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Special City Council Meeting <br />February 13, 2001 <br />Page 8 <br />utilized. Dr. Swint pointed out that we need topnotch recreational facilities <br />for the citizens of this area and in these United States to compensate for a <br />general workout. Dr. Swint stated that we have a need for people to be able <br />to get outdoors and the Lake Crook Park area is what was conceived of for <br />outdoors recreation 10 years ago. Dr. Swint asked the rhetorical question, <br />"Where could you replace this property of this quality in this area for <br />outdoor recreation?" He said there are numerous acres that could be sold <br />for any kind of development. Dr. Swint stated that there is approximately <br />2,000 acres of land around Lake Crook that can be utilized for recreational <br />purposes and stressed the great need for this type facility. <br />Garry Robertson, 555 21St Street N. E., stated that he moved to Paris in 1965, <br />and at that time Lake Crook was the primary recreational facility for this <br />area. He said he lived in Paris until 1977 during which time he saw the Lake <br />Crook Park fall into disrepair, disuse and disrepute. Mr. Robertson said <br />since 1977, he has lived in North Dallas and has seen first hand the effects, <br />both good and bad, of rapid development where the economic development <br />of the area is advanced without due concern for the existing infrastructure <br />and the effects on quality of life. Mr. Robertson stated that he was extremely <br />concerned about mixed use development in this area. He stated that even <br />a substantial residential development, in terms of the effects that it would <br />have on straining the existing infrastructure, added traffic congestion and <br />that sort of things. Mr. Robertson said that people that are in favor of <br />economic development have a point that we do all benefit from that; <br />however, he thinks the City of Paris has an invaluable resource in the <br />relative pristine acreage around Lake Crook, and there are benefits to be had <br />with relatively little expense by doing some minor improvements to the <br />existing facilities and preserving the existing type of usage that the facility <br />was originally layed out for. He suggested, as far as the comments earlier, <br />that the revenue from a residential development would pay for the park <br />facilities, unless the city is structuring their tax rates so they are a for- profit <br />organization. It was his understanding that the tax rates for residential <br />property were there to fund the maintenance of the infrastructure for that <br />residential property, and should not be used for other purposes. <br />Vickie Hime, 308 W. Washington Street, came forward stating that the city <br />should keep Lake Crook recreational. Ms. Hime said she moved to Paris as <br />the gentlemen speaking before her did in order to have a better quality of <br />life. Ms. Hime said she recognized the need for the city to grow and have <br />new development, but she felt the city was not taking care of what we have <br />at this time, <br />