLETIN BOARD, UH, ELSEWHERE IN THE PARK.
SO WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT THAT TO SEE WHERE, UM, THE BEST PLACE FOR THAT MIGHT BE.
AND SO, UM, WITH THAT, I'LL STOP AND OPEN IT FOR ANY QUESTIONS, MAYOR,
[00:40:01]
I MAY JUST HAVE ONE OR TWO MORE THINGS.UM, ONE VERY PLEASED WITH THE COMMUNITY INPUT, NOT ONLY WITH OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUP, BUT WITH THOSE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT SHOWED UP TO THE OAKLAND PUBLIC MEETINGS.
WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK THAT FROM, NOT ONLY FROM MS BERTHA, BUT MANY OTHERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS LOCATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PARK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT, AND I KNOW ZEDS TOUCHED ON IT WITH THE SOFTBALL FIELD WHERE IT WOULD BE RIGHT HERE.
CURRENTLY, IT'S JUST ONE OF OUR RENTAL FIELDS.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF FIELDS AVAILABLE FOR THAT TYPE OF THING.
IT WOULD STILL OPEN UP FOR, WE'VE, EVEN, YOU'VE TALKED, THE TEAM'S TALKED ABOUT KICKBALL AND THE SOCCER AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUP AND FROM OTHERS OPENING THIS UP AND NOT BEING A RENTAL FIELD.
AND IT ADDS SO MUCH MORE TO THE PARK FIELD AS WELL AS WE GO INTO IT.
SO A LOT OF DISCUSSION WENT INTO THAT, A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON THAT.
UM, I, I THINK THE TEAM DID EXTREMELY WELL, ZA MARK, OUR CONSULTANTS WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON THAT.
UH, IF YOU'LL BACK UP TO THE BUCKS TO THE, WHERE THE RESULTS OF THE BUCKS RIGHT THERE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT, WE ACTUALLY MET WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS GROUP A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AS WELL, TO COME BACK AND UPDATE THEM ON WHAT WE HAD FOUND AND WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THE CONCEPT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE EXPLAINED IS, WHILE THIS, THIS GIVES US A LEVEL OF, UH, PRIORITY IMPORTANCE AS, AS THOSE THAT VOTED ON IT, SPENDING THEIR SPENDING THEIR BUCKS, LOU H BUCKS.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, WE EXPLAINED TO THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP LAST WEEK WAS, AS WE GO THROUGH DETAILED DESIGN, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT DIFFERENT THINGS.
ALL OF THESE ARE GOING TO KEEP PEAK PIECES OF THINGS.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP, YOU KNOW, THE MORE MONEY WE PUT INTO THE BRIDGE, THE LESS MONEY'S AVAILABLE FOR SOME OF THE AMENITIES.
WE ARE GONNA LOOK AT THE EXISTING LOU HUFF REC CENTER, AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO RECLAIM AND REUSE AS MANY MATERIALS AS WE CAN IN AS MANY CREATIVE WAYS AS WE CAN.
BUT WE, WE, WE MADE A POINT, 'CAUSE IN A LOT OF THE DISCUSSIONS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS IMPORTANT, THIS WILL BE BEAUTIFUL.
BUT EVEN, UH, I THINK WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT LAWN WIND, THE BRIDGE AT THE NEW, AT LAWN WIND PARK.
PEOPLE LIKED THAT KIND OF THING.
UH, SO I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE ALL OF THIS, BUT IT JUST FLUCTUATES A LITTLE BIT AS WE GO THROUGH WHEN WE GET INTO THE DETAILED DESIGN.
AND I THINK THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP AND OTHERS UNDERSTOOD THAT.
SO JUST KIND OF WANTED TO POINT THAT AS WE GO OUT.
AS ALWAYS, THIS IS A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN, AND AS WE GO INTO THE DETAILED DESIGN PART OF IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY MATERIALS WE REC CAN RECLAIM AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE AS WE GO INTO THE FINAL PLAN.
I'LL SHUT UP AND, UH, I'LL HELP ED ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SINCE I'M UP HERE NOW.
IT'S JUST VERY, IT REMINDS ME OF PEOPLE DOING A WAVE IN, IN THE ARENA FOR SPORTS GAMES.
UM, WILL YOU JUST TOUCH ON THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SOCCER FIELD AND A SAL COURT? SURE, YEAH.
LIKE A SOCCER COURT AND A SAL COURT, I GUESS.
WELL, YEAH, I MEAN THE, UH, THE SAL COURT.
SO AS, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE, WE JUST BUILT ONE IN WATSON PARK.
I'M, I'M HEARING SOME SAL YEAH.
EXPLAIN WHAT FUTSAL IS, PLEASE.
IT'S PROBABLY AN ACRONYM FOR SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ACRONYM MEANS, BUT FUTSAL IS BASICALLY FAST PACED SOCCER ON A CONCRETE, UH, SLAB WITH FENCE AND LIGHTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO IT'S A, IT'S A BIT OF A HEAVIER BALL, SO IT'S NOT LIKE A TYPICAL SOCCER BALL.
UM, BUT I, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO WATSON PARK 'CAUSE WE JUST BUILT ONE IN WATSON PARK AND IT'S A, IT, IT'S REALLY IT.
UM, BUT ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE DOING PLAYING FUTSAL IN THE, ON THE TENNIS COURT CURRENTLY.
UM, BUT IT'S A, IT'S ANOTHER TYPE OF SOCCER ACTIVITY.
AND SO THE DIFFERENCE IS THE SIZE, THE SPEED, THE, THE WEIGHT OF THE BALL.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE SOCCER FIELD TYPICALLY IS MUCH LARGER GRASS, YOU KNOW, WITH A FULLY INFLATED BALL.
SO, UM, THE FIELD, THE OPEN FIELD WHERE THE BASEBALL FIELD IS NOW, COULD BE USED FOR TRADITIONAL SOCCER, YOU KNOW, PRACTICE.
UM, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA RECOMMEND.
I MEAN, I WOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND PUT SOCCER GOALS IN THAT LARGE SPACE.
UM, YOU KNOW, JUST IN LIGHT OF THE TENNIS COURTS HAVING BEEN USED FOR SOCCER ALREADY, THEY DO THAT IN CENTRAL PARK AS WELL.
SO, UM, THE MORE OPPORTUNITY THERE IS TO NOT RUIN THE PARKS OR THE COURTS THAT ARE CREATED FOR OTHER SPORTS.
[00:45:01]
BACK TO WHAT THE MULTI-USE COURT IS? SO I SAW BASKETBALL ON THERE.WHAT'S THE OTHER MULTI, IS THAT WHERE YOU HAVE PICKLEBALL PLANNED? IT CAN BE PICKLEBALL.
I MEAN, IT'LL BE, IT CAN BE STRIPED FOR MULTIPLE THINGS.
WOULD IT BE ABLE TO BE STRIPED FOR TENNIS AS WELL, OR IS THAT TOO SMALL? UM, IT CAN BE, IT'LL BE TOO SMALL FOR TENNIS, BUT IT COULD BE PICKLEBALL PERHAPS.
YOU KNOW, AND SO, UM, TENNIS, YOU KNOW, IF, IF IT'S, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT TENNIS IS WIDELY USED IN THIS PARK, SO, UNDERSTOOD.
SO WE HAVEN'T REALLY COMMITTED TO, UH, ANOTHER TENNIS COURT.
UH, 'CAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE CURRENT TENNIS COURT ISN'T REALLY USED THAT WAY.
UM, BUT BASKETBALL IS VERY BIG.
YOU KNOW, SAL OR, UM, SORRY, THE PICKLEBALL STRIPES WOULD BE A, A GOOD USE.
UM, BUT MAINLY, YOU KNOW, BASKETBALL, UH, WOULD BE THE, THE THING THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD END UP PLAYING THERE.
ARE THERE ANY SOCCER FIELDS OR, UM, TSAL COURSES AT GALE FIELDS? I KNOW THAT'S REALLY CLOSE.
UM, THERE'S AN OPEN FIELD THERE AND PEOPLE WOULD USE IT POTENTIALLY.
DO THEY USE IT FOR SOCCER? UM, I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT.
UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT IS USED FOR SOCCER, BUT, UM, ITS POTENTIAL IS THERE, RIGHT.
BEING AN A LARGE OPEN FIELD, I MEAN, THAT MIGHT GIVE YOU A GAUGE FOR HOW THAT OPEN SPACE WOULD BE USED, UM, IF YOU WERE TO PUT GOALS THERE FOR SOCCER.
AND I THINK THE FIELD, I SEEM THE, THE FIELD BEHIND GALE FIELD IS NOT FLAT, I THINK IS, DOESN'T IT? THERE'S A SLOPE TO IT.
UH, COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU ZIED AND MITCH, FOR YOUR, YOUR PRESENTATION.
WOULD, ON YOUR CONCEPT, CONCEPT PLAN, UH, WOULD YOU POINT AGAIN TO, UH, RAINBOW STATE'S NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE, ON THE HERE TO THE RIGHT? RIGHT.
ANY DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMUNITY? MY QUESTION TO YOU IS TELL ME FIR MY FIRST EIGHT PART A WOULD BE IF, IF I'M, IF I LIVE IN RAINBOW AND I WANT TO DRIVE TO THE PARK, WOULD YOU USE YOUR POINTER AND TELL ME THE BEST WAY? I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD APPROACH THE PARK AND GET, GET INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE PARK IF SOMEBODY'S DRIVING RIGHT.
GET ON PARK OR DRIVE AND COME OUT TO AVENUE B, TAKE A RIGHT AND THEN TAKE ANOTHER RIGHT INTO THE PARK.
PART B TO MY QUESTION, IF I LIVE IN RAINBOW ESTATE AND I WANNA WALK TO THE PARK, SO ALL, WALK ME TO THE PARK FROM RAINBOW ESTATE.
SO ALL OF THESE SAFE AND SAFELY.
SO ALL THE STREETS WITHIN RAINBOW ESTATES HAVE SIDEWALKS.
I CAN ATTEST TO THAT 'CAUSE I WALKED ALL OF THEM
UM, AND GOING DOWN TO PARKER DRIVE, UH, WOULD BE THE WAY THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO GET THERE.
AND THEN YOU TAKE THIS ACCESS PATH INTO THE PARK THIS WAY FROM PARKER DRIVE.
JUST SOUTH OF SIMS CHAPEL CHURCH.
TELL ME IF THIS WOULD BOTHER THAT 4.4.
WHAT IF THERE WERE A, YOU SEE THE, THE WALKING TRAILS THAT'S IN THE PARK? YES.
WHAT IF THERE'S A WALKING TRAIL THAT EXTENDED EITHER INTO OR NEAR RAINBOW OR ESTATE? AND I COULD WALK IT IF I WANTED TO WALK.
YOU MEAN FROM, FROM LIKE THIS PART THROUGH THIS AREA? YES, WE WOULD LOVE TO.
HOWEVER, IT'S CURRENTLY OWNED BY THE CHURCH AND SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CAN DEVELOP ON THE CHURCH PROPERTY UNLESS WE GET, YOU KNOW, AN EASEMENT AND PERMISSION TO DO SO.
UM, SO WOULD THAT BE THE ONLY POINT THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER? BUT WE HAVE THE, THE ACCESS POINT THERE AT 13, THE BRIDGE RIGHT NOW IT'S, IT'S RIGHT.
ACCESS IS HERE, WHICH IS REALLY ABOUT A HUNDRED FEET SOUTH OF, OF WHAT AREA YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CROSSING AND THE, THE, AND I'M, I DON'T WANT TO CHALLENGE THE IDEA.
THERE'S A SLOPE HERE FROM PLEASE DO
THERE'S THIS OLD PARKING LOT THAT'S UP HERE, IT'S SLOPED, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HIGHER IN ELEVATION TO WHERE THE PARK IS.
AND SO THERE IS A SLOPE THERE.
UM, SO, AND, AND WE FEEL LIKE THIS ACCESS POINT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO GET EVERYBODY INTO THE PARK THROUGH, THROUGH CITY OWNED PROPERTY.
IT IS NOT LIKING IN MY MOUSE MOVEMENTS TONIGHT.
TO LAST SLEEP ON THE CONCEPT PLAN.
CONCEPT PLAN, IF I DON'T KNOW WHERE LOU HO PARK
[00:50:01]
IS, UH OH,I KEEP, I KEEP, KEEP BOUNCING IT, HUH? OKAY, SCREEN ZED.
WHAT COULD WE, WHAT WOULD YOU PUT DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE SO THAT SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHERE IT IS TRYING TO GET THERE ON PARK OF THE MAYOR.
WHAT WOULD THOSE BE? WHAT CONSIDERATION COULD WE GIVE TO MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S SOME DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE ON THE RE PERIMETERS OF THE PARK TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THE PARK IS THERE AND GOING IN AND OUT ON BOTH, ON ALL SIDES OF THE PARK? YOUR THOUGHTS? WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY ALONG PARKER DRIVE TO PUT SIGNAGE UP IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
AND, AND THOSE SIGNS WE CAN PUT UP EASILY, UM, TO SAY TO POINT THEM SAY, YOU KNOW, ACCESS AHEAD TO THE LUFF PARK, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD, THAT WILL TAKE UP SOME SPACE.
UH, WE CAN ALSO HAVE SIGNAGE THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, POINTS PEOPLE INTO THE ACCESS POINT.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT EASILY DETERMINED.
IS THIS THE CITY TRAIL OR IS THIS TRAIL FOR THE CHURCH? SO, UH, WE'LL MAKE THAT MORE PROMINENT AND MORE KNOWN.
I MEAN, ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO CREATE THAT PROMINENCE NOT ONLY ON AVENUE B, BUT ALSO ON PARKER DRIVE, SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS THE WAY IN.
SO WE COULD CONSIDER THOSE DIRECTIONAL SIGNS.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE DETAILED PRESENTATION.
UM, SO JUST TO, UM, PIGGYBACK RIGHT NOW ON WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS WAS TALKING ABOUT ACCESS FROM RAINBOW ESTATES.
SO LOOKING AT THE MAP HERE, I SEE A TOTAL OF THREE PARKING LOTS OFF OF PARKER ROAD, THE LARGE ONE IN THE NORTH.
AND THEN, UM, ONE, UH, TWO JUST TO THE SOUTH OF THE CHURCH, ONE BEING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TRAIL 13, ONE BEING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TRAIL 13.
CAN YOU TELL ME THOSE, JUST, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, ACTUALLY, I GUESS THERE'S ANOTHER ONE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE CHURCH TOO.
CAN YOU TELL ME FOR CLARIFICATION, THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF EACH OF THOSE LOTS, SIMS, CHAPEL CHURCH, UM, EVERY ONE OF THEM, INCLUDING THE LARGE ONE AT THE TOP? CORRECT.
AND THEN WAS THERE, WAS THERE ANY THOUGHT GIVEN TO PERHAPS, UM, ACQUIRING THE LOT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TRAIL 13 THERE? WELL, WE HAVEN'T REALLY CONSIDERED LAND ACQUISITION AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.
UM, WE WE'RE, WE'RE CONCERNED THAT IF WE UTILIZE THE FUNDS FOR LAND ACQUISITION, WE'LL HAVE LITTLE LEFT FOR WHAT WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE PROJECT.
I JUST WANTED, THESE QUESTIONS ARE GONNA COME UP, SO
AND, UM, AND TO, UM, YES TO, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LUXE POINT, UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO GO AHEAD AND SEE, UM, THE SOFTBALL FIELD FITTED OUT AS A SOCCER FIELD AS THEN, UM, ARE THERE CURRENTLY RESTROOM FACILITIES? NO.
AND, UM, IT WAS MENTIONED, UM, I THINK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION THAT THERE WAS A, A FACILITY THERE THAT'S NOW BEING USED AS STORAGE.
AND IS THAT LOCATED, UM, WHERE IS THAT, IS THAT APPROXIMATELY WHERE THE BASKETBALL COURTS ARE NOW? YES, THAT'S THE OLD LU HUFF RECREATION CENTER.
'CAUSE I'M, LOOK, I'M LOOKING AT IT ON, ON A MAP ON, ON MY TABLET HERE, AND I'M JUST, JUST ASSUMING THAT THAT'S WHAT, WHAT THAT BUILDING IS.
SO THEN THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE DEMOLISHED AND NOT REBUILT OR RELOCATED, CORRECT? YES.
MM-HMM,
UH, ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE, I'M SORRY.
UM, SO LOOKING AT THE TREE PATTERN, UM, BETWEEN THE, UH, BETWEEN NUMBERS THREE AND FOUR, THE TREE LINE? YES.
SO THERE'S NO CREEK THAT RUNS THROUGH THERE, THAT'S JUST A TREE LINE, IS THAT CORRECT? THERE IS A SMALL TRIBUTARY THAT IS KIND OF AN EPHEMERAL STREAM.
WHENEVER IT FLOODS, IT GOES THROUGH THERE.
BUT THERE'S A LOW WATER CROSSING THAT'S RIGHT IN THIS LITTLE SPOT RIGHT HERE.
UH, SO WITH THOSE KIND OF SPACES, YOU'RE GONNA GET A LITTLE MORE TREES.
AND SO YES, THAT THERE IS A, A LITTLE TRIBUTARY THERE, ANOTHER ONE THAT KIND OF RUNS HERE.
SO IT IS, THERE'S QUITE A FEW.
SO IF YOU CLEAN UP THAT AREA, THERE'S STILL GONNA BE LIMITED ACCESS TO, UH, CORRECT.
YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF CAPTURING, I BELIEVE, WHAT, UH, THE COMMUNITY HAS ASKED YOU IN THE WAY OF THEIR VISION, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS WELL AS FAR AS THIS, UH, COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED.
UH, AS I'M LISTENING, HOWEVER, I'M KIND OF THINKING, OKAY, WELL FIRST OF ALL, LEMME ASK, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT THIS BATHROOM FACILITY? WE'RE NOT OH, BUILDING ONE.
[00:55:01]
WHAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO DO IS, IS WITHIN THE CENTRAL AREA, WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH IS, IS WITH THE PAVILION, IS IS HAVE THE PERMANENT RESTROOM BUILDING ADJACENT TO IT, YOU KNOW, OR, OR NEXT TO IT.WE'RE NOT REALLY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YET.
UM, BUT THERE'S ENOUGH INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO BUILD ONE, AND WE HAVE THE BUDGET, THE BELIEF TO, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND WHILE I SEE IT'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL, UH, VISION AND FACILITY TAKING PLACE, UH, AS A, UH, RETIRED PASTOR, ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE PAST THAT I'VE HAD TO OFTEN DO IS SPEAK UP FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN, UH, OUR SEASONED SAINTS, OUR SEASONED, UH, CITIZENS ARE, UH, PUTTING TOGETHER PLANS.
AND, UH, FOR ME THIS KIND OF HAS A SEASONED SAINT FEEL TO IT.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS IT'S A VERY SAFE, VERY STRUCTURED, UH, ENVIRONMENT FOR LEISURE ACTIVITIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I'M WONDERING, UH, IN YOUR QUESTIONING IN YOUR SURVEYS, WERE YOUTH INVOLVED IN, IN ANY OF THIS IN THE WAY OF WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO NOT ASK THAT BECAUSE OF THE CULTURE PIECE? UH, IN MY RECOLLECTION, UH, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TODAY, THAT FEEL THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF MAYBE BEING MORE RENTAL AND MAYBE SOCCER.
AND WHILE SOCCER IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY PREVALENT IN THE GREATER COMMUNITY, I KNOW CULTURALLY IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, FOOTBALL CONTINUES TO BE FLAG FOOTBALL AND, UH, STILL CONTINUES TO BE A VERY PROMINENT SPORT.
UH, NOT ONLY THAT, UH, BASKETBALL, THERE ARE A LOT OF PRIVATE AND COMMUNITY BASKETBALL, UH, UH, CONCEPTS OUT THERE.
EVEN TODAY, ESPECIALLY WITH MY, MY GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
UH, THESE ARE CONCEPTS THAT BRING THESE KIDS TOGETHER AFTER SCHOOL AND, UH, DURING THE SUMMER AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND I'M NOT GETTING ANY OF THAT AS IT RELATES TO CHILDREN, YOUTH, YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG ADULTS.
UH, DON'T GET ME WRONG, THAT WOULD BE IDEAL AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED FOR ME.
BUT I'M WONDERING, DID YOU, YOU THINK YOU CAPTURED ENOUGH OF THAT? AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT BASED ON WHAT I SEE HERE, YOU CAPTURED WHAT THE SURVEY REPORTED
BUT CULTURALLY, I THINK THAT, UH, SOME OF WHAT I'M JUST SPEAKING OF, UH, YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER TAKING A LOOK AT IT.
WELL, I THINK THE, THE, THE BEAUTY OF THIS BEING AN OPEN SPACE IS THAT IT, IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VERSATILITY OF USES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS IF, AS WE CONSIDER LEAVING THE LIGHTING AVAILABLE TO, UM, ANYONE WHO WANTS TO USE IT AS A, AS AN OPEN FIELD, IT CAN BE AVAILABLE FOR SOCCER, FOR FLAG FOOTBALL, FOR ANY OTHER FIELD, ANY OTHER SPORT THAT WOULD NEED THAT SPACE.
AND SO, UM, TO YOUR POINT, I THINK IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH, UH, BRINGING THE COMMUNITY IN AND, AND PROGRAMMING THE SPACE WITH THE COMMUNITY'S HELP TO UTILIZE THAT FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT'S, THAT IT'S CAPABLE OF.
SO THE RENTAL PIECE OF THAT VERY LARGE AREA THERE IS NOT REALLY, UH, GOING TO TAKE AWAY OR DETRACT FROM THOSE OTHER TYPE OF AMENITIES THAT COULD BE USED FOR.
IN FACT, WITH THE, THE TRAILS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING AND, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING THESE SAFE CROSSINGS AROUND THE, ALONG THE ROAD WOULD HELP FACILITATE THAT EVEN MORE SO AS KIDS ARE, ARE COMING IN FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANTING TO HAVE A SPACE OR THEY'RE, THEY'RE MEETING THEIR FOOTBALL COACH THERE FOR PRACTICE.
UM, THEY CAN EASILY WALK THERE.
UM, WITH THI THIS BEING LARGELY A, A SERVICE ENTRANCE FOR GPNL AND THEN OTHER PARK PATRONS COMING TO PARK, YOU KNOW, WE WILL HAVE ADEQUATE SIGNAGE WITH THIS PROJECT AND CREATE THESE, UM, CROSSWALKS IF YOU WILL, SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE DRIVING THERE WILL BE MORE AWARE THAT THE KIDS MAY BE CROSSING, YOU KNOW, THE STREET NOT NECESSARILY AT THIS LOCATION, EVEN THOUGH WE'LL DESIGNATE THAT AS THE OFFICIAL CROSSING, BUT THAT THE RAISE TO RAISE THE AWARENESS OF PEOPLE WALKING AND USING, USING THAT SPACE.
AND SO, UM, THE BEAUTY OF IT NOT BEING JUST A BASEBALL FIELD, I THINK LENDS ITSELF TO THAT MULTIPURPOSE ASPECT SO ANYONE CAN REALLY COME IN AND USE IT.
AND I BROUGHT THAT UP A YOUTH PIECE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING READY IN THE WIN JOYCE PARK AREA.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO THROUGH THIS SAME PROCESS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HIT MY MIND RIGHT NOW IS MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONSULT WITH YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE TOO BEFORE YOU, UH, REALLY MAKE ANY, UH, FINAL DECISION.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME CHIME IN AGAIN.
[01:00:01]
DOES THAT PARK ROAD GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PARK TO ANOTHER? I MEAN, YOU CAN GO STRAIGHT AWAY.IT GOES, IT GOES STRAIGHT IN FROM, UH, AVENUE B INTO THE GPNL FACILITY.
THERE'S A GATE RIGHT HERE AT THE END OF THAT ROAD.
SO THERE'S NOT A WAY FOR A CAR TO GO? NO, NO.
IT, IT DEAD ENDS INTO A CITY FACILITY BACK THERE, THERE, SO.
WE, WE ORIGINALLY WERE WONDERING COULD WE ACCESS UP THAT WAY OR SOMETHING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD? BUT IT DOESN'T, IT, IT DOESN'T WORK.
THAT MIGHT CREATE SOME ISSUES.
AND EVEN, EVEN WITH A DEAD END THERE, YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER SOME TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES ALONG THAT ROAD.
I MEAN, WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING AT RICK OIN WHERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE JUST DOING A LOT OF DONUTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT IN THE, IN THE, YOU KNOW, AREA BECAUSE THERE'S ACTIVITY THERE.
AND IF THAT FOOT'S ALL COURSE, AND, AND THE MULTI AND BASKETBALL COURTS ARE, ARE USED AS OFTEN AS WE SUSPECT THERE'LL BE, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SHOW OFF THEIR FANCY VEHICLES.
UM, ZIAD, FANTASTIC PRESENTATION.
Y'ALL PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO THIS.
THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE A REAL NICE ANCHOR FOR THE, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
BUT, UM, A FEW THINGS THAT, UH, TRAILS, UH, THE TRAILS THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE ON THERE, ARE YOU CONSIDERING LIGHTING FOR THAT FOR AT NIGHTTIME? ABSOLUTELY, YES.
AND, UM, LOOKS LIKE THERE'S LOTS OF NATURAL SHADE.
THAT'S ALWAYS A BIG THING THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WITH PARKS IS THAT THEY ALWAYS LIKE TO HAVE PLACES TO BE ABLE TO GET OUTTA THE SUNSHINE.
UH, DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM WITH THE BA WITH THE BASEBALL FIELD GETTING REPURPOSED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TWO THINGS GOING ON AT ONCE, LIKE HAVE A COUPLE OF SOCCER GAMES OR A FLAG FOOTBALL AND A SOCCER GAME AT THE SAME TIME? THAT MIGHT BE TOUGH.
UM, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE ENOUGH ROOM FOR ONE THING GOING ON AT ONE, ANY GIVEN TIME.
UM, AND, AND NOT JUST FOR THE, THE SPORT ITSELF BEING PLAYED, BUT ALSO JUST THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT MAY BE DRIVING THERE OR WALKING THERE.
I THINK IT JUST MAY BE TOO MUCH FOR THAT LITTLE SPACE, ESPECIALLY ALONG A BUSY ROAD.
I, I, I DON'T THINK I'D FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH MORE THAN ONE GOING ON.
AND WE'RE KIND OF LEAVING THIS A LITTLE BIT ORGANIC TO SEE HOW, HOW EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, WHAT PEOPLE ARE USING, WHAT THEY'RE PLAN, HOW THEY'RE USING THE SPACE, UH, LIKE THAT A LOT.
THIS IS, I THINK THIS IS GONNA DO WELL AS FAR AS THE BASKETBALL COURT, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE POURING CONCRETE, IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO TWO BASKETBALL COURTS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT? IF THAT'S BEING USED THAT MUCH, WE'LL CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT.
UH, 'CAUSE IT, IT COULD PROVIDE SOME MORE VERSATILITY IN TERMS OF IT, IT MAY NOT BE STRIPED THE SAME WAY.
'CAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO DO MULTI-PURPOSE, BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT.
OR THAT WAY A PICKLEBALL, UH, MATCH DOESN'T, UH, KEEP SOMEONE FROM PLAYING A GAME OF BASKETBALL.
AND ONE OF THE, I WILL ADD THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH BEING ENHANCED TO MULTIPURPOSE COURTS IS INCORPORATING INTERESTING, UM, ART ONTO THE COURT ITSELF.
SO IT'S NOT JUST THE STRIPING THAT COULD BE, THERE COULD BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC ART INCORPORATED INTO THE MULTIPURPOSE COURTS.
SO IF I CAN ADD ONE MORE THING TO THAT.
ONE THING THAT, THAT WE DID HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR FROM OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUP IN PARTICULAR, AND AT SOME OF THE OTHER PUBLIC MEETINGS AS WELL, IS THE AREA THAT IS THE SOFTBALL FIELD.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT, AND I THINK IT WAS ALMOST UNANIMOUS, IS, IS ALSO A, NOT ONLY THE WALKING TRAILS GOING AROUND, AND YES, THERE COULD BE ACTIVITIES OUT THERE PLAYING FOOTBALL OR SOCCER AND THINGS, BUT THEY REALLY WANTED A GATHERING PLACE, WHETHER IT'S AFTER CHURCH ON SUNDAYS OR CHURCH GROUPS OR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS OR FAMILY GROUPS GOING OUT, AND A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD GO OUT THERE AND SPEND TIME TOGETHER.
SO WE WERE TRYING TO BUILD IN THAT CAPACITY TO DO THAT, AND NOT JUST A SPORTS FIELD OVER THERE, WHATEVER, AND HAVE THAT, HAVE THAT DUAL CAPACITY TO IT.
BUT WE HEARD THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
PLACES WHERE FAMILIES CAN GO, CHURCH GROUPS CAN GO, OTHER GROUPS CAN GO AND SPEND THAT TIME TOGETHER IN, IN, IN THE SMALLER NEIGHBORHOOD PARK FIELD.
AND MANY PARKS ARE JUST, YOU JUST NEED TO OPEN GRASS MANY TIMES.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF ROOM FOR OPEN PLAY.
AND SO THIS IS A, A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO INCORPORATE THAT.
IT'S LIKE, ARE IS THERE MORE? NO, THAT'S IT.
I JUST WANT TO CHIME IN THIS AND SAY THAT, UH, I THINK THAT YOU CLEARED UP FOR ME.
UH, UH, MY CONCERN WITH THE WORD PROGRAMMING.
PROGRAMMING WAS GONNA BE THE THING THAT'S GOING TO REALLY BRING ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT HERE.
[01:05:01]
UH, THE VISION OF THE COMMUNITY AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING FORWARD WITH IT.COUNCILOR WILLIAMS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR GIVING ME A SECOND SHOT AT, AT, AT THIS.
WHAT I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT ED, UM, SOMETHING THAT, THAT OUR, ONE OF OUR, OUR SPEAKERS MENTIONED EARLIER WAS UTILIZATION OR LACK, LACK OF UTILIZATION.
CAN YOU SHARE THOUGHTS ON, WITH WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT TONIGHT, UH, WHAT ARE THE STEPS THAT, THAT, THAT YOUR TEAM IS SUPPOSED TO TAKE TO TAKE TO HOPEFULLY INCREASE, UH, COMMUNITY UTILIZATION AND ACCESS TO THIS PARK, PARTICULARLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUNG FAMILIES, THAT THAT COMMENT WAS MADE EARLIER.
CAN YOU SHARE MAYBE ANY, ANY CRYSTAL BALLING, ANY THINGS THAT, THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY DO TO MAKE SURE THAT AT THIS FACILITY, THIS PARK IS, IS UTILIZED AND THAT THE RESIDENTS LIVING NEAR AND AROUND THIS PARK FEEL FREE AND SAFE THAT THEY CAN UTILIZE THAT? CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT PLEASE, SIR? I, I CAN.
AND, AND MITCH, PLEASE CHIME IN.
UM, WE, WE REALLY HOPE THAT THE, UM, WE CAN CREATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH NON-PROFITS WITH THE CHURCHES AND, AND CREATE A SPACE WHERE, UM, WE CAN HELP THEM UTILIZE THE SPACE WITH THE PROGRAMMING THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO GET, YOU KNOW, THAT LEVEL OF ACTIVITY.
UM, RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THAT OUR REC CENTERS ARE SET UP, YOU KNOW, THAT LEVEL OF ACTIVITY, YOU MIGHT SEE THAT AT THE REC CENTERS, BUT THAT STAFF IS NEEDED WITHIN THOSE BUILDINGS TO, TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROGRAMMING IS SUCCESSFUL.
AND SO TO DUPLICATE OR REPLICATE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES OUT IN THE PARK LIKE THIS, UH, WE WOULD WANT TO CREATE, UM, A COORDINATED ORGANIZATIONS IS, IS A MECHANISM THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY WITH, UH, WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS, FACILITY USE AGREEMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT TO BRING NONPROFIT GROUPS OR THE CHURCH GROUPS OR OTHER, OTHER GROUPS THAT, UM, EVEN FOR-PROFIT, IF THEY WANTED TO UTILIZE THAT SPACE.
UM, AND THEN PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY AS PART OF THE PAVILION STORAGE AREAS TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, GAMES OR SPORTS, YOU KNOW, LIKE BALLS AVAILABLE SO THAT, YOU KNOW, AS PROGRAMS ARE, ARE SCHEDULED, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE ACCESS OR WE CAN PROVIDE ACCESS TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND WITH KEYS TO THE LOCKER AND, AND HAVE THEM OPEN THAT UP FOR, FOR WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY WANT TO DO.
'CAUSE CURRENTLY WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, DO THE SAME THING HERE AS WE, AS WE DO IN, IN REC CENTERS.
WE, WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION WITH THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP ON THIS VERY THING.
AND I THINK THAT THE, AT LEAST THE FEELING THAT I GOT FROM NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM IS THERE, THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST THE EXISTING PARK IS VERY CLOSED OFF.
SOME DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S BACK THERE UNLESS YOU'RE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIND OF THING.
THE VISIBILITY IS AN ISSUE AS WE GO THROUGH AND REDESIGN AND OPEN THIS UP, THAT VISIBILITY WILL ATTRACT THE, WHAT I REALLY THINK IS GONNA HAPPEN IS FAMILIES, THE CHURCHES, THE OTHER GROUPS, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP THEM.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE VERY THING ZIA JUST TALKED ABOUT AS THIS CHURCH GROUP, THIS COMMUNITY GROUP, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHOEVER IT IS, THEY WANT TO DO SOME TYPE OF EVENT OR ACTIVITY, WE CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH THE, THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT BY, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT, PUT THE INFORMATION OUT.
UH, SO THEY KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.
BUT I, I REALLY DON'T THINK PROGRAMMING WILL BE A CHALLENGE.
'CAUSE ONCE WE BUILD IT, ONCE WE OPEN IT UP, UH, I THINK THE COMMUNITY IS GONNA LOVE IT.
IN FACT, OUR OUR DISCUSSION AT THE, THE COMMUNITY LEVEL HAS BEEN THAT WE DON'T, WE DON'T OVER PROGRAM IT.
'CAUSE IT HAS TO REMAIN BECAUSE OF THE, THE LOGISTICS, THE SIZE.
IT HAS TO REMAIN A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND A, A PARK FOR NOT ONLY THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.
THAT WE DON'T GROW IT TOO BIG.
SO I, I DON'T WORRY ABOUT, I THINK WE'RE GONNA, ONCE WE BUILD IT, THE, THE, THE PEOPLE ARE GONNA COME, UH, NOT THAT I'M GONNA USE A BASEBALL ANALOGY, I WILL, BUT IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.
UH, BUT I, I THINK WE'LL GET THERE WITH ALL OF THAT AND WE'LL WORK WITH THEM AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE AMENITIES TO, TO MAKE IT A SAFE, FUN PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER.
WE'RE, WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
THANK YOU BOTH THAT THAT WAS A POINT THAT, UH, MS. WALLACE RAISED.
AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR SPEAKING TO THAT.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
UM, BEFORE I FORGET, WILL YOU PLEASE SEND THIS POWERPOINT TO COUNSEL AFTER THE MEETING? CERTAINLY.
I ALWAYS ASK THAT, BUT ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE WHEN, APPRECIATE IT WHEN YOU DO IT.
UM, AND COUNSEL, I WAS THERE FOR A NUMBER OF THESE MEETINGS JUST SITTING IN THE BACK AND LISTENING.
BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THE HUFF BUCKS WAS BRILLIANT.
I MEAN, HAVING SOMEBODY HAND YOU A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS AND SAYING, YOU GET TO DECIDE WHAT TO SPEND THIS ON.
UH, IT'S LIKE, I DON'T EVEN LIKE TO SHOP.
[01:10:01]
THE MOST FUN, UH, INPUT MEETINGS I'VE EVER ATTENDED.IT WAS LIKE MONOPOLY MONEY, YOU KNOW, I WAS RICH FOR A MOMENT.
UM, SO, UH, JUST, JUST FOR CLARITY'S SAKE, BECAUSE OF, OF SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, WHAT IN, IN THE PARK WILL BE RENTAL FACILITIES? SO THE, UM, THE, THE FIELDS THAT WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY CAN BE RENTAL PAVILION, CAN BE RENTAL.
UM, AND REALLY THAT'S, THAT'S USUALLY WHAT WE DO IN TERMS OF RENTALS.
I, I DON'T ANTICIPATE US OPENING UP THE FUTSAL COURTS FOR RENTALS.
UM, WE, LIKE I SAID, WE JUST OPENED ONE UP, SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, HOW TO, HOW TO PROGRAM THAT.
UM, AND SO YEAH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PAVILION AND THE, UH, AND THE FIELD, BUT THESE AREN'T GOING TO BE, UH, THE, THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE ACCESS UNTIL, AND UNLESS THEY'RE A RESERVATION, IS THERE, OKAY.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE THE FIELD WILL BE FREE PLAY.
UM, BECAUSE I HAD SOME, HEARD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
UM, I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF PARTIES AT, AT LOU HEF THERE.
UM, RAINBOW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION USES THAT FOR THEIR BIG COMMUNITY GATHERINGS.
AND I LOVE THE PAVILION BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY CREATE BY BRINGING THE POP-UP TENTS.
SO THEY, THEY CREATE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE CAPTURED UP HERE.
UM, AND WHEN WE WERE WORKING WITH THE SQUARE, UH, AND LEAVING IT JUST KIND OF ALONE FOR A COUPLE YEARS TO SEE HOW PEOPLE ORGANICALLY USED IT, THAT REALLY GAVE US A LOT OF GUIDANCE.
SO I LOVE THAT YOU'RE TAKING THAT, UM, APPROACH WITH THE OPEN FIELD AND JUST SEE WHAT DEVELOPS, UM, HOW PEOPLE ARE GRAVITATING TO USE IT.
AND THAT WILL, THAT WILL BE GOOD GUIDANCE FOR THE FUTURE.
UM, WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT RESTROOMS, BUT LUHA HASN'T HAD A REAL RESTROOM IN OVER 20 YEARS.
SO, UM, THAT'S ONE OF THE FEATURES I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
UM, SO WE HAD ORIGINALLY EARLY ON TALKED WHEN IT WAS STILL A BASEBALL FIELD, UM, ABOUT HAVING RESTROOMS OVER BY THE PAVILION AND THEN ANOTHER SMALLER RESTROOM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET, UM, TO SERVE THE KIDS WHO CAME AND PLAYED BASEBALL.
BUT WITH GOING TO THIS OPEN FIELD CONCEPT, I ASSUME WE DON'T FEEL THERE'S AS MUCH OF A NEED FOR THAT.
UH, SO AS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, RESTROOMS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE UTILIZING IT AND BUILDING ONE IN THE, IN THE SPACE THAT WE FEEL LIKE IT'S GONNA BE MOST EFFECTIVE, WHICH IS GONNA BE NEAR THE, THE PAVILION AND THE COURTS.
UH, AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS JUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO THE TRAILS AND THE CROSSINGS AND THE BRIDGE TO HELP PEOPLE GET TO THAT RESTROOM MORE EASILY.
I'M JUST CHECKING, CHECKING OFF.
SO THAT WAS JUST ONE QUESTION.
CROSSING THE STREET FROM THE REST OF THE PARK TO THE OPEN FIELD THERE, EARLY ON THERE WERE CONCERNS JUST BECAUSE THERE WERE BIG BUNCHES OF BASEBALL KIDS DARTING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE STREET.
ARE WE GONNA HAVE REALLY STRONG LIGHTING? UM, AND A PLACE WHERE KIDS WHERE THE TRAIL CROSSES? UM, YEAH.
SO, UH, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO SEE AT THIS SCALE AND, AND YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET IT WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU RECEIVE IT IN THE EMAIL TO ZOOM IN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING, WE, THERE ARE THESE LITTLE HASH MARKS ALONG THE TRAIL AND THOSE WOULD REPRESENT LIGHTING.
THEY MAY NOT BE AT THAT SAME, UM, INCREMENT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO PROPOSE TO HAVE LIGHTING AND WE WILL CERTAINLY MAKE SURE THAT THAT CROSSING ACROSS THE STREET IS, IS WELL LED.
AND, AND JUST, I, I DID WANNA POINT OUT, SINCE IT ISN'T PART OF THIS PROJECT, BUT THE, THE PLAYGROUND THAT WENT IN, IN, IN, UH, WHAT, 2021, I THINK.
UM, I GET POSITIVE REMARKS ABOUT THAT FROM PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE ZIP LINE.
IT GOES A LOT FASTER THAN YOU THINK.
YOU IT IS, IT'S FUN FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN.
SO, UM, SO THAT'S BEEN A FUN THING.
I LOVE WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND I DO LOVE THE WHOLE, THE PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS WAS EXTREMELY VALUABLE AND IN SOME WAYS SURPRISING, UM, SITTING THERE AND LISTENING TO, AND, AND KIND OF THE WAYS THAT PEOPLE WERE THINGS THAT WERE IMPORTANT, THINGS THAT WERE LESS IMPORTANT.
SO, UM, AND THIS IS A PUBLIC PARK, UM, SO WE'RE NOT, UH, I UNDERSTOOD THERE WERE CONCERNS EARLIER
[01:15:01]
THAT ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO USE IT.AND THAT'S, THIS IS A PUBLIC PARK OPEN TO ANYBODY IN GARLAND OR OUT.
WE JUST, UH, WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO DRAW THE WHOLE CITY TO THIS PARK BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANT THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE SERVED AND TO BE HAPPY WITH IT.
I LOVE THE WAY YOU DID IT, AND THAT'S PRETTY HIGH PRAISE COMING FROM THIS DIRECTION, SO THANK YOU.
UM, AND I'M, I'M MORE THAN READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE DETAILED DESIGN AND FOR THE SHOVEL TO HIT THE DIRT WHEN WE DO A GROUNDBREAKING.
ALRIGHT, WE'VE CLEARED THE QUEUE.
UM, I THINK IT LOOKS FANTASTIC.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THE, THE REINVESTMENT, UH, HERE, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER FAIRLY LARGE PROJECT THAT'S GONNA GO ON RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, UH, WITH THE RELOCATION OF THE CENTRAL FIRE STATION AND THAT DEVELOPMENT.
SO I THINK IT IS GOING TO REALLY, REALLY HAVE A HUGE IMPACT, UH, ON THIS AREA.
AND, AND AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, THE PARK AND THE, THE, THE FORMER REC CENTER, I MEAN, THERE, THERE IS SOME GREAT HISTORY THERE, UH, THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND, AND KIDS WHO GREW UP THERE PLAYING THERE WENT ON TO DO LOTS OF OTHER THINGS AND, AND, AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HISTORY.
UM, AND, AND SADLY, UH, THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT HISTORY OF NEGLECT IN THIS PARK.
UM, THIS PARK HAS BEEN JUST LEFT TO BEEN FOR ITSELF FRANKLY.
UM, AND, AND THIS HOPEFULLY WILL, WILL UNDO THAT.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN FIELDS REC WAS BUILT AND, AND ALL OF THAT, UM, HOPEFULLY THIS WILL RESTORE THIS PARK.
UM, AND ITS USE, UH, AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO, UH, THE IMMEDIATE, UH, FOLKS, YOU KNOW, IN, IN THE RAINBOW AREA.
I I THINK IT WE'RE ALL PRETTY UNANIMOUS HERE TO MOVE ON.
AND THAT WAS OUR ONLY, OUR LAST, UH, VERBAL BRIEFING ITEM.
UH, MOVING ON TO ITEM FIVE, UH, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. ANYBODY HAVE ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS THIS EVENING? I SEE NONE, BUT OBVIOUSLY, UH, THERE IS A PROCESS FOR THAT OUTSIDE OF THIS MEETING.
[6. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX, EXECUTIVE SESSION.UH, AND COUNSEL, UH, ITEM ONE THAT IS LISTED ON OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE WILL NOT BE DISCUSSING THIS EVENING.
THAT WILL COME BACK, UH, OBVIOUSLY AT A FUTURE MEETING.
UM, BUT THAT BEING SAID, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 5 5, 1 0.0 7 2 5 5, 1 0.087, AND 5 5 1 0.07, ONE OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DELIBERATE OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MATTERS RELATED TO COMMERCIAL OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT THE CITY HAS RECEIVED FROM ONE OR MORE BUSINESS PROSPECTS THAT THE CITY SEEKS TO HAVE, LOCATE, STAY, OR EXPAND IN THE VICINITY OF SOUTH GARLAND AVENUE AND I 6 35, AND WITH WHICH THE CITY IS CONDUCTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE PURCHASES OF REAL PROPERTY AND ATTORNEY-CLIENT MATTERS CONCERNING PRIVILEGED AND UNPRIVILEGED CLIENT INFORMATION RELATED TO SAME.
UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A SHORT RECESS.
LET'S HAVE EVERYBODY BACK AT SEVEN 30, PLEASE.