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1998-162-RES WHEREAS, PARKS AND RECREATION MASTERPLAN FOR COP RESOLUTION NO. 98-162 WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Masterplan for the City of Paris, dated January, 1995, adopted by the City Council of the City of Paris on January 26, 1995, requires amendment due to changing circumstances; and, WHEREAS, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department requires that the City of Paris's Parks and Recreation Master Plan be updated to reflect the current facility inventory and to re- prioritize the recommended projects in order for the City of Paris to be eligible for future grant proposals; and, WHEREAS, it is deemed appropriate tlmt the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Changes and Additions as depicted on Exhibit A, attached hereto, should be approved; NOW, THERE.'ORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, that the Parks and Recreation Masterplan for the City of Paris be, and the same is hereby, amended to reflect the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Changes and Additions depicted on Exhibit A, attached hereto. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 9th day of November, 1998 ATTEST: ~m-~\j Mattie Cunningham, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ? f7-tv ~;;~~ . .scott P. Foster, City Attorney Facilities Inventory Chanie: Park: Wade Park Location: 25th Street NE at Pine Bluff Street Topography: Flat with scattered mature trees Improvements in the park: 35 picnic tables II park benches 30'x60' pavilion 2 handicap accessible tables 2 handic~ accessible water fountains 1 restroom/handicap accessible 2 shuffleboard courts I 80'x ISO' playground with equipment I 30'x80' playground with equipment 2 casual backstops Support facilities: Paved parking for 60 cars/handicap accessible Gravel parking for 20 cars Surrounding neighborhood: Residential on all sides. Size: 8.44 Acres Facilities Inventory Addition: Park: Aquatic Center Location: 1625 Clement Road Topography: Flat Improvements in the park: 25 yd. x 25 m. 6 lane munici~al pool Bathhouse and restroom facilities Showers 4 park benches Staff office facilities Irrigation system Support faCIlities: Paved parking for approximately 40 cars. Surrounding neighborhood: Bounded on the south by Clement Road and Skateland, bounded on the west by wooded land, on the north by loop 286 and on the east by Apex Plumbing. Comment: This park was completed in 1997 and new to our facility inventory. Size: 4.325 Acres 13 yd. x 10 yd. wading pool Shaded Deck area VendinvConcessions Diving Doard Fencing Facilities Inventory Additions: Park: Dragon Pm-k Size: 52 Acres Location: 24 street and Jefferson Topography: Flat with scattered mature trees Improvements in the park: I mile walking/jogging track small restroom facility Support facilities: Gravel parking for approximately 150 cars. Surrounding neighborhood: Bounded on the north by Paris Junior College, on the east by the Love Civic Center, on the south by Paris High School, and bounded on the west by woods. Comments: This park was acquired in December 1997 from Paris Junior College. ............................................... Park: Depot Park Size: 6 Acres Location: West Kaufman Street Topography: Flat Improvements in the park: none Support Facilities: Paved parking for approximately 150 cars. f 1/I~J;.'nl"'r A ~ "'" .,,' I ,,,.I\A II U ! Surrounding neighborhood: Bounded on the north by Kaufman and Coke Plant, on the east by the Lamar County Historical Society Museum, on the south by Sherman St., and bounded on the west by the City of Paris Historical Transportation Depot Museum and the Paris Chamber of Commerce. Public Participation At a public hearing on October 8, 1998, residents expressed interest in the following parks and recreation needs. These needs should be included with the original needs in the 1995 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. I) A lack of adequate baseball and softball diamonds. There is substantial demand for a multipurpose facility, designed for use by a wide range of ages, as well as different genders. Current facilities are not capable of serving the growing participation of these programs in the city. 2) The equipment at Record Park is aged and obsolete. None of the playground equipment or pavilion areas are accessible to the handicap. 3) The participant parking, concessions and field space is inadequate for the growing participation of the local soccer program. Currently, over 600 participants play on only 6 fields. Re-prioritized List of Recommended Projects: I. Multipurpose Sports Complex Many participants voiced concern over a lack of slow pitch and fast pitch softball facilities for youth and teens. There are current~ on~ 4 lighted softball diamonds available for this age group. The city has an abundance of baseball and softball activities taking place which forces very strict schedules for field usage. Review of these needs raised the possibility of also providing additional practice backstops and green space for practice times. Estimated Cost (Exclusive of Land)......................................................................................................................... .$250,000-500,000 2. Record Park Improvements Record Park is one of the largest, most active parks in the city. All of the facilities and equipment in the park are damaged or obsolete. Parking is limited to curbside parking near the existing playground equipment and asphalt parking on the far north end at the softball diamond. None of the facility is handicap accessible. The current pavilion is not adequate for the participation and special events held in the park each year. Therefore, the pavilion, parking and playground equipment should be upgraded or replaced. Estimated Cost (Exclusive of Land).................................................. ......... ......... ................. ................. ........... ............... ..$200,000 3. Dralon Park Improvements Dragon Park is a new park to the Parks and Recreation Department. This park was leased from Paris Junior College in December 1997. The park consist of approximately 52 acres on the far south-east side of the city. Current improvements include a I mile walking track, stretch stations and a small restroom facility that should all be upgraded. Parking is very limited to participants. Most of the land has never been utilized. This facility borders the current soccer association complex, therefore adding soccer fields, parking, concessions and restrooms, keeping the appropriate green space should complete this area appropriately. The city is currently working with the Army Reserves to build approx. 15 soccer fields although, lighting, parking, irrigation, restrooms and concessions should be pursued in the future. Estimated Cost........................................................ .................................. .......... ............... ...... ... .......$250,000-350,000 4. lake Crook Recreation Area Development Lake Crook has never been developed to its fullest potential. The existing boat ramp is dilapidated and needs replacement but even so is inaccessible because of uneven ground and erosion. Restrooms in the small picnic area were destroyed years ago and the old swimming area needs vegetation removal and cleanup. The development could be enhanced through the installation of new picnic areas and group picnic pavilion, paved parking, hike and bike trails, restrooms, playground equipment, and recreational vehicle camping pads with utility hook ups. However, such improvements will be meaningless unless the access road is reworked entirely. The old road is covered with mud and eroded severely. This natural facility has much potential and could be developed in several phases if necessary. If adequately designed, the camping area could become an economic boom to the area instead of a liability. Estimated Cost....................................................... .................................. .......................... ......... .......$400,000-600,000 5. Upgrade Parks Citywide Parks throughout the city have play equipment which do not meet current standards for safety or have been vandalized in the past. Some of the equipment is over thirty years old. Shelters are needed in several parks across the city. Tables need to be replaced, especially those with wooden tops or built out of concrete and stone. Handicapped accessible tables are needed. Ballfield fences are in need of replacement, having outlived their useful lives. Estimated Cost............................. ........................... ........ ................. ......... ........... ................. ............................ .$60,000 6. Restroom Facilities Presently, there are public restrooms only at two parks. The city rents portable toilets during the summer months costing $8,000 to $10,000 per year. Permanent vandal resistant restrooms should be built that meet accessibility standards for the handicapped. They should be lockable, well lighted and of course well maintained. Vandal resistant lighting is also a must. Because they are so susceptible to vandalism, restrooms should be built in high use parks such as Culbertson, Oak, and Record. Generally, these are the parks where reservations are made for large groups and restrooms could be unlocked. The smaller neighborhood parks may not need these facilities. Estimated Cost............................. ................................................................................................ .................. .$100,000 7. Paved Parking Many of the parks have gravel or dirt parking facilities. New driveways in Paris must be dust free and thus paved. Paving the parking areas will bring them into compliance with current standards, improve drainage, promote usage of the parks, and improve handicapped and elderly access. Estimated Cost.................................................................................................................................. ....$50,000-175,000 8. Recreation Facilities Many residents in the past have voiced concerns about a community recreation center. A local middle school created a public campaign in 1997 to increase interest. A teen recreation center has received a lot of support as well. Review of this project raises the possibility of developing a multipurpose area consisting of a community recreation center, 2 outdoor basketball courts, 6 lighted tennis courts and 3 baseball/softball practice backstops. Estimated Cost............................................................ ........ ........ ........ ......... ............. .................... .$400,000-$2,000,000 9. Security Ughtinl All parks should be furnished with minimal security lighting to provide safe usage at night, and reduce vandalism and crime. Estimated Cost.............................. .............................. ........ ......... ........ ......... ............. ............................... ........ .$50,000 10. Land Acquisition The city as it expands will need to add parks and recreation land through dedication or purchase. In particular, areas which should be looked at include east of Loop 286 and west of 286 near the U.S. Highway 82 corridor. Inside the Loop, we recommend negotiations with Paris ISD for a possible neighborhood park on the corner of the Crockett Middle School Campus since this area is not served by a nearby, neighborhood park. Project Time Table The following time schedule is recommended for orderly development or re-development of parks and recreation in Paris: Priority I Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4 Priority 5 Priority 6 Priority 7 Priority 8 Priority 9 Priority 10 Multipurpose Sports Complex.......................................................... ............................ ......1999-2000 Record Park Improvements.................................................... ................. .... ..................... .1999-2000 Dragon Park Improvements...................................................... ................... ......................1999-2000 Lake Crook Improvements (Phase 1)..................................................................................1998-1999 Lake Crook I mprovements (Phase 2)............................................................................ .2000 Lake Crook Improvements (Phase 3).............................................................................200 I Upgrade Parks City Wide........................................................................................... Budget Annually Restroom Facilities............................................ ............................................................... .1999-200 I Paved Parking........................................................................ ........................................... .1999-2000 Recreation Facility......................................................................................................... .2002 Security Ughting..................................................................................... ................... ....... .1999-2000 Land Acquisition................................................................................... .......... ................ Ongoing Project FundinK An ambitious plan of development with several million dollars in construction cost alone, not including land acquisition, dictates some creative and varied fund raising. Some of these projects can be paid for through the operating budget, capital improvement bond funds or certificates of obligation. The City of Paris has indicated its willingness to apply for grants-in-aid, the most prominent of which are: Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Community Development Block Grants are federal funds distributed from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development directly to states who in turn distribute through a complicated regional point system to counties and cities. The City of Paris or any other incorporated area or the county may make application. Park development is eligible. A local match of ten to twenty percent is usually necessary for the maximum grant of $250,000. The complication is that, in the intense competition for such funds, only ten to twelve of nearly forty grant applications are usual~ funded in the Council of Governments region. Parks are usually not high enough on the regional priority scale (set by the Regional Review Committees themselves) to score sufficient points. Parks and WildlifeJ1' exas Recreation & Parks Account Program Texas This program has long been used by cities and counties to fund park improvements. In fact, several parks in Paris were developed or enhanced with this program. The program requires a 50% local match which can be in the form of a donated force account (applicant's own work forces and equipment), donated labor and/or equipment, cash, or donated land or combinations of all. Applications are received by TPWD on January 31 and July 31 of each year and funding is usual~ announced 6 to 8 months later. Grant offers follow soon thereafter and allow three years from grant signature for project completion. The program was recent~ amended to add some reaJ~ attractive features; for example, non-park public lands can now be converted to park use and count as part of the local match in much the same way as donated lands. This includes public lands owned by independent school districts, junior colleges and other public entities. An old landfill or sewage plant, if the land is acceptable for park use, can be converted and the city gets matching funds up to its appraised value. Texas Parks and Wildlife Boat Ramp Fund Texas Parks and Wildlife has funds available for boat ramps under a separate application procedure. Conclusion Based on public hearings, invitations to solicit comments, and staff input, the City of Paris should proceed with development and refurbishment of parks and recreation facilities. The argument will surely be made that parks and recreation facilities cost money to build and operate and are surely "money losers". The public should keep in mind, however, that streets and sidewalks are not money makers either to any extent. For that matter, police and fire departments are not self supporting. Parks and Recreation facilities perhaps add more natural beauty to our community than any of these other departments or facilities combined. There are Simply some things in city government that the public demands, despite the fact that there will be little or no revenues to off-set expenses of providing those facilities.