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[Dallas Park and Recreation Board on November 06, 2025]
IT IS 10:00 AM WE CONVENE OUR DALLAS PARKS AND RECREATIONS.THIS WEBINAR IS BEING TRANSCRIBED AND SUMMARIZED.
HEY, I GUESS WE HAVE BEEN SUMMARIZED.
I KNOW I WAS NOT HERE LAST MEETING, SO I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME SALLY HOGE.
DID I SAY IT RIGHT, SALLY? YOU SAID IT FOR ME.
AND JOHN PINERS, YOU ARE HERE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU BOTH.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOARDS YOU CAN BE ON TO SERVE THE CITY.
AND TO WELCOME TAYLOR TO AND ADAM
WE ALL KNOW ABOUT TAYLOR, ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMMUNITY SELFLESSLY AND HE WAS HERE ACTUALLY WHEN IT CAME TO THE BOND.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW TAYLOR'S PITCH CHANGED THE WAVE.
I THINK WE ALL WERE TRYING TO SETTLE FOR LESS MONEY.
AND THEN TAYLOR MADE THIS PAGE SAYING, HEY, SHOOT FOR THE GUY AND YOU'LL GET IT.
AND TAYLOR TRULY THAT'S WHAT GOT US WHERE WE WERE.
SO EVERY MEMBER AND I CALLED THAT EVERY DAY.
AND WHO DOESN'T KNOW ADAM MURANO, WHO WAS MAYOR FROM, AND ACTUALLY HE STARTED HIS CAREER AS AN EMPLOYEE OF DALLAS PARK.
SO WHAT AN HONOR TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO WORKED FOR PARK WHO REACHED TO ONE OF THE TOP THE CITY LEADERSHIP AND NOW TO BE WITH US, TO BE PART OF THIS.
AND FOR ME, I ALWAYS THANK YOU.
NO, HE APPOINTED ME BECAUSE OF HIM AND HE AGAINST YOU.
READ THE GREAT, I'LL READ THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE CHAIR.
ONLY ANY SPEAKER WHO MAKES PERSONAL PERTINENT PROFANE OR SLANDERS MARKS OR BECOMES BOISTEROUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE PARK BOARD WILL BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY.
OUR FIRST, OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE OLIVIA BETTENCOURT AND SHE IS JOINING US
LET ME SEE IF SHE HAS, I DO NOT SEE OLIVIA.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO OUR NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKER.
MY NAME IS REVEREND DR. TODD ATKINS, 39 18 CRO STREET, DALLAS, TEXAS 7 5 2 1 5.
TODAY AS I STAND, I STAND FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT I LOVE SOUTH DALLAS FOR PARK BECAUSE WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, OPPORTUNITY TO REWRITE THE NARRATIVE AND LET'S NOT LOOK BACKWARDS, BUT CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD AS A PASTOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZING THE LEADER OF A NONPROFIT, I'M CAREFUL, WHICH CAUSES OUR SUPPORT.
AND IN THE WORDS OF MY FORMER PASTOR, I'M VERY CAREFUL OF WHICH DITCHES I'M WILLING TO DIE IN.
ONE OF THE ONES THAT I AM HERE TO SUPPORT TODAY IS FOR THE COMMUNITY PARK THAT HAS BEEN ENVISIONED, THAT HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY MY COMMUNITY FOR SO MANY YEARS.
THIS 10 ACRE PARK IS A PLACE THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TOGETHER FOR PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS AND DONORS FROM ACROSS THE CITY, CITY, CITY AND STATE OFFICIALS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
IT WASN'T MEANT TO PROVIDE REPARATIONS FOR A COMMUNITY THAT WAS BULLDOZED TO MAKE WAY FOR A PARKING LOT, BUT TO SERVE AS A SYMBOL TO REPLACE CONCRETE WITH GREEN SPACE.
THEY OFTEN, I OFTEN BECOME FRUSTRATED WHEN I CONTINUE TO HEAR FAMILIAR STORIES ABOUT HOW PEOPLE CANNOT WORK TOGETHER.
AS A PASTOR, I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE ALL COME TOGETHER, WE HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO DO GREAT THINGS.
WHEN WE SIT TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM WITH ALL SHARING THE HOPE AND DREAMS OF THE COMMUNITIES MEMBERS THAT WE REPRESENT, THERE'S NOTHING THAT CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED.
I CAN REMEMBER ON THE 27TH OF THIS YEAR IN JUNE THAT I SAT IN THE SUMMER HEAT ON THE STEEL CHAIR IN THE MIDST OF A PARKING LOT WHERE THE PARK WILL HOPEFULLY BE CELEBRATING MULTI-MILLIONS DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO US BY THIS OUR CITY, OUR STATE, EXCUSE ME, OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROSS WEST AND VINCENT JONES.
THE COMMUNITY GATHERED AGAINST CELEBRATE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IF THIS COMMUNITY, AND I CAN NEVER TELL YOU HOW MUCH OPTIMISM THAT I FELT ON THAT DAY, THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER COMMUNITY STANDS REGARDING
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THIS PART.THE COMMUNITY EXPRESSES POSITION REPEATEDLY, OKAY, THAT IT FALLS TO THE COMMUNITY LEADERS LIKE MYSELF TO CONTINUE TO BE THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE MADE THEIR OPINIONS LONG TIME AND TIME OF BEING
AND SO THEY DEPEND ON LEADERS SUCH AS MYSELF TO BE THE VOICE, TO REPRESENT THEIR VOICES.
I COME IN THIS SPACE AND I COME LY, BUT I COME WITH THE POWER OF THE KINGDOM AND A COMMUNITY THAT HAS FACED SO MUCH OPPOSITION BUT CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND I INVITE YOU TO JOIN US TO FULFILL THIS PROMISE AND TO MAKE THIS PARK A REALITY.
HEY, THANK YOU AND MAY GOD CAN THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AVA STEWART.
MY NAME IS A STEWART, MY CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF AN INDEPENDENT FIVE ONE C3 NONPROFIT CALLED SCIENCE PLACE FOUNDATION AND LIFELONG RESIDENT OF DALLAS COUNTY.
OUR FOUNDATION WAS CREATED REDISCOVERED DOCUMENT THE HISTORY OF A MUSEUM CALLED THE SCIENCE PLACE, WHICH EXISTED BY VARIOUS MONIKERS IN FAIR PARK FROM 1946 TO 2012, INCLUDING DALLAS HEALTH MUSEUM, SOUTHWESTERN MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND THE MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE COMMENT REGARDING THE TRANSITION OF FAIR PARK MANAGEMENT AND ADVOCATE FOR RENEWED EFFORTS TOWARD RESTORATION OF THE PARK.
MORE SPECIFICALLY CONCERNING THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT HISTORIC BUILDING, WHICH TRULY HOUSED THE SCIENCE PLACE HISTORICALLY REFERRED TO AS SCIENCE PLACE ONE.
THROUGH EXTENSIVE RESEARCH IN EYE WITNESS'S TESTIMONY, OUR FOUNDATION IS ABLE TO CONFIDENTLY TIE THIS LOADED PARTNER WITH THE 2007 MERGER BETWEEN THE SCIENCE PLACE AND A STANDALONE NEIGHBOR MUSEUM NATURAL HISTORY, WHICH RESULTED IN THE MER ENTITIES AND MOST OF THEIR DONORS MOVING OUT OF FAIR PARK IN 2012 AND BECOMING WHAT WE NOW KNOWN AS THE PEROT MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE.
THIS MIGRATION REMOVED BEATING HEART OF WHAT WAS ONCE CALLED THE FAIR PARK CULTURAL TRACK, A COLLECTION OF MUSEUMS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF YEAR ROUND OF TENNIS PARK INDEPENDENT OF THE STATE FAIR.
IN FACT, THIS MIGRATION WAS PART OF AN INTENTIONAL REFOCUSING OF THE CULTURAL CENTER OF DALLAS INTO DOWNTOWN TO THIS DAY.
THEIR EXIST IN FAIR PARK SIGNAGE AND PLAQUE FOR MISSING MUSEUMS AND SCULPTURES, ONE OF WHICH NOW ADORNS THE POND.
OUTSIDE OF THIS FERRY BUILDING WOULD LIKE TO OFFER OUR KNOWLEDGE AND FULL SUPPORT TOWARDS THE RESTORATION AND REACTIVATION THIS LONG, EMPTY AND NEGLECTED BUILDING AS WE FIRMLY BELIEVE AND CAN PROVIDE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT.
DOING SO WILL LEAD TO A NEW GOLDEN NATURE OF THE PARK PARTNERSHIP WITH FORMER PARK MANAGEMENT.
WE PERFORMED OUR OWN ARCHITECTURAL AND MECHANICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE BUILDING AND FOUND IT TO BE A VERY GOOD CANDIDATE FOR REACTIVATION.
SHOULD THE CITY DESIRE TO PRIORITIZE IT.
WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT ITS MOST APPROPRIATE USE IS, IS AN INTERACTIVE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER PROVIDING A PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL SERVICE IN THE HEART OF FAIR PARK AS IT ONCE DID, WE ARE WILLING TO FOCUS OUR FULL EFFORTS AND BRING FORTH PROPOSAL TO MAKE THAT A REALITY.
LASTLY, WE ASK THAT THE BOARD PLEASE DIRECT STAFF TO IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATELY EVALUATE STABILIZATION AND REPORT BACK WITHIN 60 DAYS ON SCOPING COST AND CONSIDER IT FOR NEAR TERM FUNDING IN THE NEXT HALF OF THE PLAN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP OF DALLAS PARKS.
OKAY, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ZEDA URA.
I'M BOARD MEMBER OF FAIR PARK.
FIRST CO-CHAIR OF THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE AND FORMER CE OF DATA ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FAIR PARK FIRST DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND SHARE THREE KEY.
THE WORD SHOULD MOVE IT FORWARD FIRST, FULFILLING THAT PROMISE TO SOUTH DALLAS.
FOR 50 YEARS, FAMILIES HERE HAVE WAITED FOR A
THE AGREEMENT FINALLY DELIVERS ON THAT PROMISE AND BEGINS TO VIEW THE HARD COST PLACEMENT.
IT REAFFIRMS DALLAS' TRUST AND COMMITMENT TO SOUTH DALLAS RESIDENCE.
SECOND, THE TEN FOUR FIVE ACRE PARK REPRESENTS A COMMUNITY LED TRANSFORMATION WITH LASTING IMPACT.
IT'S THE LARGEST GREEN SPACE INVESTMENT IN SOUTH DALLAS IN GENERATIONS SHAPED DIRECTLY BY RESIDENT INPUT WITH SPLASH PADS, PLAYGROUNDS, GARDENS, MARKETS, AND PERFORMANCE LAWS.
THIS PROJECT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY HEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY MARKING A NEW CHAPTER IN FAIR PARKS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THIRD
SINCE 2018, WE'VE PASSED NINE INDEPENDENT AUDITS
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PROVING OUR FINANCIAL INTEGRITY AND SECURED OVER $33 MILLION.NONE OF THAT MONEY FROM THE CITY.
THROUGH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND THIS AGAINST STEWARD WORK SHIFT, WE ACT DECISIVELY, TRANSPARENTLY, AND WITH FULL ACCOUNTABILITY.
AS THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR, I DRAW MY EXPERIENCE LEADING PUBLIC WORKS AND BOND PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PAST AND PRESENT COLLABORATION WITH THE PARK AND DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THIS PROJECT MEETS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMUNITY VALUE.
WE'RE ALSO SUPPORTED BY ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ATISA ARNOLD AND AN OUTSTANDING PROJECT TEAM STUDIO OUTSIDE NORMA, A ARCHITECTS TURNER CONSTRUCTION,
YOUR SUPPORT WILL KEEP FAIR PARKS COMMUNITY PARK FUNDING AND SCHEDULING TRACK.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BREAKING GROUND IN 2026 AND CUTTING THE RIBBON TOGETHER IN 2027.
AND OUR LAST SPEAKER IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE FENTON JONES.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO, UH, ADDRESS YOU, UH, MR. CHAIR, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UM, I'LL GO AHEAD AND START READING.
SO I LOOK AT MY COMMENTS ON THE ONE I WANNA TAKE THIS MOMENT TO COMMEND YOU AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PARK RECREATION BOARD FOR YOUR ONGOING LEADERSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP TO OUR CITY'S PUBLIC SPACES.
THE WORK OF ENSURING THAT DALLAS PARKS SERVE ALL COMMUNITIES EQUITABLY IS VITAL TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND PROSPERITY OF THE CITY OF DALLAS TODAY IN REGARDS TO THE FAIR PARK COMMUNITY, UH, PARK DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVING THIS ITEM FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE PARK BOARD.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS A TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENT IN PORT SOUTH DALLAS.
ONE THAT WILL BRING LONG PROMISE GREEN SPACE, HEALTH BENEFITS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO A COMMUNITY THAT HAS WEIGHTED DECADES FOR MEANINGFUL REINVESTMENT AROUND FAIR PARK.
THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF THIS PARK, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE PERSONALLY WORKED ALONGSIDE SENATOR WEST WEST DURING THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO SECURE $3 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING FOR THIS EFFORT.
THE STATE INVESTMENT IS JOINED BY ADDITIONAL SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FEDERAL, STATE AND PRIVATE PARTNERS.
1.29 MILLION FROM THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, 8.6 MILLION FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICES AND 20.4 MILLION IN PRIVATE DONORS AND OTHER FUNDED SOURCES COMMITTED TO PUBLIC GOOD.
IN TOTAL, MORE THAN 33.3 MILLION HAS BEEN RAISED FOR THE FAIR PARK COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLIC INVESTMENTS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS IN THE DALLAS PARKS.
IN RECENT HISTORY, NO OTHER INITIATIVE HAS MOBILIZED THE SCALE OF SUPPORT FOR FAIR PARK OR FOR THE SURROUNDING SOUTH DALLAS COMMUNITY.
THE RESIDENTS OF SOUTH DALLAS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO BE DELIVERED ON FOR A LONG WAI PROMISE, WHICH STANDS TO SERVE AS A POWERFUL CATALYST FOR CHANGE AND CONTINUED INVESTMENT.
THIS PARK IS MORE THAN JUST A GREEN SPACE.
IT'S A PROMISE KEPT, IT WILL BUILD EQUITABLE ACCESS TO NATURE, PROMOTE HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND COMMUNITY PRIDE.
ENSURING THAT FAIR PARK FIRST AND THE CITY OF DALLAS CAN FINALIZE THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN A TIMELY MANNER IS CRITICAL TO HONORING THESE COMMITMENTS AND MAINTAINING CONFIDENCE AMONG PARTNERS AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
DELAYS IN THIS PROCESS NOT ONLY RISK MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT, BUT ALSO THE TRUST OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE ADVOCATED TIRELESSLY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
FOR THAT REASON, I RESPECTFULLY URGED FOR THE DALLAS PARK BOARD TO PLACE THIS ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA FOR THE NOVEMBER 20TH MEETING AND ALLOW THE PROJECT TO ADVANCE TO CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIP TRANSPARENCY AND TIMELY ACTION.
THIS AFRICAN STANDARD MODEL FOR HOW THE CITY OF DALLAS AND ITS PARTNERS CAN DELIVER TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS.
PLEASE KNOW THAT AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE THAT SERVES SUNNY SOUTH DALLAS AND THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, I HAVE REMAINED FIRMLY COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE SUCCESS OF FAIR PARK AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT'S SURROUNDED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I THINK THAT CONCLUDE YOUR SPEAKERS.
I THINK I CLEARLY SEE A SENTIMENT FOR FAIR PARK AND COMMUNITY PARK.
AND THIS IS NOT FOR DISCUSSION, BUT JUST I WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT.
I THINK NO ONE IN THIS BOARD HAS EVER DISAGREED THE NEED FOR THE COMMUNITY PARK, UH, THE NEED, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT COMMUNITY AND WHAT THEY WANT.
I THINK ONLY DISCUSSION IS HOW DO WE GO ABOUT IT AND IF WE KEEP ON DOING SAME THING AGAIN
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AND WE EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS.SO WHILE EVERYONE IS TOTALLY NO ONE, WHOEVER NEEDS TO GET A MESSAGE FROM THIS BOARD THAT WE ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE COMMUNITY PARK.
IT'S ABOUT HOW WE GO ABOUT IT IN THAT SAME PROCESS.
JUST TO PUT, I THINK THERE ARE LAST DISCUSSION.
I THINK WE HAD GIVEN CERTAIN GUIDANCE TO THE STAFF ABOUT THE AUDITS AND ALL.
I WILL CHECK ON THAT, BUT I THINK I PUT ANOTHER STEP, UH, OF DUE DILIGENCE AND NEXT WEEK I'LL ANNOUNCE A TASK FORCE.
THAT TASK FORCE IS GOING TO BE INDEPENDENT CITY LEADERS WHO WILL DO THEIR OWN DUE DILIGENCE AND COME AND GET THEIR FINDING IN THE BOARD.
THAT WAY WHEN THE BOARD IS DELIBERATING, THEY HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION.
I THINK I HAVE CERTAIN BLINDERS AND SO I THINK THIS BOARD HOPEFULLY WILL COME WITH A VERY, VERY, UH, FAIR ASSESSMENT TO GIVE TO THE BOARD SO BOARD CAN MAKE A FAIR, UH, ASSESSMENT AS WELL.
COMING TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WE ALL WANT THIS TO HAPPEN, BUT RUSHING INTO THESE AGREEMENTS AS AS WELL AS WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
SO I, I THINK I'M, I'M REALLY GOING TO RESIST TO GET INTO A RUSHED UP DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BEFORE WE HAVE SOME PROPER DUE DILIGENCE, WHICH MOST OF THIS BOARD AGREED WITH THAT I MOVE TO OUR NEXT POINT OF AGENDA.
APPROVAL OF MEETINGS OCTOBER 30TH.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? UH, SLAUGHTER SECOND BRADY.
UH, WE GO TO THE THIRD PERCENTAGE AGENDA, UH, FROM 1, 2, 6.
SECONDED BY MR. GOLDSTEIN, PLEASE.
AND WITH SEVEN POINTS, I THOUGHT THERE'LL BE SOME DISCUSSION, BUT I PARK AND REGULATION BOARD MEETINGS SCHEDULED ITEM FOR INDIVIDUAL CONCENTRATION NUMBER.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? MR. SLAUGHTER AND MR. GOLDSTEIN, ANY DISCUSSION ON THESE DATES PLEASE? WITH THAT? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
WE COME TO OUR FIRST BRIEFING PARK AND BOARD RECREATION DEPARTMENT ACCREDITATION UPDATE, UH, RYAN
I GUESS THAT MEETING WOULD BE
UH, GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, MEMBERS OF THE PARK RECREATION BOARD.
SO, UM, AS THE, UH, PRESENTATION IS QUEUING UP, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, ALEXANDER LORI GOES BY ALEX.
SHE IS OUR PARTNERSHIP MANAGER AND WAS A KEY LEADER IN OUR LAST, UH, ACCREDITATION EFFORT.
AND WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF SEEKING RE-ACCREDITATION AND ALEX AND ROBIN STEIN, UM, TAKING THE LEAD ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE HITTING ALL THE MARKS AND, UM, ALL OF OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND EVIDENCE MEETS THE INTENT OF ACCREDITATION.
SO ALEX, FOR HER TO RUN THROUGH THE PRESENTATION TO PROVIDE Y'ALL A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CAPRA AND THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS AND WHERE IT STANDS.
ALEX, GOOD MEMBER, UH, GOOD MORNING.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AGAIN, MY NAME IS ALEXANDRA LAURIE.
I'M THE PARTNERSHIP MANAGER AND WHO IS OUR SUPERINTENDENT OVER OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.
AND AS BRIAN MENTIONED, WE'RE BOTH SPEAKING AND OVERSEEING THE 2026 CATEGORY ACCREDITATION.
SO, UM, SO JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN OVER, WE'LL GO OVER THE BACKGROUND, SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF, UH, CAP, UH, THE ACCREDITATION, KIND OF GO OVER WHAT THE ACCREDITATION IS, OUR CURRENT PROGRESS, AND THEN OUR NEXT STEPS.
SO WHAT IS CAPRA? CAPRA IS THE COMMISSION FOR ACCREDITATION AND PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES.
AND IT IS HANDLED THROUGH NRPA, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL ION PARK ASSOCIATION.
UM, IT DELIVERS QUALITY ASSURANCE AND IMPROVEMENT TO THE ACCREDITED PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE OUT THE UNITED STATES.
UH, ONLY 213 AGENCIES ARE ACCREDITED IN THE COUNTRY AND NEW YORK
UM, IT IS THE ONLY NATIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR PARK RECREATION AGENCIES SITE.
THERE ARE, UM, THERE ARE BENEFITS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND INTO DEPARTMENTAL.
AS FAR AS THE COMMUNITY, IT DOES SHOW THE COMMUNITY PROVIDING QUALITY OF SERVICE.
IT RECOGNIZES THE COMMUNITY HAS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, AND IT SHOWS THE COMMUNITY THAT OUR DEPARTMENT IS MEETING NATIONAL STANDARDS OF BEST PRACTICES.
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AND THEN AS FAR AS INTERNALLY FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND STAFF, IT CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT AND IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE ALL WORKING THAT REALLY COLLABORATIVELY TO IMPROVE OVERALL, UH, OPERATIONS AND IMPROVE EFFICIENCY WHEREVER WE CAN WITHIN THE DIVISIONS AT OUR DEPARTMENT.IT ALSO PROVES TO OUR DECISION MAKERS AND STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE ARE OPERATING WITH OUR BEST PRACTICES OF THE PROFESSION SLIDE.
SO, UM, THE CAP ACCREDITATION IS A SELF-EVALUATION THAT INCLUDES 154 STANDARDS.
36 OF THOSE 154 ARE CONSIDERED FUNDAMENTAL AND WE DO AND ARE KIND OF LIKE REQUIRED STANDARDS THAT WE DO HAVE TO, UM, SHOW COMPLAINTS WITH.
UM, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE ACCREDITATION FOR OUR RE-ACCREDITATION THIS YEAR, WE MUST COMPLY WITH 112 OF THOSE, UM, NON FUNDAMENTAL STANDARDS ALONG WITH ALL THE FUNDAMENTAL STANDARDS.
AND, UM, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A HISTORY, WE WERE FIRST ACCREDITED IN 2016, AND THEN WE DID, UH, OUR FIRST RE-ACCREDITATION IN 2021.
SO THIS WILL BE OUR SECOND RE-ACCREDITATION.
THERE WAS A BIG TURN DOWN THAT WAY.
UHUH SPIDER EASY SPIDER SHUT UP.
WE'RE HAVING TECHNICAL DELAY FOR ANIMALS IN THE PARK DEPARTMENT.
BE CAREFUL HOW YOU TREAT YOUR DOING OKAY.
I I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO.
YOU'RE, YOU'LL BE EXPECT DEPARTMENT, PAPER,
SO THE CAPRA ACCREDITATION IS SPREAD OUT INTO 10 SECTIONS.
THEY RANGE FROM DIFFERENT SUBJECT MATTERS SUCH AS PLANNING, FINANCE, HUMAN RESOURCES, SECURITY EVALUATIONS, ASSESSMENT, JUST TO MEET WITH YOU.
AND WE USED A VIDEO FROM NRPA, A SHORT LITTLE VIDEO THAT, UH, INTERVIEWS SOME OF THE DIRECTORS AND, UM, FROM OTHER AGENCIES JUST DESCRIBING ON THE IMPORTA WEB MEAN HAVING THE
I WANNA KNOW, HAVE YOU MADE THIS MISTAKE WITH YOUR HOLSTER? AND BY MISTAKE, I MEAN, DID YOU GET A HOLSTER THAT'S UNCOMFORTABLE? SO YOU DON'T CARRY ALL THE TIME YOU MAY HAVE AND LIKE, WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE PERFORM BEST PRACTICES WITHIN OUR AGENCY, BUT BEING CAPRA ACCREDITED REALLY ENSURES THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND IN THE RIGHT WAYS.
BEING ACCREDITED REALLY DOES BRING YOUR ORGANIZATION TO A TOP LEVEL.
SO YOU REALLY MEET A RIGOROUS SET OF STANDARDS THAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER RECREATION DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE NOT ACCREDITED.
ACCREDITATION ACTUALLY WILL SOMETIMES HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU'RE NOT SO GREAT AT.
AND TO ME, I LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE LEARNING THROUGH THE PROCESS AS WELL.
WE STRIVE TO BE THE BEST AND DO THE BEST.
WE CREATE A BODY OF WORK AND THAT BODY OF WORK HAS TO BE APPLIED WITH EXCELLENCE.
AND THAT EXCELLENT COMES FROM STANDARDS.
THE CHARGE, UM, IT REALLY DOES IT BRING, BEING ACCREDITED REALLY DOES BRING YOUR ORGANIZATION TO A TOP LEVEL.
SO YOU REALLY MEET A RIGOROUS SET OF STANDARDS THAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER RECREATION DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE NOT ACCREDITED.
ACCREDITATION ACTUALLY WILL SOMETIMES HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU'RE NOT SO GREAT AT.
AND TO ME, I LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE LEARNING THROUGH THE PROCESS AS WELL.
WE STRIVE TO BE THE BEST AND DO THE BEST.
WE CREATE A BODY OF WORK AND THAT BODY OF WORK HAS TO BE APPLIED WITH EXCELLENCE.
AND THAT EXCELLENCE COMES FROM STANDARDS THAT'S PROVIDED BY CAPITAL.
WE WANNA BE AMERICA'S PREMIER COMMUNITY HERE IN HENDERSON.
AND CAPRA'S THE MOST EXCELLENT WAY TO SHOW HOW WE ARE
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DEDICATED TO OUR SERVICES AND PARKS AND RECREATION FOR OUR RESIDENTS.WE ARE COMING UP ON OUR 20TH YEAR OF ACCREDITATION.
WE EVERY DAY, UH, LIVE, UH, THE ACCREDITATION STANDARDS SHOWN THROUGH THE EXCELLENCE IN HOW WE DO OUR PROGRAMS AND HOW WE SERVE OUR RESIDENTS.
WE CAN RESPOND BACK TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY TO THEM, WE HAVE THE BEST TOOLS THROUGH CAPITAL, THROUGH ACCREDITATION THAT OFFERS THE BEST SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS GETTING MORE HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
THEY'RE GETTING MORE SOCIAL EQUITY.
THEY'RE GETTING ALL OF THE PILLARS OF NRPA AND THAT'S REALLY BACKED UP THROUGH THE CAPRA PROCESS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY'RE GETTING GOOD SERVICES.
THEY'RE GETTING A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PRIDE THAT THEY CAN HAVE IN THEIR PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES AND THE FACILITIES THAT WE OFFER IN THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER THAT YOU MAY NOT GET IF YOU'RE NOT GOING THROUGH THE CAPRA PROCESS, IF YOU'RE NOT ACCREDITED, IF YOU'RE NOT REINFORCING OVER 140 STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE, PARKS AND RECREATION AND THE CAPER ACCREDITATION ALLOWS US TO BE ON PAR.
AND I WOULD EVEN BOAST AS MUCH TO SAY THAT SOMETIMES ABOVE SOME OF THOSE OTHER VITAL COMMUNITY SERVICES, WE'RE IN THE COMMUNITY EVERY DAY.
AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT ACCREDITATION AND THE PROCESS OF ACCREDITATION HELPS US BE BETTER.
YOU KNOW, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE VERY HAPPY THAT WE'RE ACCREDITED BECAUSE IF YOU WERE THE MAYOR OR A COUNCIL PERSON, WHAT BETTER WAY TO SHOW OFF YOUR COMMUNITY THAN MENTIONING THE PARK SYSTEM IT'S ACCREDITED.
THERE ISN'T ANY DOUBT THAT KEPRA DOES GIVE US AN ELEMENT OF ADDED MARK OF EXCELLENCE FROM A GROUP THAT'S REALLY OBJECTIVELY LOOKING AT WHAT MAKES UP GREAT PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND THE STAFFING THEREOF, EVEN THOUGH WE GET AN AWFUL LOT OF AFFIRMATION FROM OUR CITIZENRY AND WHAT WE PROVIDE.
THAT REALLY IS THE, IS THE TELLING TALE.
PEORIA IS PROUD OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR CAPRA ACCREDITATION.
IT'S AN ASSURANCE TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THEM WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY STANDARDS AND AN ONGOING QUEST TO BE THE BEST THAT WE CAN BE THE NETWORK OF, OF NOW CAPRA ACCREDITED AGENCIES IS GROWING AND GROWING EVERY YEAR.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANY AGENCY TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE SELF-ASSESSMENT TO EXPLORE THE BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION.
THE PROCESS ITSELF, UH, IS A STEP TOWARDS IMPROVEMENT.
ONCE YOU HAVE ACCREDITATION, IT GIVES YOU THAT CREDIBILITY, UH, AMONG PEERS AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU ARE FOLLOWING CERTAIN STANDARDS AND YOU ARE TRYING TO BE THE BEST AGENCY THAT YOU CAN BE WITHIN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOUR COMMUNITY, AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHER AGENCIES TO GO THROUGH THE KAPPA PROCESS AS IT BRINGS EVERYBODY TOGETHER.
A SMALL OR BIG AGENCY, YOU'RE ALL GOING TOWARDS THE SAME STANDARDS AND THE SAME PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO KAPPA.
SO IF YOU GO THROUGH THIS AND YOU HAVE TO PULL EVERYBODY INVOLVED, AND IT'S NOT JUST ONE DIRECTOR, ONE ADMINISTRATOR KIND OF LEADING THE CHARGE, UM, IT REALLY DOES, IT BRINGS A SENSE OF CAMARADERIE, IT BRINGS A SENSE OF EXCELLENCE, A SENSE OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT THAT I THINK CAN REALLY GROW A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITHIN YOUR PARKS AND RECREATION AGENCY FROM A WHOLE.
ARE YOU GUYS HERE FOR THE
WE ARE HERE TO HELP PEOPLE CUSTOMIZE AND SAVE NEED.
SO THAT'S WHY I THINK WE'RE ON SLIDE NINE.
SO WHAT DOES CAPRA MEAN TO US? UH, WE, WE, THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHERE THE DALLAS PARK AND REC PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT REPRESENTS 2% OF THE ACCREDITED AGENCIES I THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE OUR STAKEHOLDERS CONFIDENCE IN OUR OPERATION, UM, ENSURE STAFF THAT WE ARE, UH, PROVIDING HOLIDAY CUSTOMER SERVICE.
AND IT DEMONSTRATES OUR CREDIBILITY WITH OUR PARTNERS.
AND SO OUR CURRENT PROGRESS CURRENTLY WE ARE CONDUCTING A FINAL REVIEW.
WE SELF ASSESSMENT WITH OUR PARK AND RECREATION CAMP TEAM.
EACH STANDARD IS REVIEWED BY SECTION LEADERS AND KEY, UH, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
UH, WE ANTICIPATE THE SECTION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED BY NOVEMBER WITH OUR FINAL SUBMISSION DUE TO NRPA IN UH, JANUARY.
OUR SUBMISSION IS IN JANUARY, 2026.
THERE'S TWO PARTS TO THE ACCREDITATION.
THERE IS A SELF-EVALUATION LIKE WE DISCUSSED THAT WE WILL BE SUBMITTING IN JANUARY.
AND THERE'S ALSO A SITE VISIT.
[00:30:01]
THE SCHEDULE FOR THAT WOULD BE RELEASED EARLY 2026.A
UM, THEY COME, UH, THEY WILL COME FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, REVIEW SOME MY ONSITE FACILITIES AND ALSO, UH, CONDUCT THE AGENCY REVIEW BILL AND WE WOULD GET OUR REACCREDITATION RESULTS AT THE 2026 NRPA CONFERENCE IN PHILADELPHIA.
AND I'LL LET ROBIN TAKE THE OVER IF I MISSED ANYTHING.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE TO THE BOARD WHY CAP SO IMPORTANT TO THE SPARK SYSTEM.
I WANNA SAY THE FIRST TIME, AND ROBIN AND ROB, YOU CAN CORRECT ME THE, THE FIRST TIME WE GOT OUR ACCREDITATIONS IN 20 14 16, 20 16.
AND I KNOW THE FORMER DIRECTOR WILLIS WANTED TO STARTED THAT PROCESS.
BUT IT IS, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, IT IS NOT EASY TO GET ACCREDIT THERE.
THAT'S, THAT'S PROBABLY AT LEAST 2000 PARK SYSTEMS, IF NOT 3000 ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IT IS, IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY SHOW THAT, THAT YOU ARE ACHIEVING THE HIGH STANDARDS AND THEY MAKE YOU PROVE YOU JUST CAN'T PUT SOMETHING ON PAPER.
THEY MAKE YOU PROVE THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING IT.
AND ALONG THOSE LINES, WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO THE BOARD, UH, AS FUTURE MEETINGS, JUST LIKE WE DID BEFORE WHEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH OUR, THROUGH OUR ACCREDITATION AND REACCREDITATION, WHICH THEY TELL YOU THE RE-ACCREDITATION IS ALWAYS TOUGHER THAN ACCREDITATION.
BUT WE WILL BE BRINGING THE PART MORE POLICIES BEFORE YOU FOR YOU ALL TO REVIEW AGAIN.
AND THEN YOU WOULD NEED TO REVIEW THEM AND THEN YOU'LL JUST APPROVE THEM.
IT IS PART OF THE CAPITAL PROCESS, BUT I WANNA SAY IT ALSO LOOKS AT OUR SECURITY.
IT LOOKS AT EVERYTHING WE DO IN THE PARK SYSTEM.
SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT IT, IT REQUIRES A LOT OF EMPLOYEES TO BE INVOLVED.
UH, WE HAVE 1500 EMPLOYEES I SURE THAT WILL BUILD OUT 200, UH, EMPLOYEES THAT'S INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT BOTH IN OUR INITIAL ACCREDITATION AND OUR RE-ACCREDITATION, WE GOT A PERFECT, UM, SCORING ON BOTH.
AND LIKE JOHN, MR. JENKINS SAID IT IS HARDER TO DO, UH, TO GET COMPLIANCE OR HAVE SATISFACTORY HONOR RE-ACCREDITATION.
SO WE AS A PARK SYSTEM, UM, MANAGED AND STILL STRIVE TO GET GRADATION THIS SUMMER.
IT'S NOT, UH, MR. JOHN, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
I'M ON THE BOARD OF A NONPROFIT THAT ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO WENT THROUGH A SIMILAR PROCESS AND LEARNED SOMETHING I THINK VERY VALUABLE FROM THAT, WHICH IS THAT THE PRIMARY BENEFIT IS NOT BEING ACCREDITED, IS DOING WHAT IT TAKES IN-HOUSE TO BE ACCREDITATION WORTHY.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T RUN MARATHONS, BUT YOU REALLY DON'T GET THE HEALTH BENEFITS FROM RUNNING THE MARATHON.
YOU GET THE HEALTH BENEFITS FROM TRAINING AND PREPARING TO RUN THE MARATHON IN THIS CASE YOU'RE GETTING AND KEEPING YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER, KEEPING UP WITH NATIONWIDE BEST PRACTICES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE A LEADER IN THOSE RATHER THAN, UH, LAGGING BEHIND.
SO I THINK THIS IS VERY VALUABLE IN THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU MR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, AND, AND
THIS IS, IS REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, THAT WE DO THIS AND WE KEEP, WE KEEP STRIVING, UH, A QUESTION.
HOW MANY CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES DO WE HAVE? WE, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE EACH EMPLOYEE ALSO GETS CERTIFIED, RIGHT? YOU CAN HAVE EACH EMPLOYEE GET CERTIFIED WITH, UH, C-R-U-C-R CRES OR CP PS.
THERE, THERE IS ALSO A PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AND, UH, IS MANAGED BY NRPA FOR CERTIFIED RECREATION, UH, PROFESSIONALS, UM, PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS AND CERTIFIED PARK AND RECREATION EXECUTIVES.
AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE ABOUT 20 OR SO, UM, CERTIFIED STAFF MEMBERS IN THE DEPARTMENT.
AND, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S, THERE'S BEING GOING TO NRPI KNOW THERE'S CLASSES ONLINE EVERY WEEK, EVERY MONTH OR EVERY WEEK THAT YOU CAN TAKE AND STILL KEEP BEING CERTIFIED AND BUILD THAT.
BUILD A, BUILD A GET YOU GET YOUR CCU RIGHT? CE YES.
ARE WE PUSHING THAT ACROSS THE, THE STAFF TO GET THAT AND, AND GO TO CLASSES AND LEARN, LEARN SOME OF THE STUFF THAT YOU LEARN AT NRPA ONLY ONCE A YEAR, BUT NOW EVERY, EVERY WEEK THERE'S A, THERE'S A GROUP, THERE'S SEVERAL GROUPS THAT DO
[00:35:01]
CLASSES THAT ARE FREE.AS PART OF OUR NRPA MEMBERSHIP, WE HAVE A PREMIER MEMBERSHIP, WHICH GIVES ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES MEMBERSHIP ACCESS TO THEIR LEARNING PLATFORM.
AND THEY HAVE A SERIES OF WEBINARS THAT ARE FREE AND INCLUDED, UM, IN THAT PLATFORM TO HELP OUR CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES MAINTAIN THEIR CERTIFICATION WITH THEIR CEUS.
BUT ALSO, UH, ANY EMPLOYEES CAN TAKE THOSE ON THEIR WHOLE CATALOG OF, OF LEARNING RESOURCES AND DIFFERENT, UH, AREAS OF DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS THAT THEY CAN TAKE.
SO THINGS FOR COMPLAINANT STAFF, THINGS FOR RECREATION STAFF.
UM, SO YEAH, IT'S, UH, IT'S JUST ANOTHER, ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE GREAT BENEFITS OF BEING PART OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.
AND SO THOSE CLASSES, SINCE WE'RE PART OF, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE GOT THE, THE MEMBERSHIP, THOSE ARE FREE TO OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND AND THEY CAN DO IT WHETHER THEY'RE AT HOME OR WHENEVER, AS LONG AS THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER.
AND, AND I, AND I, AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THIS, THIS IS PART, I THINK THIS IS JUST PART OF IT, BUT ALSO HAVING THOSE EMPLOYEES GET THOSE CERTIFICATIONS, IT REALLY DOES MATTER WHETHER THEY STAY HERE OR NOT, WHICH WE HOPE THEY STAY HERE, RIGHT? BUT AT LEAST THEY'RE GETTING THE EDUCATION AND THEY CAN, THEY CAN PROVE THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY WANNA DO FOR A LIVING AND BE IN PARK, IN THE PARK SYSTEM BECAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT.
KNOWING THAT FIRST OUR DEPARTMENT IS CERTIFIED, BUT THEN ALSO WE HAVE TONS OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CERTIFIED, WHETHER IT'S MAINTENANCE OR WHOEVER.
IT'S, THAT REALLY DOES BRING VALUE.
THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT CLASSES THERE.
THAT'S WHY I KNOW ABOUT THESE CLASSES.
'CAUSE ONCE I'VE FOUND OUT YOU CAN, THE, UH, EDUCATION CONTINUES FROM TURF BUILDING TO, TO PLAYGROUND AND, AND BEST PRACTICES ACROSS THE, THE, THE PARK GENRE.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE, WE PUSH THAT TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE MEMBERS AS WELL, UM, UH, WITHIN RPA.
SO IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR LOGIN, UM, OR CREATING YOUR ACCOUNT, UM, WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT IF ANYONE WANTS TO CHECK OUT THE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS WITH THAT? UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS GREAT WORK YOU ARE DOING.
SO IMPORTANT, UH, FOR, FOR WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.
WITH THAT WE COME TO OUR NEXT BRIEFING, UH, SKATE PARK DESIGN, SIR.
SO I'LL INTRODUCE JARED WYATT, HE'S OUR SUPERINTENDENT PLANNING AND, UH, LIKE WE DID AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, WHICH WAS LOOKING AT THE DOG PARK GUIDELINES, WE WANTED TO BRING FORWARD THE SKATE PARK GUIDELINES BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME, UH, SKATE PARK PROJECTS THAT ARE INITIATING.
WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND, UM, THE CRITERIA THAT WE LOOK FOR, UM, WHEN WE'RE PLANNING FOR SKATE PARK.
UM, YEAH, AS RYAN SAID, THIS IS KIND OF IN TANDEM WITH THE, UH, DOG PARK DESIGN GUIDELINES WE DISCUSSED TWO WEEKS AGO.
SO IF YOU LIKE THAT PRESENTATION, YOU SHOULD ENJOY THIS ONE.
UH, SO OUR FIRST SLIDE START GENERAL PURPOSE.
JUST, WE WANNA LOOK AT OUR CURRENT POLICIES.
UM, WE'RE LOOK AT OUR EXISTING CONDITIONS AND WE DID A RESEARCH AGAIN ON WHAT OUR PEER DUTIES ARE DOING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND THEN WE COME UP WITH OUR KIND OF SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO BOW INTO THESE DIVE SITES.
SO JUST AGAIN, A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON SLIDE THREE.
UM, AS SKATE PARKS HAVE BEEN, BECOME, BE MORE POPULAR, AT LEAST WITHIN DALLAS, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN VERY POPULAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR SOME TIME NOW.
UH, WE NEEDED SOME GUIDANCE INTERNALLY FOR STAFF AND OUR CONSULTANTS ON SITE SELECTION, GENERAL DESIGN GUIDELINES, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS TO HELP WITH THE SIDING AND LOCATION OF THESE.
UH, SO THAT'S WHAT THIS DOCUMENT WILL SERVE AS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO TELL YOU EXACTLY WHERE THEY GO BECAUSE SKATE PARK COULD BE SUITABLE FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY PARK, BUT IT'S JUST, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE SPECIFIC SITE CONDITIONS, UH, IF IT'S SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY, THE BOARD COUNCIL, ET CETERA.
AND THAT'LL HELP DICTATE THE, UM, TYPE OF SKATE PARK THAT MAY BE APPROPRIATE THERE.
AND AGAIN, THESE WERE PRESENTED TO THE PLANNING DESIGN COMMITTEE IN DECEMBER 12TH OF LAST YEAR.
GOING ON TO SLIDE FOUR, LOOKING AT OUR CURRENT, UH, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BY LAST YEAR, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD 18 SKATE PARKS BASED ON, YOU KNOW, SERVICE RATIOS, SERVICE LEVEL RATIOS ON POPULATION VERSUS FACILITY TYPE.
SO WE HAVE TWO AS OF THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE, WE'VE HAD THE LAKELAND HILLS, UH, SKATE PARK FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
THAT IS A OLDER, BUT IT'S A SURFACE MOUNT TYPE FACILITY WHERE YOU HAVE EQUIPMENT THAT IS ATTACHED TO A PAVEMENT.
UM, WHEREAS THE BACHMAN SKATE PARK, WHICH WAS OPEN THIS YEAR, IS MORE OF A, WHAT YOU THINK OF A SKATE PARK.
TRADITIONAL HARDSCAPE, CONCRETE, IT'S GOT THE BOWLS, DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS LIKE CITYSCAPE, DOWNTOWN TYPE ENVIRONMENTS.
UH, SO THOSE ARE THE TWO THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
'CAUSE THERE'S A SQUARE OF FOOTAGES.
UH, BACHMAN IS AROUND FOUR TO 6,000 SQUARE FEET.
LAKELAND HILLS IS RIGHT THERE ABOUT 10.
UH, THEN WE HAVE OTHER BOND FUNDED PROJECTS.
SO THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS COMING TO THE LAKELAND HILL SKATE PARK.
UH, SO THAT CONFIGURATION MAY CHANGE.
UM, ALSO ANOTHER ONE PROPOSED AT WESTMORELAND THAT'S CURRENTLY DESIGNED.
AND THEN DISTRICT 14 HAS AN APPLICATION
[00:40:01]
WITHIN, UH, THAT DISTRICT FOR SKATE PARK AND A SITE TO BE DETERMINED.AND THE MAP ON THE NEXT PAGE JUST SHOWS, UH, ORIENTATION WHERE OUR ESCAPE ROCKS ARE AGAIN, WHEN BACHMAN, UM, ELSE.
AND THEN JUST RUNNING THROUGH OUR STATS AND I'LL, I'LL GO THROUGH THESE QUICKLY.
THESE ARE JUST KIND OF OUR, OUR BACKGROUND THINGS.
WE, THE PLANNERS LIKE TO HAVE, UM, LOOKING HOW WE COMPARE BASED ON POPULATION AND SERVICE LEVEL.
SO WE ARE CURRENTLY SERVING EIGHT.
SO WE ONLY HAVE TWO SKATE PARKS.
SO WE NEED 26 MORE TO REACH A HUNDRED PERCENT SERVICE IF WE'RE GONNA GO BY NATIONAL STANDARDS BASED ON SERVICE LEVEL BY POPULATION.
UH, NEXT TWO SLIDES JUST SHOW OUR RANKING AGAINST OTHER PEER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE LA COMING IN THREE, PROBABLY NOT A BIG SURPRISE.
AND THEN WE HAVE THAT TWO SLIDE NINE JUST SHOWS, AGAIN, BREAKING THAT DOWN, UH, BY SKATE PARK PER HUNDRED THOUSAND.
UH, THESE AGAIN, JUST SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION AS WE GET INTO ON SLIDE 10.
UH, KIND OF WITH THESE GUIDELINES WILL HELP TO DIRECT.
SO WE GET INTO SITE ANALYSIS FIRST AND FOREMOST.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE, UH, COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND BOARD AND COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR THESE TYPE OF FACILITIES SO THAT WE CAN GO IN AND HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT SERVICE AREA, WHAT IS OUR PROXIMITY TO, UH, SKATE PARKS AND ALSO THE LEVEL OF SERVICE OF THE SKATE PARKS ARE NOT ALL THE SAME.
UM, AGAIN, EQUITY AND PARK ACCESS, UH, SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS ARE REALLY BIG WITH THIS ONE 'CAUSE WE'RE BUILDING A LOT MORE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, A LOT OF MORE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THESE TYPE OF FACILITIES.
UH, WHERE'S YOUR WATER TABLE AT? WHAT TYPE OF SOILS ARE YOU DEALING WITH? WHAT'S YOUR TOPOGRAPHY? THOSE TYPE OF THINGS REALLY COME INTO PLAY.
AND THEN SKATE PARK CLASSIFICATION.
THIS IS WHERE WE GET INTO THE TYPE OF SKATE PARK THAT MAY BE APPROPRIATE AT A CERTAIN PARK SITE.
IT'S JUST BASICALLY SIZE AND SCALE AND INTENSITY OF USE.
SO RUNNING THROUGH THESE FAIRLY QUICKLY.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THESE JUST LOOKING THINGS AT SITE SELECTION, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANNA HAVE ANY HIDING SPACE.
YOU WANNA HAVE A CLEAR LINE OF SIGHT ACROSS THE PARK.
UM, MAKE SURE IT'S ACCESSIBLE.
UH, AND THAT'S CAN BE DEFINED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS BASED ON THE CONTEXT OF WHERE THE ESCAPE PARK IS.
UM, YOU PEOPLE ARE ARRIVING OR THEY'RE ON COMING IN ON WHEELS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE USING THERE.
SO HOW ACCESSIBLE ARE WE TO TRANSIT? CAN YOU WALK, BIKE OR SKATE OR ROLL YOURSELF THERE? SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOOD ACCESSIBILITY WALKABILITY.
UM, AGAIN, LOOKING AT, WE'RE GONNA GET A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL THAN WE DO WITH THE DOG PARKS 'CAUSE A LOT MORE GOES INTO SKATE PARK DESIGN AS OPPOSED TO DOG PARKS.
SO WE'RE NOT GETTING INTO THE DEPTHS OF DESIGN, BUT WE START REALLY TOUCHING A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON SOME DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT BE CONSIDERED ABOUT THE FRONT END BEFORE WE TO TO PROCESS.
SO WHAT IS YOUR SOIL TYPE AGAIN, TERRAIN, UH, DRAINAGE.
WHERE'S YOUR WATER CABLE? SO IF YOU START EXCAVATING DOWN, ARE YOU GONNA RUN INTO WATER? THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
UM, TREES, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE OBSERVING TREES.
AND ALSO IT MAKES FOR MORE INTERESTING ENVIRONMENT IF YOU'RE ABLE TO BUILD, KIND OF LIKE WE DID AT BACHMAN, WE HAD A LOT OF MATURE TREE.
WERE ABLE TO KIND OF FIT THE, UH, SKATE PARK IN AND AROUND THOSE TREES.
AND IT KIND OF MAKES MORE, A MORE INTERESTING DESIGN AND A MORE INTERESTING EXPERIENCE IN CONTINUING WITH SITE SELECTION.
YOU KNOW, WHEN TO GO INTO ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE SENSITIVE AREAS.
UH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE APPROPRIATE LIGHTING FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY.
UM, YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT IT INTO AN AREA THAT'S KIND OF WHERE IT'S OFF BY ITSELF.
IT'S GENERALLY NOT A GOOD IDEA.
'CAUSE MIGHT GET SOME BAD ACTIVITY GOING ON OVER THERE, OR GREAT HIDING SPACES.
UH, MAKE SURE IT'S, UH, COMFORTABLE.
ALSO, IT'S COMFORTABLE FOR ALL TYPES OF USERS.
UH, NOT EVERYONE'S A PROFESSIONAL.
MAY HAVE SOME YOUNGER FOLKS OR, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING INTO THE SPORT AND JUST MAY NEED AN AREA THAT'S COMFORTABLE FOR THEM AND LESS INTIMIDATING WHERE THEY CAN PRACTICE AND BUILD THEIR SPACE.
SO THIS
UM, HASN'T BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF RESEARCH THAT I HAVE FOUND ON SKATE PARKS BEING MORE NOISY THAN ANY OTHER PARK USE.
EITHER ATHLETIC FIELDS OR PLAYGROUNDS OR THAT TYPE OF THINGS.
BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO ORIENT THE SITE ITSELF AND ORIENT THE EQUIPMENT.
SO MAYBE IT'S CHANNELING NOISE IN A PARTICULAR SPACE.
SO THAT'S JUST, AGAIN, SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IF THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT ADJACENT, UH, SOUND ISSUES.
A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON DESIGN CRITERIA.
THAT'S KIND OF THE TOP OF THE LIST.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GOOD SUCCESSFUL PROJECT, UM, STYLE OF THE PARK.
AND WITH THESE GUIDELINES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL CHANGE AT THE TIME.
'CAUSE STYLE WILL CHANGE OVER TIME.
THE CURRENT KIND OF STYLE OF CHOICE IS KIND OF AN URBAN DOWNTOWN ENVIRONMENT.
STAIRS, RAIL, SO TYPE OF THINGS.
AND ALSO HAVING DIFFERENT BULK CONFIGURATIONS OR YOUR TRADITIONAL SWIMMING POOL WHERE WE HAVE A BACHMAN CALLED A SNAKE RUN, WHERE IT'S KIND OF A MEANDERING, UH, DEPRESSED AREA THAT YOU CAN MANEUVER THROUGH.
[00:45:01]
SO WE WANNA LOOK AT WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE PRACTICE NATIONWIDE, WHERE IS THAT GOING? AND KIND OF ADJUST YOUR DESIGN AT THAT WAY.UH, AGAIN, COVER THESE A LITTLE BIT, RIGHT? BUT LOOKING AT WHAT YOUR LOCATION IS, IS THE PARK SITE APPROPRIATE? IS IT FITTED PROPERLY? ARE THERE ANY SITE CONSIDERATIONS YOU NEED TO TAKE INTO, INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, WHEN CITING THAT, UH, SPECIFIC PARK.
UH, MAKING SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT FOLKS.
THESE ARE VERY SPECIALIZED DESIGNS.
MAKING SURE YOU HAVE, UH, DESIGN FIRMS THAT WORK ON THESE.
THIS IS NOT JUST BUILDING A SWIMMING POOL.
THESE HAVE VERY DIFFERENT DESIGN STANDARDS.
SO WE CAN MAKE SURE YOU GET DESIGNERS THAT ARE WELL VERSED IN THAT FIELD.
UH, AGAIN, ACCESSIBILITY IN BEGINNER AREAS.
UH, KIND OF KNOWING YOUR AUDIENCE.
UM, WHAT TYPE OF FOLKS ARE YOU GONNA HAVE THERE? WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE DO YOU WANT TO, TO GET THERE? ARE YOU WANTING TO ATTRACT THE YOUNGER KIDS AND HAVE A SPOT FOR THEM? THEY CAN BE THERE WITH THEIR PARENTS PRACTICING.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE MORE ADVANCED AREAS OFF TO THE SIDE, BUT THEN THEY CAN ALL, BOTH KIND OF WATCH EACH OTHER AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES, UH, TO KIND OF HELP AND TRAIN EACH OTHER.
UM, AGAIN, RESTING AND VIEWING AREAS.
SHE WANTS THIS TO BE A COMFORTABLE SITE.
PEOPLE WILL BE HANGING OUT THERE FOR A WHILE.
UH, SO HAVING THAT LEVEL OF AMENITIES.
UM, AGAIN, LIGHTING FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY SHADING.
I DID NOT PUT FENCING ON HERE.
I THINK THAT IS A SITE BY SITE CONSIDERATION.
WE DON'T NORMALLY FENCE OFF OTHER PARK AMENITIES.
SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A, AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH DESIGN AND SITE LOCATION WITH FIXING THE APPROPRIATE OR WHAT WE NEEDED BASED ON THE IN SIZE OF LOCATION.
SO MATERIALS, THIS IS KIND OF A LITTLE ALL OVER THE PLACE BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE SURFACE MOUNT MATERIAL.
THERE ARE ESCAPE OUT PARKS THAT ARE, THAT BUILD OUT OF WOOD MATERIAL, UH, WOOD AND STEEL.
UM, THE PREFERRED, IT'S CONCRETE, IT GROUND AND GETTING AWAY FROM THE SURFACE MOUNT.
IT'S NOT PREFERRED AS MUCH BY THE USER GROUPS AND THE LONGEVITY IS JUST NOT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT LAKE CLINTON HILLS.
UH, SO THE STANDARD IS, AND WHERE THE INDUSTRY IS, IS CONCRETE.
YOU MAY HAVE STEEL ELEMENTS FOR THEM TO RIDE ON AND WHATNOT, BUT WE'RE NOT BUILDING BIG APPARATUS OUT OF WIND.
AGAIN, TAKING A LOOK, WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE CATHETER, HEAVY RAIN OR SOIL TYPES.
AND THEN ORIENTATION FOR SUN CLA.
LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT TYPES.
SO WE HAVE, UH, A LOT MORE SCALE ON THESE.
SO WE HAVE VERY, VERY SMALL, AND WE'LL GO THROUGH KIND OF EXAMPLES OF EACH OF THESE.
SO FIVE LESS THAN 5,000 SQUARE FEET TO 75,000 SQUARE FEET.
SO OUR FIRST EXAMPLE ARE THESE EXTRA SMALL, WHICH ARE CALLED, UH, EITHER ESCAPE OR A SKATE SPOT.
UH, GENERALLY VERY SMALL, MAYBE A THOUSAND OR SO SQUARE FEET ON, YOU KNOW, THESE CAN VARY.
UH, YOU MAY ONLY HAVE ONE OR TWO DESIGN ELEMENTS WITHIN THAT.
SO THEY'RE VERY MEANT TO BE VERY SMALL SCALE.
UH, NEXT SLIDE HAS ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
THIS WAS A, IT'S LIKE A FORMER RESIDENTIAL SITE THAT WAS RECONFIGURED, UH, ON SLIDE 16, EXCUSE ME.
UH, THAT SHOWS YOU HAVE LOOK LIKE SOME ROCKET SPORTS IN THE BACK.
THEN YOU HAVE A VERY SMALL SKATE SPOT, IF YOU WILL, IN THE FRONT OF THE SITE.
UH, AGAIN, YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW ELEMENTS, UH, THAT YOU CAN EITHER, THESE ARE PRIMARILY GEARED TOWARD YOUNGER KIDS THAT LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE A BIG DESTINATION PARK.
SO THESE JUST START GETTING LARGER AND MANY MADE US GET LARGER, MORE PLENTIFUL.
UH, SO NOW WE HAVE LIKE A SMALLER SKATE PARK.
THIS EXAMPLE IS AROUND 6,600 SQUARE FEET.
AND MENTS ARE ROUGHLY THE SAME.
THEY'RE JUST MAYBE MORE OF THEM WHERE THEY MAY BE LARGER.
YOU'VE GOT A BOWL, YOU'VE GOT SOME STREET TYPE EQUIPMENT.
IT'S ALL KIND OF INCORPORATED THERE ONTO THE SITE.
AND MOVING UP THE SCALE, WE GET INTO OUR MEDIUM.
THIS EXAMPLE IS 20,000 SQUARE FEET.
AGAIN, SAME TYPE OF ELEMENTS, IT'S JUST, WE'RE JUST GETTING BIGGER.
FOLLOWING UP, WE HAVE OUR VERY OWN BACHMAN SKATE PARK AT 46,000 SQUARE METER.
SO THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE, UH, SNAKE RUN THAT'S PART OF THAT SITE.
UH, AND THEN THE LAST EXAMPLE I THINK WE HAVE IS, UH, OUR EXTRA LARGEST.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THIS WAS 88,000 SQUARE FEET ALONG A RIVERFRONT.
UH, SO AGAIN, UH, THIS IS MUCH MORE INTENSIVE USE.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S MAYBE A LITTLE BIT SEPARATE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE ISSUES ARE GOING ON BEHIND THE, THE THE FOOT PHOTOGRAPHER, BUT AGAIN, THEY'VE GOT LARGE OVERHEAD LIGHTING.
SO AGAIN, IT'S JUST OUR SCALE
UH, NEXT STEPS WE JUST LIKE TO HEAR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD AND INCORPORATE ANY COMMENTS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
AND THEN SIMILAR TO THE DOC PARK MASTER PLANS, WE'LL TAKE ALL THOSE, PUBLISH THEM.
AGAIN, THIS IS PRIMARILY FOR, UH, CITY STAFF AND OUR CONSULT, BUT WE CAN ALSO, YOU WE'LL HAVE THIS OUT AND MAKE THIS PUBLIC AS WELL.
MS. MONDELL, YOU READY TO SPEAK BEFORE HE STARTED? NO, I, WELL, UM, I, I HAVE
[00:50:01]
REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE INCORPORATE ROLLER SKATING IN THIS OPTION.YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO, NOT EVERYBODY'S A SKATEBOARDER.
UM, AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANNA IN INCORPORATE THE WHOLE FAMILY ELEMENTS IN HERE THAT THERE'S PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST SKATE, ROLLER SKATE AS WELL.
SO AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS, I MEAN MOVING FORWARD INTO THESE DESIGN GUIDELINES TO HAVE THOSE AS OPTIONS.
I SEE IT ALL OVER FLORIDA, UM, THAT THEY HAVE WHERE THEY SHARE THAT I MET, I SAID IT WITH THE BACHMAN SKATE PARK.
UM, AND I JUST REALLY FEEL LIKE WE'RE MISSING AN OPPORTUNITY.
UM, SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT, THAT YOU WE'RE LOOKING AT WHEN IT SAYS POPULATION OF THOSE CITIES, HOW MUCH OF THAT POPULATION IS, IS ACTUALLY USING THE SKATE PARKS IN THOSE CITIES? I DON'T REALLY NEED TO KNOW THAT.
I'M JUST SAYING WHEN YOU SHOW THAT HOW FAIR OF A HARD OR DETAILS THAT ARE.
UM, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE, WE WOULD REALLY MISS AN OPPORTUNITY IF WE DO NOT INCORPORATE ROLLER SKATING.
UM, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW THE 26 FIGURE FOR THE NEED FOR STATE PARKS IN DALLAS WAS DERIVED? THAT CAME OUT OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SO LOOKING AT NATIONAL STANDARDS ON FACILITY TYPE BASED ON THAT INDUSTRY AND YOUR POPULATION.
SO IT'S, IT, IT IS JUST, IT'S IT'S MATH AND, AND WE REFUND IS CORRECT.
I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.
UM, 'CAUSE NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO USE THIS.
I WOULD PROBABLY KILL MYSELF IF I WENT OUT THERE.
SO YOU'RE CORRECT THAT IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE BEST, BUT THAT'S KIND OF HOW THESE NUMBERS ARE GENERATED.
IT'S WHAT ARE THE TRANSPORTATION WIDE AND BASED ON POPULATION, YOU SHOULD HAVE THIS MANY BASED ON NATIONAL STANDARDS.
WELL, IT SEEMS, SEEMS THAT TWO IS CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH.
THE 26 SEEMS A LITTLE DEPRESSIVE TO ME, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT SLIDE NINE AND OF OUR 15 OR SO HERE CITIES THAT WOULD EXCEED EVERY PLACE EXCEPT LOS ANGELES, WHICH HAS TWO AND A HALF TIMES THE POPULATION.
HOPE YOU WOULD RE EXAMINE THAT.
AND I AND I, I CONCUR WITH BOTH MY COLLEAGUES.
UH, MS. MONDELL HIT HER RIGHT ON THE HEAD.
I THINK THAT WE'RE, I WOULD LOVE TO RENAME THAT THE, THE DOCUMENT WHICH SAYS SKATE PARK ALL WHEELS, PARKS, OR KNOW SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SKATE ALL WHEELS PARKS, BECAUSE WE'RE BUILDING ONE IN OAK CLIFF.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE, WE RAISED OUR COUNCIL MEMBER RACE, PRIVATE RACE, 400,000 PLUS BOND MONEY AND OTHER MONEY THAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER TO BUILD ONE IN OAK CLIFF.
UM, BUT WE'RE CALLED, WE, WE KNOW IT'S A SKATE PARK, BUT WE, WE'VE BEEN FROM DAY ONE ALL ACCESS, ACCESS PARK, ALL WHEEL PARK TO MAKE SURE.
AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND ROLLER SKATE AND RIDE BIKES AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
SO WE'RE PUTTING ELEMENTS FOR ALL WHEELS TO BE ON THIS PARK.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST, BIGGEST SELLING POINT.
IF YOU'RE GONNA BUILD A SKATE PARK AND IF IT'S ALL WHEELS PARK, IT MAKES BETTER SENSE.
PEOPLE GET BEHIND THAT FASTER VERSUS A SKATE PARK.
AND I KNOW THAT'S, YOU KNOW, LITTLE TABOO TO TALK ABOUT THAT 'CAUSE OF WHAT THE SEVENTIES BROUGHT WITH SKATE PARKS IN THE EIGHTIES.
PEOPLE USE 'EM AND WE, WE SEE THAT AT BACHMAN AND WE WILL SEE THAT LAKELAND IS GONNA GET SOME REMODELS GONNA GET REMODELED HERE SOON, I THINK MAYBE NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN OF COURSE CLAIRE SKATE PARK AND THEN THE ONE THAT'S COMING TO DISTRICT 14.
SO JUST ALL ACCESS PARKED FOR EVERYBODY FOR WHEELS.
IT WOULD BE REALLY A BETTER SETTING POINT GOING FORWARD IF I MAY RESPOND TO THAT.
SO I'M GLAD, GLAD YOU BOTH MENTIONED THIS 'CAUSE WE, WE DID LOOK INTO, THIS CAME UP AT THE BOARD MEETING OR THE COMMITTEE MEETING LAST YEAR.
SO BACHMAN TO SERVE ONE CHURCH, SKATE PARK IS DESIGNED AS AN ALL WHEEL COURSE IN MODERN STANDARDS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DESIGNED TO.
NOW WE MAY HAVE A NOMENCLATURE THING IF WE JUST WANT TO CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S TOTALLY FINE.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE BOARD IS UNDERSTANDING.
WE ARE DESIGNING THESE FOR ALL WHEEL ACCESS.
UH, WE JUST DIDN'T, WE JUST, WE DIDN'T MAKE A NAME CHANGE.
SO, SO ARE THEY ALLOWED FOR ALL WHEEL? YOU ALLOWED RULE SKATERS TO GO TO THE BACK.
THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR ALL, ALL ALL WHEEL ACCESS.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIKE, I DIDN'T WANNA SAY AADA A BECAUSE THAT'S DIFFERENT, BUT THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR ALL WHEEL ACCESS.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING THAT THAT, THAT WE WANT.
I KNOW MISS MANGO SPEAK ABOUT THAT AGAIN, BUT IT JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY CAN GET ON IT AND USE IT AND SIMULTANEOUSLY USE IT.
BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
YOU KNOW, ONCE PEOPLE ARE SKATEBOARDING ON THIS SIDE, PEOPLE ARE RIDING BIKES ON THIS SIDE.
WE'LL SKATE ON ONE SIDE, ESPECIALLY A INVOLVEMENT.
'CAUSE IT'S SO BIG, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
BUT WE JUST ALL ACCESS FOR ALL OF EVERYBODY.
UM, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT WITH THE ALL WHEEL ACCESS.
[00:55:01]
I GO TO BACHMAN.I SEE BMX BIKERS, I SEE OUR ROLLER SKATERS, ROLLER BLADERS, AND OF COURSE OUR SKATEBOARDERS.
I EVEN SEE SCOOTER RIDERS AND THESE WERE THE CUTEST LITTLE 5, 6, 7 YEAR OLDS YOU'VE EVER SEEN.
I WANNA GO ON THE RECORD AND REPEAT A STAT THAT I USED A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS ADVOCATING FOR A SKATE PARK IN DISTRICT 14.
UH, THESE NUMBERS ARE OFF STATISTICA.COM WHEN YOU ADD UP SKATEBOARDERS, ROLLER BLADERS, ROLLER SKATERS, SCOOTER RIDERS, AND BMX BIKERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
YOU ADD THOSE GROUPS UP, YOU HAVE MORE OF THEM.
JR'S GONNA HATE ME FOR THIS THAN YOU HAVE YOUTH BASEBALL PLAYERS.
SINCE SOCCER PLAYERS, OKAY, SO THAT'S A STAT AND I, I WANT TO KEEP REPEATING THAT BECAUSE THAT NEEDS TO BE ONE OF OUR DRIVERS TO INTRODUCE MORE SKATE PARKS.
THESE ARE DURABLE, THEY'RE VERSATILE.
UM, I HAVE A COLLECTION OF BMX BIKES FROM THE EIGHTIES.
AND I DREAM OF TAKING THEM OUT EVEN WITH MY BONES TO GO ON SOME OF THESE SKATE PARKS WITH THESE BMX BIKES AND, AND GOING BACK TO ALL WHEELS.
I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN IT ALL AT BACHMAN, SO I THINK YOU GOT NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT THERE.
UH, ONE THING MR. WHITE SAID, AND I WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN ON, UH, HE MENTIONED THE, THE LOCATION OF THE SKATE PARKS.
HE MENTIONED SOMETHING LIKE YOU NEVER WANNA PUT THEM IN THE BACK OF A PARK BECAUSE UNSAVORY THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
I JUST WANNA SAY, IF YOU PUT ANYTHING IN THE BACK OF A PARK,
SO, SO AS WE LOOK AT POSITIONING OF THESE SKATE PARKS, WHETHER THEY'RE EXTRA SMALL OR EXTRA LARGE, THEY NEED TO BE FRONT AND CENTER.
THEY NEED TO BE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE BY ALL.
AND I'M NOT GIVING UP ON DISTRICT 14, EVERYONE.
UH, WE'RE GONNA INTRODUCE SOME NEW IDEAS.
I KNOW THAT OUR MONEY IS NOT TILL 2028, SO WE GOTTA GOT A MINUTE OR TWO TO THINK ABOUT IT.
BUT WE ARE GONNA BRING A SKATE PARK TO DISTRICT 14.
EVERY PARK SHOULD HAVE NO BACK NOW
SO I ONLY HAD TWO, TWO QUESTIONS HERE.
THE, UH, LEVEL OF SERVICE, UM, REQUIREMENTS OR GUIDELINES AND SIDE SET OF, IS THAT BASED ON UTILIZATION OF THE PARKS OR IS THAT JUST A PROJECTION BASED ON POPULATION? WHERE DOES THAT NUMBER COME FROM? HOW MANY PARKS, STATE PARKS WE SHOULD HAVE? I DON'T THINK THIS IS TAKING IN THESE ARE NATIONAL RIGHT NUMBERS.
SO KIND OF TO PERFORM OVER YOUNG'S COMMENT.
ALSO, I DON'T THINK WE'RE, THIS DOES NOT TAKE IN LOCAL DEMAND.
SO THIS IS BASICALLY RUNNING MATH ON, BY THE INDUSTRY STANDARD YOU SHOULD HAVE X BY NUMBER OF POPULATIONS.
SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS, BUT IT'S NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHAT IS THE TRUE DEMAND AND DOUBT.
AND I DON'T THINK WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY, I MEAN WE HAVE GOT TWO.
UM, HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
YEAH, I WOULD ASSUME THAT AN URBAN, AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT LIKE CHICAGO OR NEW YORK WOULD REQUIRE MORE SKATE PARKS THAN A RURAL ENVIRONMENT LIKE, LIKE DALLAS AND DALLAS IS MUCH MORE SPREAD OUT THAN, BUT THE
AND SO IN THIS, IS ANY OF THIS COVERED OR SHADED OR THAT WOULD BE COVERED THROUGH JUST GENERAL SHADE? IS THAT IN THE, THE WORKS IN THE CONSIDERATION? YEAH, I MEAN, SO OUR RECENT, WE, WE DON'T HAVE A, WE DON'T HAVE AN EXAMPLE MOVING BEFORE YET.
I MEAN WE'RE WORKING ON WESTMORELAND.
WE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON
NOW IN OTHER AREAS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TREES, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, DO WE PUT IN SHAPE STRUCTURES IF NOT OVER THE AREA ITSELF AND MAYBE THE SEATING AREAS.
SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE THROUGH DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY CAN TAKE A BREAK.
UH, SO WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO TAKE IN THE HEAT DURING THE SUMMER.
UH, AND MR. MADANO, ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
I'M GONNA BE QUICK HITTING THIS BUTTON, BUT, UM, I'M JUST GLAD THAT, UH, Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT SKATE PARKS BECAUSE WHEN I ADVOCATED FOR THE $4 MILLION AT BUSMAN, NO ONE WAS TALKING ABOUT IT.
YEAH, I I JUST, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW YOU, HOW THAT SHARED SPACE IS UTILIZED.
SO IF THERE ARE BMX BIKES, IF THERE ARE, UH, THOSE SCOOTERS, IF THERE IS, UM, SKATEBOARDS.
IF THERE ARE ROLLER SKATES, HOW? LIKE, BECAUSE I KNOW ON A TRAIL, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO SAY ON YOUR LEFT WITH THE BICYCLE OR HOW, HOW'S ALL THAT? JUST FREEZE TO KNOW FOR THE PUBLIC? WHO'S TEXTING ME, ASKING ME? UM, I DON'T KNOW.
[01:00:01]
UM, I WOULD SAY WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH, A LARGE ENOUGH AREA FOR EVERYONE TO INTERMIX, BOTH IF THEY'RE WALKING OR ON THEIR WHEELS, UH, THEN HAVING THE APPROPRIATE AREAS THAT ARE OUT OF THE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO REST, TAKE A BREAK.UH, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW INDIVIDUALLY THEY, WHAT THE ETIQUETTE IS ON, ON WHO GOES FIRST AND WHO'S IN THE WAY AND WHERE, WHERE'S SUPPOSED TO STAND.
I THINK SHE'S, AGAIN, WHATEVER.
UH, MR.
I JUST WANNA ADD SOME CLARITY TO MY COLLEAGUES QUESTION HERE.
THE COMRADERY WITHIN THESE COMMUNITIES ARE EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH.
SO THE ETIQUETTE IS ALSO EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH.
WHAT I'VE SEEN IS OLDER TEENAGERS LITERALLY TAKING THE HAND OF A FOUR OR 5-YEAR-OLD THAT THEY MAY HAVE JUST MET AND BE LIKE, COME WITH ME.
I DON'T REALLY SEE THAT IN PERHAPS EVERY SINGLE RECREATIONAL TYPE COMMUNITY, BUT I SEE THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE SKATE PARK COMMUNITY.
AND NOT JUST AT BACHMAN, BUT UM, WHERE MY PARENTS LIVE IN MCKINNEY.
UH, THEY HAVE MANY SKATE PARKS AND I VISITED MANY OF THEM.
AND JUST THE COMRADERY IS AMAZING.
SO, SO THEY, THEY ALL JIVE AND GET ALONG.
I KNOW YOU GAVE SOME DATA ABOUT THE DENSITY OF THE SKATE PARKS.
IN YOUR MIND, WHICH CITY IS THE ROLE MODEL WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO REACH? I KNOW DENVER SHOWS THE ONE OF THE LARGEST NUMBER OF SKATE PARK, BUT RESIDENT AND ALL, ANY IDEA, I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT YOUR SPOT, BUT HAVE THERE ANYTHING WHICH HAS INSPIRED YOU AT ALL? UH, I HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO IT THAT CLOSELY.
YOU KNOW, I, WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT IS OUR LOCAL DEMAND AND 'CAUSE WE, WE CAN'T JUST, EVERYTHING'S NOT APPLES TO APPLE.
SO WE JUST, BECAUSE ANOTHER PEER CITY, ST.
HOUSTON OKAY, OR SOME, OR ATLANTA, YOU, I DON'T SAY, WELL, WE NEED X BECAUSE THEY HAVE IT.
WHAT'S, WHAT'S NOT TRUE DEMAND? AND BASED ON THE SIZE OF DALLAS, UM, I, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S KIND FOR YOU.
UH, I HAVEN'T RESEARCHED ALL OF THESE TO SEE HOW SURE THEY IMPLEMENT THEIR SITES AND WHAT THEIR POLICIES ARE.
BUT I JUST THINK, AND I THINK THIS IN A LOT OF WAYS, WE, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT, WHAT'S BEST FOR THIS CITY AND WHAT IS SUITING OUR CUSTOMERS OURSELVES.
THAT EVENING BROUGHT UP A VERY IMPORTANT FACT ABOUT THE, THE BIG COMMUNITY WE HAVE, UH, OF, OF THIS.
AND, AND I'VE BEEN, HONESTLY, THIS HAS BEEN ONE THING, RIGHT WHEN I JOINED THE GROUP, I HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT KIDS NEED MORE THAN JUST BASKETBALL HOOPS BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR SO-CALLED GETTING THEM OUT THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ANO PUSHED IT AND NOW WE ARE AT THAT LEVEL.
SO YOU HAVE GOOD SUPPORT TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
GREAT PRESENTATION
ANY LIAISON REPORTS? LIAISON REPORTS.
SO ANY STAFF ANNOUNCEMENT MIGHT SAID YES.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO AN INTRODUCTION OF NEW STAFF AND THEN WE HAVE, WHILE THEY'RE, UM, GETTING UP THERE TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
UH, WE DO HAVE EMPLOYEE AWARDS TOMORROW, UH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH AT THE FAIR PARK CENTENNIAL BUILDING.
UM, IT WAS SHARED LAST TIME AS WELL, BUT IF ANYBODY DIDN'T GET IT, I, I'LL RESHARE IT THIS AFTERNOON.
YEAH, I WANNA RE REITERATE TO THE BOARD IF YOU CAN MAKE IT TO THE EMPLOYEES AND BOARD STAFF REALLY APPRECIATE, EVEN IF YOU CAN JUST STAY FIVE MINUTES, THEY REALLY APPRECIATE SAME BOARD.
AND THIS IS WHEN WE HAVE ALL OUR EMPLOYEES, FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES THERE AND THEY GET THEIR AWARDS, THEY GET RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE, ANY UNIQUE PROJECTS THEY WORKED ON, BUT IT REALLY MEANS A LOT WHEN THEY SEE THE BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU CAN MAKE IT, NO PRESSURE.
AND THEN JUST TO RESONATE WHAT DIRECTOR JENKINS IS SAYING, I BEEN TO FEW OF THEM ACTUALLY.
IT PERSONALLY GRATIFIES ME TO SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING WHEN WE SEE THOSE, ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK AND YOU KNOW, HOW GRATEFUL THEY ARE IN THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDE TO THE CITY.
AND ACTUALLY THEY MAKE OUR JOB EASY.
SO I, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE IF YOU CAN SPARE AND HOW OR SO PLEASE, PLEASE DO ATTEND MR. RAM.
OKAY, MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S MY GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE CAMERON LOWES.
HE IS OUR NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DESIGN.
SO I WOULD LIKE CAM TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND, UH, TELL YOU HOW EXCITED HE IS TO JOIN US ALL.
I WAS A POOL RAT, UH, Y MCA, A PARKS, BASEBALL, THAT STUFF.
I THINK I STILL HAVE A PERMANENT SPEEDO LINE.
I SWIMMING IN THE SUMMER THERE.
[01:05:01]
AN UNDERGRAD, CIVIL ENGINEERING, A MASTER'S IN ENVIRONMENTAL.AND THEN THE NAVY SENT ME TO SCHOOL FOR ANOTHER MASTER'S IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY.
UM, FACILITIES, OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND PROCUREMENT.
UM, 17 YEARS IN FEDERAL SERVICE.
COMBINED BETWEEN ACTIVE DUTY AND OUR RESERVES AS WELL AS IT CAME FROM THE BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING.
I WORKED THERE FOR THREE YEARS OVER A 35 W IN FORT WORTH.
AND THEN MOST RECENTLY WITH HUD HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, I WAS ON THE FIXIT TEAM AND WE WOULD GO AROUND THE COUNTRY TALKING AUTHORITIES THAT WERE TRUMP.
UH, WE WOULD GO IN AND HELP THEM AND IF THEY COULDN'T FIX THEMSELVES, WE WOULD TAKE OVER, FIX IT FOR THEM, TEACH THEM HOW TO DO BETTER, AND THEN HAND IT BACK OVER TO LOCAL CONTROL.
SO, UH, QUICK BACKGROUND ABOUT ME.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'M SO EXCITED AND HAPPY TO BE HERE AND, UH, HELP WITH ALL THE AWESOME PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU AND TO EVERYBODY WHO INTRODUCED THEMSELVES ALREADY.
SO PAM IS, UH, HE'S WRAPPING UP HIS SECOND WEEK AND THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVEN'T SCARED HIM OFF YET,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU.
DID BRIAN AND JOHN TELL YOU HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU? SO A LOT GOING ON.
THIS DEPARTMENT EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE AND TRULY, I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOARDS IN THE COUNTRY.
SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU LOOKING FORWARD, I GUESS, UH, MORE THAN ANNOUNCEMENTS, MY SECRETARY.
WITH THAT, I GUESS OUR NEXT PARK BOARD MEETING WILL BE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER
EITHER THERE'S SOME GOOD LUCK IN THE NEW ONES OR THEY GOT OFF EASY.