BRENHAM PARKS AND REC BOARD GIVES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2020-21 PROJECTS; SOFT OPENING OF CITY PLAYSCAPES FRIDAY
The Brenham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board provided its recommendations for what projects the city should pursue in the upcoming fiscal year at its meeting today (Wednesday).
The board went through a list of parks and recreation projects separated by priority and gave its thoughts on which projects should be submitted to the Brenham Community Development Corporation (BCDC) to be funded in the 2020-21 Fiscal Year.
Public Works Director Dane Rau said there is a large list of projects being considered, but a limited amount of funding to address them.
Projects that were among Tier One funding requests, indicating they will receive priority when considered by the BCDC, included several improvements at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center. Of those were the replacement of the roof, repainting of steel beams, addition of a handicap lift, replastering of the competition pool and refurbishing of several slides.
(courtesy City of Brenham)
There are also requests for the second phase of amenities at the Henderson Park splashpad, the addition of covered basketball courts at Jackson Street Park, and the addition of a playground and other improvements at Jerry Wilson Park. All of the projects in Tier One add up to a $1,004,500 budget request.
Projects in Tier Two, which are considered important but not mandatory, include the first phase of sweeping improvements at Jackson Street Park, comprised of the addition of several small playscape areas, widening of the existing concrete trail, better lighting, and upgraded restrooms. There are also requests to repaint the iron bridges at Henderson and Hohlt Park and resurface the parking lot at Linda Anderson Park. The Tier Two budget request totals $1,231,700.
One project that board members asked to be moved from Tier Two to Tier One was sidewalk repairs at Fireman’s Park, which would upgrade the existing brick sidewalks to concrete sidewalks with brick inserts. Rau told board members they were welcome to request that other projects be shifted in priority, as the tier lists are not set in stone.
The board’s recommendations will now go before Brenham City Council at its meeting next Thursday, June 18th, where the BCDC board will discuss the requests with the council.
Also at today’s meeting, Community Services Specialist Crystal Locke announced that the city will be “soft opening” the playscapes at city parks, including playgrounds and sports courts, on Friday, ahead of the city’s initial target date of Monday. Facility rentals will be opened back up next week.
Rau said it is considered a “soft opening” in this case in order to allow city staff enough time to install updated signage and hand sanitizer stations at the playscapes before Monday. He said the city cannot guarantee that every playscape at every park will be open Friday, but many of them should be open.
How can they spend that much on park upgrades when they’re requiring the employees to take time off without pay?
The skatepark needs shade like the Pickleball courts for kids to be able to play in this heat.
Also, Jackson St. Park has an influx of tarantulas and a coral snake was spotted while walking the other evening. Yes, more lighting is a must!
Thank you “My Voice Counts” for your valuable input! I personally don’t understand why our Mayor only wants to SPEND, SPEND, SPEND! Started with a new police station, changing our recycle only to add additional charges to our utility bill. That was totally not necessary when it worked for everyone. Now we have to pay fees at the dump for glass that they turn around and make money on. Guess a new school will be around the corner with all of Houston coming here, or schools.
Since my post from June 8th ( regarding P&R Board to meet to discuss projects) was never published, I will repeat my opinion again. I feel that it is extremely selfish at this point in time, to think about spending $2 million on park renovations. The city has suffered a major financial set back due to the pandemic. I am sure that there are more issues that could take priority. If the board is using the 65%-35% tax revenue, that was made many years ago, to be set aside for park expenditures and economic development, then this needs to be revisited and perhaps changed. What was acceptable then, does not mean that it is acceptable now. During these trying times, that money can, and probably should, be used elsewhere.