Work to begin soon on new Marble Falls park
Parks and Recreation Director Robert Moss on Monday told the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission work on Westside Park’s parking lot and utilities should begin soon.
Moss gave his report at Monday’s commission meeting, where officials also discussed four openings on the board that could soon be filled by City Council appointments.
Westside Park, located at 1206 Second St., has been in the planning stages for years following the city’s acquisition of the property several years ago.
Preliminary plans call for a parking lot, playground equipment, basketball courts, picnic areas and later, a disc-golf course.
Moss said he recently ordered about $45,000 in playground equipment from T.F. Harper and Associates of Austin.
“I was able to add an additional structure to the playground equipment for a greatly reduced price,” Moss said.
Plans for a pre-cast restroom produced off-site have been placed on hold after prices for the structure shot past $90,000, he said.
“We’re now looking at other alternatives built on-site that we can afford using our current budget,” Moss said.
The 9-acre park’s development is being paid for with a mix of city funds and money from a $200,000 Lower Colorado River Authority Grant.
Work was to begin in March, but ongoing cleanups related to the June 2007 floods and budget concerns resulted in a series of delays.
In other action, commissioners learned that three of their number will be among 10 applicants vying for four spots on the board later this month.
Moss said terms for commissioners Ronelda Wendler, Royce Smith and Sharon Pittard will expire at the end of 2008, adding another vacancy left by former Commissioner Olivia Cribbs remains unfilled after she stepped down earlier this year.
Joining the incumbents in applying for a slot on the board are Christian Fletcher, Charley Dickey, Coleen Gregg, Jeanne Emerson-Connelly, Richard Lewis, Richard Maddern and Mary Jane Bolger.
Moss said the City Council will review each application and decide later this month whom to appoint to the four open positions.
In past years, commissioners reviewed the applications and made recommendations to the council, but Moss said that won’t happen this year.
“That’s not requested this time around,” he said.
The council could vote to fill the board vacancies at their Dec. 10 meeting, Moss said.
The next parks board meeting is set for noon Jan. 5 in council chambers, 800 Third St.
chris@thepicayune.com