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1996-08-22 City of Southlake, Texas CITY OF SOUTHLAKE SPECIAL PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING August 22, 1996 MINUTES Board Members Present: Gary Beyer, Robin Jones, Bethann Scratchard, Ronnie Kendall, Larry Goldstein and Sherry Berman. Carol Lee Hamilton and Rod Johnson arrived shortly after the meeting was called to order. Absent: Vicki Johnson. City Staff Present: Director Kim Lenoir and Administrative Assistant Coy Gray. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Bethann Scratchard. Agenda Item No. 2. Discussion: Bob Jones Park Master Plan Kim Lenoir explained the difference between the city wide Trail System Master Plan and the Bob Jones Park Master Plan. The Trail System Master Plan is a broad based plan that identifies a map to link trails in a contiguous system throughout the City. The Bob Jones Park Master Plan needs to address the more specific details of the trails within the park. Bethann Scratchard reviewed the Trail System Master Plan goals and objectives with the Board. The Board discussed the level of planning that is to be accomplished at this Bob Jones Park conceptual master planning level. The Board agreed that this plan is a conceptual plan, with its purpose to show the types of facilities that will be developed which will help the City prepare cost estimates and a phasing plan for construction. As each phase moves into the phase of funding, construction documents will be prepared with citizen input to be more specific of the exact location of facilities and details of construction materials to be used. This is like the first phase of the construction of Bicentennial Park. Since the first phase of construction for Bicentennial Park was baseball fields, the baseball users were very active in the development of the construction documents. When the soccer fields are developed, the soccer users will provide input into the design and construction of the soccer facilities and when the trails are constructed the trail users will provide input into the design and construction. Sherry Berman prepared a recommendation for trail design for the Board to consider. Ronnie Kendall prepared a memo reporting on her meeting with the neighborhood. SPIN #1 presented the Board with a memo of recommendations. All of the above mentioned documentation is attached to these minutes. The Board and the planning consultants MESA Design, first discussed the buffer options of 100 feet versus 300 feet. SPIN #1 requested a 150 feet of buffer. The Board recommended 100 feet of buffer City of Southlake, Texas Page 2 Special Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes - August 22, 1996 around the soccer fields and a 200 feet of buffer from the residential property line to the edge of the ballfield fences. To do this the ballfields were moved further to the south and west. The Board wanted to maintain a pond at the park entrance. SPIN #I wanted the pond between the ballfields and the neighborhood. The Board moved the pond closer to what the neighborhood requested. Rod Johnson noted that water carries sound and if the neighborhood was concerned about noise that this request would probably increase the noise level not reduce it. Carol Lee Hamilton recalled a lake she once lived by appropriately named "Echo Lake" because sound echoed across the lake. These recommendations keep the ballfield fence approximately 1/4 mile from the nearest existing residence. Trails are conceptual in nature at this level of planning. Off-road bike trails were discussed but the Board did not see a need to consider trails for this user group in the current plans. There are plans for all-weather hike and bike trails, nature trails, and horse trails. Trails in the Corps of Engineers Walnut Grove Park area are projected to be constructed in 2 to 5 years. The first priority of the park is construction of soccer fields and practice fields. MESA Design will redraw the plan with the changes discussed. The City will publish the revised plan in the next city wide newsletter. SPIN meetings will be held September 24 and October 2 to provide all the citizens with information about the Bob Jones Park Master Plan and the Bicentennial Park Master Plan. In the final text of the Bob Jones Park Master Plan, the Board wanted Sherry Berman's report of trails and map included. The Board took a 10 minute break. Bethann Scratchard left the meeting. Agenda Item No. 3, Discussion: Parks. Recreation and Open Space Master Plan Update The Board reviewed the recommendations of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan. The Board wanted to add the specific acreage requirements needed for future parks. Carol Lee Hamilton requested that staff expand the recreation program section comments to include the after- school programs, year a round programming, day camps and also add that a library committee has been appointed. Larry Goldstein and Robin Jones are liaisons for future facility development and will be the Board's contact to the Mayor to identify land that the City may want to consider for additional park land. They presented a written report, which is attached. Agenda Item No. 4, Consider: Fee Schedule for FY 1996-97 The fee schedule was reviewed. The Board recommended: 1) that the security deposit be increased from $50 to $100 to emphasize the need for users to take care of the facilities; 2) that a $3 per City of Southlake, Texas Page 3 Special Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes - August 22, 1996 meeting fee be charged instead of a $25 per year to be more fair to the wide variety of meetings. Recommended fee schedule attached. Motion was made to recommend to City Council the Fee Schedule for FY 1996-97 as discussed. Motion: Jones Second: Goldstein Ayes: Hamilton, Beyer, Kendall, Goldstein, R. Johnson, Berman, Jones Nays: none Approved 7-0 Announcement: Kim Lenoir presented the Board members with a copy of the memo to Curtis Hawk dated August 22, 1996 summarizing the recommended budget cuts by line item for FY 1996- 97. She reminded the Board that the City Council will be having a budget work session Tuesday, August 27, at 6:00 pm at City Hall. Larry Goldstein asked for clarification about the Board's relationship with the Parks & Recreation Department in budget preparation. Kim Lenoir explained that the Board began work on the budget in May with new requests suggested. The members of the Board have not spent much time this year on the budget due to the overwhelming work load on the Bicentennial Park and Bob Jones Park Master Plans. She explained that the City Manager submits his budget to City Council by August 1. He considers recommendations from the Board and staff when preparing his budget. Kim Lenoir will ask the City Manager if the by-laws of the Park Board need to be changed since there is now a department. Is the Parks and Recreation Board expected to "recommend" a budget as outlined in the by-laws? There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 9:43 p.m. o son, Chairman ATTEST: Carol Lee Hamilton, Secretary c: pkboard\minute8.22\kml Dear Fellow Board Members, l Safety is my primary goal for reassessing the trail system in the Bob Jones Park. I am a walker, I usually put Nick my 20 month old baby in the baby jogger and we go. In reviewing these plans in this trail system, I saw some safety problems. The other issue that I had concerns with was the survey that Glass and Associates did. In this survey, after access to the library, undeveloped natural open space was the second priority. Neighborhood parks were ranked third and city wide hiking, biking, and equestrian trails being fourth. All the people that have worked on this should be commended for putting an excellent plan into place. The overall trail system is fabulous along with the trail in Bob Jones Park. I do not want to take out anything although I would like to fine tune the Bob Jones Trail System within the Master Plan. In conversations with the city manager's office, this is the time to do it, not five years from now. My experience with government projects is that once it is on paper, right or wrong, it is an uphill battle to get it changed later. Various people within the Southlake government have informed me about the process of how to go about this. Since we are working on the Master Plan of Bob Jones, we should get some of the standards, signage, programs and patrols on paper or our intention of how this will work. As time goes on, these basic plans will also be fine tuned. Rod Johnson has been talking all along about setting up the standards. I have spent many hours on the internet and talking with various park directors through email about their multi-use trail plans. The conclusion that I have come to is that multi-use trails do work, but only if the plan is in place up front. All user groups need to know what is to take place and embrace the project. i There needs to be a lot of education for the user groups and it is critical to have a strong management to enforce the policies. As you know, there is a lot of talk particularly with the equestrian people on this particular issue. I think that if we fine tune this, some of their concerns will be answered and the issue will ( not be as big of a problem. Basically, lets nip this in the bud and move on, so we can get this park moving. Charlie Burger who is with the Corps of Engineers at Grapevine Lake stated to me that you can have a plan, but if it does not meet the needs of most of the people, than it is just a plan and may not be approved by the Corps. They want us to do the homework, get the statistics of what the people of Southlake want, but the property is still Federally owned public land, and available to all members of the public therefore the public outside of Southlake also has a voice. Their other priority is the stewardship of natural and cultural resources. No matter where we put the trails or parking lots, if it ruins the mitigation of the land, they will be moved. If you have some groups that are adamantly against this, they will take it into consideration. Input on the public as a whole will be part of the lease process. Right now, there is not a written agreement with the Corps. Charlie said "As the plan is presented, I would require more information as to meeting the needs of the public at large. I'm getting many calls and letters of concern, and public input and efforts to reach consensus are a major part of the process." My goals as liaison to Bob Jones Park is to get this consensus, without this, I believe this will be a battle not only with the Corps of Engineers, but P&Z and City Council. I am not naive enough to believe everyone will be happy, but I do think we can get majority to be happy. We all know that there are some passionate equestrian people who do not want any changes, but I think that most of them realize that this is public land and do not mind sharing the land if done properly. It is my belief that the Parks Board are all in agreement of wanting the horses to stay and fulfill the need for the beautiful equestrian center in the Bob Jones Park. Because the time and money that is spent on this, lets make sure that we have a safe place for not only the equestrians but for the other users of the multi- use trail system. 1 Let me explain how I see the situation, I have talked to a lot of people and I think we can accomplish most of the goals in this park. It is my belief that the way the trail system is now, we are going to have a lot of opposition and it will set us back on building this park. That's the last thing we need. In my opinion, lets take out the paved 10 foot hike & bike trail through the Walnut Grove area of the park but put a 4 ft. natural hike & bike trail, this move would relieve a lot of protest. In order to meet the needs of the families that are in the park, change the natural hiking trail that is by the soccer fields, amphitheater, and nature center to a paved trail, add on to it for one mile so that is goes down to the lake, loops around and comes back. Move the pavilion & swimming fazilities south to meet this one mile trail or put them at the North end of Whites Chapel. This will give roller bladers, skaters, road bicyclist, walker's and wheelchair access to the developed area and it will take you to the lake. I believe this accomplishes the goal of getting everyone to the lake without totally developing one of our most natural resources. The area around Walnut Grove would have an equestrian trail for the horses and a 4 ft. wide trail for the hikers, bikers and anyone else that wants to see nature. The other great thing about this trail is the natural part of the trail could be built by the citizens of Southlake. Some people that have been involved in the master trail system of Bob Jones Park, said that was the original plan in the beginning. Charlie Burger of the Corps said all his trails were built by volunteers. Forest Hills Trails Alliance in California had all their multi-user groups build their trails also. If the various user groups are involved in the building process, I think you will find a sense of "community" that will work to benefit the park in the long term. Kandee Haertel, consultant for the Illinois Trails system said with very little guidance, the workers from these meetings can easily become "Friends of the Bob Jones Park" organization that will greatly enhance your abilities to make a master plan a reality rather than a dream. Cost really has not been in much discussion, with all the resources that I have talked to, they all agree, if you can get the volunteers to do it, it is the best. If you cannot accept my first suggestion, then I believe that we will have to define what market we are trying to obtain on the hike and bike trail. In defining this market, it will make a difference as to the composition of the trail. I know that IS TEA money can be applied for if the trail is 10 feet wide. (This money is not free- ask for comments if you are interested) In my research, I think there may be some other alternatives available depending on the market we define. If your priorities are to meet the needs of walkers, family bikers and handicap, then the paved trail is appropriate. If you are wanting hikers, off road bikers, runners, then the trail needs to be natural or made up of decomposed granite that is compacted called Ag lime or crushed limestone. (See enclosure) The beauty of Ag lime is it has enough give to be used by humans and wheels. If we leave the trails the way that they are, I think the following changes need to be made for safety concerns. EQUESTRIAN TRAILS One of the keys to safety is understanding a horse's behavior. *Horses are large and powerful animals, but they are also timid and easily frightened. Most horses gentle and obedient if they are handled properly. If you frighten a horse, you or others can get hurt. The first choice of a frightened horse is to run away. If he cannot run away, he might kick or bite in self defense. 1. There are 4 cross overs between the hike & bike trails and the equestrian trails. SOLUTION: Have only two intersections and the land has to be cleared as a 4 way stop area would be cleared in a street. It needs to be open and wide enough so that there is adequate sight line from the various points of the intersection. This allows trail users the opportunity to see each other approaching and adjust their speed accordingly. Yield signs need to be up in each direction. (See enclosures) 2 2. There are 5 areas where the trails run parallel where they are too close together. SOULUTION: A: There needs to be visibility between the two trails if they are within 20 yards of each other. *A horse is a prey animal; they believe things are out there to eat them. A basic instinct is to flight at danger, if they do not recognize sites and sounds as being friendly. Also barriers need to be in place if the trail is within 20 yards. (These barriers need to be graffiti- proof, I have been told they are major target for vandals) B: We are supposed to acquire some land, move the trails and parking lot away from the shoreline and horse trail.. In my research, I keep hearing from various people that the off road bikers are an aggressive group that does not necessarily follow the rules. The bikers do not stay on the trails; they develop their own trails and ruin the natural habitat and have no respect for other users. They have been kicked out of several parks in California. I have mixed emotions about this particular group of users. They are a large group, if they find out we are excluding them, then they will come out in groves. If we allow them on the trails, we will have to have very strict enforcement for the safety of everyone. In all accidents that I have heard about, it is bicycle to bicycle or bicycle to horse. If the board decides that the trail is to be totally paved, then I recommend that mountain bike's not be allowed. The off road bikes have Rockledge and several other areas of Lake Grapevine to ride on that has similar terrain. I know it is frustrating to spend so much time working on a project with no input from outside resources, then you have the plan in place and everyone comes in and tells you it is wrong. Larry & Lore Clarke of Forest Hill Trails in California told me that communication is a big key and it is our job to hear all sides and try to find solutions that best fit everyone's needs. Kandee Haertel system says managing these trails is 90% of the success of multi-use trail plans. Obviously, when the time comes to put the trails in, more detail will go into this, but for now, lets have a basic standard system and work with the various user groups so all feel they have a part in this. I think that we should have a meeting with the equestrian people before the Spin meeting, so they feel they are being heard and that we are doing due diligence for their needs also. These people are very upset and are not going away. Lets try to find a win win solution instead of digging our heals in and saying we have spent many hours on this, you should have been at the meetings when we were working on it. Kathy Kessler who consulted a multi-use trail plan in Illinois, she just moved to Paradise, Texas in March. She used to be President of TROD (Trail riders of Dupage); she is an advocate for multi-use trails and would be willing to talk to the equestrian people. She knows how they think and might help in convincing that multi-use trails do work. Charlie Burger with the Corps would also like to attend one of these meetings. I think if we have a representative from P&Z and from City Council it will help the people attending these meetings to understand all needs of the city. The people of Southlake will be paying for this park, but the reality is that the DFW area is 22% of our state's population, other people will be using our park. There are more than 4 million residents that can be expected to heavily use parks in this region. Another issue that is critical is the Southlake tax dollars paying for the maintenance and clean-up. The Corps property is for all of the public, not just Southlake. The following information is from the Texas Natural Heritage Program of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. "Many cities in the metroplex that were once small towns have found themselves part of an urbanizing metropolitan area as citizens from Dallas and Ft. Worth move to the suburbs. Urban dwellers must now search harder to find open green space. Public recreation providers in the region have expressed a need for more parks and passive open space. In recent years, parkland and open space have become 3 increasingly scarce while available land has been reduced. Rapid development has turned many natural areas into buildings and pavement." Lets look at our natural passive open space that is in Walnut Grove, the people can enjoy it, but lets not ruin it with the concrete paths that are on the plan now. I urge you to look at this park in two different sections, one that is totally developed with soccer fields, baseball fields, equestrian area and a nature center that has a paved path running though out the park, then look at the other side of the park as a natural, undeveloped area that only has natural trails through it. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROJECT AWARENESS In Forest Hills California, they had work days were the trail was built by the community. We saw this project work with Adventure Alley, and this might be something to consider and bring this project closer to a reality by saving some costs in labor. Print T-shirts that say, SHARE THE TRAILS As the time comes near for these trails, have meetings with each user group, showing the video "IN YOUR SHOES" Have role playing seminars between equestrian groups, bicycle groups, and hikers. Have multi-user groups attend seminars together. The more outspoken and uncompromising a person is in each group is usually tempered by the size of the group and any perceived concessions by another group or management. Have patrol services of parks give seminars *The Association for Horsemanship Safety and Education I will be happy to answer any questions you have, Sherry Berman i 4 - r:. ,K...~... f- •_aTl:c..- - '1.. - n:.rJ,.. u./t..•J ~[Np. I'Y'DV'~CC'L~YhY~I,RY` TRAIL COURTESY M _ A F K A " r3 8116TWSTS E~UM I Niles Aide on op" WSW oeNyL Cw*W your ham Vkld WA m OQuISas,M . Loom no a cc. Avoid arou-counay ANow equaw4m wW con" yow Mode. r~da:Q. oobt~ ts PARL /Ywap YNM OWN- T40W spook ari" ab- Kan Ow". USERS ftr Your Safety plea": Observe Ruts And Regulatk 'mated Tralls be Alert And CourtemR4c Avold Muddy AreP- C.~ Z W co C~~3 Q Z 4~" CC .o O Q ° -i U ~ 0 q•• b 'b I W ♦ Rrte- + Ilk O T _ +mO q~- + 64 0 *~Qtd r- QO l F- Wtn Q a~ 1 °z w cv iv ~ cn i ~i cn C4 i 7fMA•7t7".J T,f.1T rAcJ ffIPO ~tn~1X'~. r~w+ ~/YJ MR 70TPL P. es u x ~ G -yti W ~ i .l: CA .10 c o f ~ .o c 4 c u CA di o A=l -003 .0 G 10. o a is a AI 0 .34 Z. u :!:I g Lo le 0 4.0 MI. 45 to 0 10 -mu a F1i~ $i iy h p O~~. , + tt+ > do > 4! o s. ! - Ll. 1L R w. ~1 • tp . r u !AD ..r X37 ` a ; y L H U) 0 o > Q,'b it ° o o a, a O 0 cu r. -1101, 1116. .5 o Z oty! evG ~.aI ~+O cn -u Q V 0.t44 i m 6 o P. A. R.b WZ tot OED ~J ~H A:~ F ~A m~~~ y 40 M "Ooor jr C ~ . .mot _-e♦ o LT gf1F. 1. According to the Parks Master Plan, our goal is to have 10 public parks 2. We currently have 2 public parks 3. Our biggest problem is money 4. All 1/2 cent sales tax monies are being dedicated to improvements on existing parks and facilities, while any future park sites fall by the wayside 5. Land is being developed before we can even put contracts on it 6. If we don't get the land NOW, not only will it not be affordable, it won't even be left 7. Solutions: A. Propose to the SPDC an automatic 15-20% of 1/2 cent tax be placed in a fund to be used as down payments on future park land until such time that all parks have been aquired. B. Appoint a committee made of private citizens to begin creative finance negotiations to tie up land for at least four to five future park sites C. Recommend and present these contract proposals and parks to the City Council for consideration and approval. 8. Benefits: A. We save the City money and city staff time by negotiating through a committee of citizens who are in contact with property owners either through their businesses or as involved community members B. We avoid denying any one group or project its improvements or implementation by allocating seperate funds BEFORE they're allocated or designated to specific needs. C. We ensure future parks for Southlake at a time when land is all too quickly disappearing Y **FY 1996-97 Fees Schedule for Parks Activities Activity Fee 1. Building Reservations for Residents: Security Deposit $59.00 $100.00 (refundable) Regular Meetings Reservation Fee $25.00 per year Regular Meeting Feeper Meeting $3.00/meeting Week day meeting $10.00/hr 2. Building Reservations for Special Activities: Security Deposit $50.08- $100.00 (refundable) The Lodge (with Kitchen) $15.00/hr Community Center/room $15.00/rm/hr Community Center/entire bldg $35.00/hr 3. Organized Athletic Programs $1,000,000.00 General Liability Insurance Policy 4. TV/VCR Rental Fee No charge with reservation 5. Equipment Rentals: (Driver's license held) Tennis Racket & Balls No charge Volleyballs No charge Basketballs No charge 6. Reservations of Park Facilities: Security Deposit $50.00 (refundable) Hilltop Picnic Area $5.00/4 hrs Pine Tree Picnic Area $5.00/4 hrs Bicentennial Pavilion $8.00/4 hrs 7. Reservations for Fields and Courts: Ballfields (No Lights) $7. `0,4. 5 fie' a $15.00/1.5 hr/ field Ballfields (With Lights) $15.0011.5 hr4ield $20.00/1.5 hr/ field Soccer Fields $2.50/ r4iel $15.00/1.5 hr/ field Field Preparation Fees: Weekday Games $25.00/field Weekend Games $37.50/field Multi-use Court (Hockey / Basketball)$!0.00f1 $15.0011.5 hr Multi-use Court (with lights) $is.09 $20.00/1.5 hr Sand Volleyball Courts $5.094ffi ~ t $15.00/1.5hr/court Tennis Courts $5.00/1.5 hr/court "Recommended by the Parks & Recreation Board 8/22/96 interoffice M E M O R A N D U M to: Parks and Recreation Board from: Ronnie Kendall subjec: Meeting with the Leaders of the Bob Jones Neighborhood August 5, 1996 date: August 22, 1996 The purpose of the meeting was to listen to and understand the concerns of residents living close to the proposed Bob Jones Park. The park needs of the City of Southlake were expressed by several Park Board members and a member of the City Council. The following people attended: Rod Johnson, Vicki Johnson, Larry Goldstein, Ronnie Kendall, Pam Muller, Rex Potter, Cara White, Mike Adams, Angela George, Mike Lamon, and Coy Gray. The general concerns were light and noise pollution, people parking on the streets instead of the parking lots, and traffic backed up on White Chapel. Mike Lamon, whose property backs up to the proposed baseballfield, said the proposed park is not a "park" but a sports complex. He would like for it to be more natural, especially the land closest to the residential properties. It was suggested the park be zoned so the "natural" parts of the park, i.e. lake, be closest to the residents and the least natural parts of the park be farther away. He also expressed his strong desire that there be not only be a sound buffer but also a space buffer. He and the other residents want to use the lake as the buffer. It was suggested that all of the lake be used at the north end as a buffer and the baseball field be moved next to White Chapel. There was also a discussion regarding keeping the "lighted fields" to the south part of the park and using lights that would allow for the least light pollution. MEMO TO: Southlake Parks Board FROM: SPIN Neighborhood One DATE: August 22, 1996 RE: Bob Jones Park As planning continues for the Bob Jones Park, we feel it necessary to summarize the concerns of the local neighborhood. It has been stated the Park Board's proposed park layout is being driven by a perceived, immediate need of the Soccer Association. To accommodate this need, it seems short-term gain is overriding the goals and objectives/mission statement adopted by the Parks and Recreation Board. The contents of the proposed park will make for an impressive public facility--it is of the utmost importance this facility be arranged to blend into and compliment the existing semi- rural setting of the surrounding community. To this end, the residents of SPIN Neighborhood One request as follows. 1 . Acknowledge the community setting • The majority of the residents in this area occupy small acreage tracts in a semi-rural community. • Properties abutting the park to the north are 5-10 acre "ranchettes" which are utilized for horses, cattle, goats, etc. 2. Acknowledge the proposed plan • Bob Jones Park is a slightly deceiving title; much of the "park" area is being dedicated to an athletic complex. • Park land is considered a welcome addition to any neighborhood. It can blend in with the existing rural setting of our community and would have a positive impact on adjacent property values. • An athletic complex is not a welcome addition in any neighborhood. It is usually located in a more commercial/light industrial setting. It definitely does not blend well with the existing community and, should it be located as proposed in the current masterplan, would have a negative impact on adjacent property values. 3. Assess the impact • The neighborhood is not wholly opposed to the park or the proposed activity areas; the main concern is the location of those activity areas. • Through several neighborhood meetings, a general consensus has been reached-- transition the park layout so minimal impact activities abut the residential properties and major impact activities are moved as far away as possible. MEMO August 22, 1996 Page 2 • To illustrate the neighborhood perception of "impact," we suggest a zone classification where Zone 0 = low impact; and Zone 5 = high impact. Zone 0 - planted buffer Zone 1 - lake, waWjog paths, exercise stations, picnic area Zone 2 - children's playground, pavilions, equestrian area Zone 3 - soccer fields, amphitheater Zone 4 - parking Zone 5 - baseball fields 4. Accommodate our recommendations • Minimum 150-foot buffer against all residential properties to include earth berm and dense, fast growth evergreen planting. • Orient lake as proposed on residents plan where lake swings into 17 acre northwest corner property. • Walking/jogging path with exercise stations around perimeter of lake. • Soccer fields and parking moved south of Bluebird Lane. • Baseball fields eliminated or moved to far south end of park. • Low intensity, directional lighting for any parking areas, playing fields requiring lighting. ( Add turn lane into parking area along White Chapel. • Fencing along White Chapel to address safety concerns. The current forum for residents input in developing the masterplan for Bob Jones Park is greatly appreciated. The community applauds the efforts of the Park Board Committee and looks forward to continued involvement in the planning and development stages of what will be a great parks and recreational facility.