Item 4D - MemoCITY OF
SOUTHLAKE
11M11IE5111111
MEMORANDUM
August 13, 2025
TO: Alison Ortowski, City Manager
FROM: David Miller, Director of Community Services
SUBJECT: Appoint members to the Recreation and Athletics Task Force
Action Requested: City Council appointment of members to the new Recreation
and Athletics Task Force.
Background: At the 2025 City Council Summer Workshop, Council gave
staff direction to move forward with the formation of a
Recreation and Athletics Taskforce. The proposed taskforce
would include three members from the City Council and
three members from the Parks and Recreation Board. The
purpose of this taskforce will be to review current field
policies, evaluate fee and usage structures, and provide
guidance on future planning for sites such as SSC. The task
force will also be asked to evaluate opportunities to update
the City's cost recovery policy and propose amendments to
the Parks, Recreation & Open Space (PROS) Master Plan
as needed.
The City of Southlake has placed a strong emphasis on
managing and maximizing the use of its athletic fields
through strategic infrastructure investments and long-
standing partnerships with local athletic associations. These
partners —representing seven youth sports including softball,
baseball, soccer, boys' lacrosse, girls' lacrosse, youth
football, and Miracle League —operate under facility usage
agreements guided by the City's Policy for the Provision of
Athletic Facilities, which governs all field use within
Southlake.
In recent years, the City has made significant enhancements
to its field infrastructure, the recent conversion of baseball,
softball, and soccer / multipurpose fields from grass to turf.
These improvements have increased field availability,
improved playability in inclement weather, and introduced
new considerations for field maintenance, scheduling, and
partner access. Additional turf expansion is also planned at
North Park as part of the approved FY 2025 Southlake Parks
City of Southlake Values:
Integrity ♦ Innovation ♦ Accountability ♦ Commitment to Excellence ♦ Teamwork
Alison Ortowski, City Manager
Meeting Date — August 19, 2025
Page 2 of 3
Financial
Considerations:
Development Corporation (SPDC) Capital Improvement
Plan.
In parallel, the City opened a new pickleball facility in
Bicentennial Park in Spring 2024, significantly expanding
opportunities for both organized and casual recreation. This
new offering has introduced new patterns of facility use and
community expectations for recreational amenities.
Given these transformative changes —both in the form of
enhanced athletic field capacity and the diversification of
recreational offerings —it is necessary to re-examine existing
field use policies and ensure alignment with current and
future needs. This includes evaluating how space is planned
and programmed at key locations, particularly the Southlake
Sports Complex (SSC). Originally envisioned with a more
singular focus, SSC's role is evolving as turf improvements
and new facility types influence site demands and usage
patterns.
Recreation and Athletic Task Force
Appointment
Term to Expire
City Council Representative
August 2026
City Council Representative
August 2026
City Council Representative
August 2026
Park & Recreation Board
Representative
August 2026
Park & Recreation Board
Representative
August 2026
Park & Recreation Board
Representative
August 2026
None
Strategic Link: The formation of a Recreation and Athletics Taskforce
delivers on the strategic focus area of Partnerships and
Volunteerism and meets the corporate objective to achieve
strong outcomes through continual evaluation and pursuit of
better practices that improve core business operations.
Citizen Input/
Board Review: City Council consideration August 19, 2025
Legal Review: Not applicable
City of Southlake Values:
Integrity ♦ Innovation ♦ Accountability ♦ Commitment to Excellence ♦ Teamwork
Alison Ortowski, City Manager
Meeting Date — August 19, 2025
Page 3 of 3
Alternatives: Any commentary as appropriate.
Supporting
Documents: N/A
Staff
Recommendation: City Council appointment of members to the new Recreation
and Athletics Task Force.
City of Southlake Values:
Integrity ♦ Innovation ♦ Accountability ♦ Commitment to Excellence ♦ Teamwork