2005-02-24 PEARLAND PARKS AND RECREATION BEAUTIFICATION BOARD WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTESMINUTES—WORKSHOP OF THE PEARLAND PARKS AND RECREATION
BEAUTIFICATION BOARD, OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD
ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2005, AT 4:00 PM, IN THE PARKS AND
RECREATION DEPARTMENT CONFERENCE ROOM, AT 2947 BROADWAY
STREET, SUITE 300, PEARLAND, TEXAS
No regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Beautification Board was held in
February.
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 pm with the following present:
Laura Austin
Secretary
Ben Carranza
Vice -Chairperson
Thomas Gibbs
Chairperson
Roy Loris
Board Member
LaDona Niland
Board Member
Scott Sherman
Board Member
Rhonda Cyrus
Parks & Recreation Director
Michelle Dunn
Recreation Superintendent
Mona Miller
Parks & Recreation Office Coord.
Bret Keist of Lane Kendig, Inc.
Consultant
Karen Gregory of Lane Kendig, Inc.
Consultant Assistant
H. DISCUSSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF GOALS AND A MISSION
STATEMENT FOR THE CITY OF PEARLAND MASTER PARKS
PLAN
Mr. Keist explained the process of creating a Master Park Plan. He asked
the Board to identify groups that should participate in the development of
the plan. The Board named over fifteen groups that they felt should be
involved.
Ms. Gregory opened a discussion regarding issues with and opportunities
for our parks. Some of the concerns expressed were activities in parks
after dark, no place to sit down out of the weather, sidewalks not
throughout City, sidewalks leading to parks from neighborhoods, and
providing a variety of activities in our parks.
Ms. Gregory asked the Board's opinion on how our parks look. Their
concerns included not enough shade near play areas, the need for trash
cans with lids, weeds in the parks instead of grass, the condition of water
fountains, nothing appealing to draw people to parks, possibly need theme
parks.
A discussion ensued regarding the management and operation of parks.
Mrs. Cyrus stated that the City maintains the softball fields at Centennial
Park in addition to maintaining the other parks. She explained that she
could envision a corridor plan for Clear Creek all the way to Clear Lake.
In addition, the Old Townsite could be a focal point with lots of green
space.
Ms. Gregory asked what type of connections the Board would like to see.
Mrs. Cyrus pointed out the focus of the park in League City with the
Railroad Station. Mr. Gibbs suggested moving the railroad switching
station and making a railroad theme park. He also pointed out the linkage
along Clear Creek. A discussion ensued regarding bicycle lanes. Mrs.
Cyrus added that we have a possible connection from Green Tee to
Independence Park and Clear Creek and Mary's Creek.
Mr. Loris had to leave the meeting at 5:43 pm.
Mr. Keist posed the possibility of acquiring additional properties. Mrs.
Cyrus stated that part of the process will be identifying all of our green
space. She also explained the plans for the Southwest Environmental
Center. A discussion ensued regarding different types of green space. Mr.
Keist suggested an incentive program for developers to cluster their
developments in order to provide maximum green space. He also stated
that the City could require a green belt along subdivision streets to add to
the green space in a development.
A discussion ensued regarding the availability and appearance of our
parks. The suggestions were that in addition to green space, we need
flowers and animals, such as ducks. Also, noted was that we need more
large area parks.
Ms. Gregory explained the purpose and content of a vision and a mission
statement. Mrs. Cyrus provided samples of other entities' visions and
mission statements. Mr. Keist suggested that each Board member write
their own and bring them to the next meeting to discuss. Ms. Dunn
discussed the issue of the existing mission statement in the brochure. She
stated that she is concerned about the Recreation side of the department
being overlooked in the vision and mission statements.
III. ADJOURNMENT
The workshop adjourned at 6:08 pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Mona An Miller
2
These minutes approved a submitted and/or corrected this i day of
S VY' ef y` , 2005.
Thomas Gibbs, Chairperson