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<br />and coming sport in Paris. The absence of an indoor pool facility at Paris Junior College <br />does not help the problem of providing safe pool facilities. <br /> <br />Trail Development <br /> <br />The Texas Outdoor Recreation Plan in 1990 pointed out that 47% of the occasions of <br />participation in aUoutdoor recreation facilities centered around trail use for hiking, biking, <br />jogging, roller blading, horse back riding and walking. The city is constructing its first half- <br />mile track now (Oak Pari<) and other than this new trail there are no city owned trail facilities <br />in Paris. The only other trail available for the public is the Paris Junior College. The city <br />owns several parks of sufficient acreage to allow trail construction. The city also owns <br />substantial acreage around Lake Gibbons and Lake Crook although these facilities are far <br />enough out of town as to make development of a trail alone as destination facility (one <br />where people will drive appreciable distances) an unviable project. Trails connecting one <br />or more park facilities are to be highly prized. <br /> <br />Camping Facilities <br /> <br />A facility many counties and cities are turning to to promote tourism development is <br />recreational vehicle camping facilities with beaches, playgrounds, camping spots and <br />utilities for tents, trailers, or self contained RVs. These facilities can be built together with <br />boatramps, fishing piers, nature-hike-bike trails around one or both of the lakes. Advantage <br />can be taken of the existing Canadian goose exhibit and habitat. Typical fees of $10.00 <br />to $20.00 per night can make such facilities a self-supporting project but require <br />determination and marketing expertise to get the word out about camping facilities. <br /> <br />Park Upgrades <br /> <br />The city staff raised concern about the quality and degradation of certain obsolete park <br />improvements and the need to build additional support facilities such as paved parking <br />areas. While piCl"1ic facilities may appear in number to be adequate, the city should begin <br />a replacement program of tables and benches which has outlived therir usefulness. More <br />group shelters are recommended. There are only four now. Safety surveys may show just <br />how much work needs to be done. <br /> <br />Trails <br /> <br />With the development of Oak Park (now under construction) the distribution of parks <br />appears to be adequate with significant pari< resources generally evenly spaced throughout <br />the city, at least within Loop 286. As shown on the map of pari< facilities attached, there <br />are beginning to be areas of residential development where public parl<s are one-half mile <br />away or more. The area east of Loop 286 bounded by F.M. 195 on the north and U.S. 271 <br />South does not have a public park any closer than Wade Park ten full blocks inside the <br />Loop. Sites should be investigated in this area before too very long. A map is included in <br />this report where future park sites should be considered within the next ten years. <br /> <br />-20- <br />