[CALL TO ORDER/GENERAL COMMENTS]
[00:00:05]
AND VERY WELL WITH THAT I CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER FOR THE PARKS AND MASTER TRAIL PLAN COMMITTEE.
AND WITH THAT, MR. JIMMY STATHATOS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER GAGLIARDI.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
THIS IS THE SECOND MEETING OF TWO FOR THE MASTER PARKS AND TRAILS PLAN.
AND THIS IS IT'S VERY EXCITING.
AND IN ADDITION TO THIS, WE'RE TRYING TO GET AS MUCH OUTREACH AS WE CAN.
THERE'S A MECHANISM TO WHERE PEOPLE CAN VOTE AND FILL OUT SURVEYS TO LET US KNOW THEIR INPUT.
SO THAT WAY RESIDENTS THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND A MEETING WILL STILL HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD.
IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE CHAIR AND THE STAFF, I'LL ADDRESS.
THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WILL BE AT NEW GENERATION'S PARK.
AND IT'LL HAVE MULTIPLE GYMS, IT WILL HAVE AN INDOOR POOL, LIKE A LAP POOL.
IT WILL HAVE AN OUTDOOR AQUATIC CENTER.
THEY WILL NOT BE OPEN FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS BECAUSE WE'RE LETTING THE THE GRASS TAKE, IF YOU WILL.
BUT YOU CAN JUST KIND OF DROP DOWN SOME GOALS AND GO TO TOWN.
IT WILL OBVIOUSLY IT HAS SOME TRAILS IN THERE AS WELL.
BUT IN TERMS OF SCHEDULE, WE'RE EXPECTED TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THE CENTER OCTOBER 22ND.
THAT COULD FLUCTUATE A LITTLE BIT.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON PLANNING AN ANNUAL EVENT IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO CUT IT TO CLOSE TO WHEN WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THE CENTER IN CASE THERE ARE ANY DELAYS.
AND THEN EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE RESERVED IS FOR NAUGHT.
BUT ANYWAY, IT'S GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLE PARK.
I MEAN, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMENITY THAT THE VOTERS HAVE APPROVED, THAT THE COUNCIL IS AUTHORIZED TO BE BUILT, IT IS GOING TO RIVAL ANY MULTI-USE CENTER DEFINITELY IN NORTHEAST TARRANT COUNTY.
AND WHILE I KNOW THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT AT THIS POINT, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE IT AND AND WE WILL MAKE IT THE BEST AMENITY THAT IT CAN POSSIBLY BE. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE CANDIDLY A CROWN JEWEL OF BEDFORD.
AND I'M EXCITED FOR IT TO TO BE FINISHED.
SO AND SO AT THIS TIME, IF IT'S OKAY, CHAIRMAN, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CONSULTANT DENNIS SIMS WITH DUNKIN SIMS AND STOFFELS, THE HE'S COORDINATING THE PUBLIC MEETING.
MY NAME IS DENNIS SIMS AND I'M WITH DUNKIN SIMS STOFFELS AND WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO LISTEN TO YOUR CITIZENS AS TO WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THEIR PARK SYSTEM IN THE FUTURE. DENNIS OH, I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREATH.
I GOT A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF MYSELF.
THAT'S WHY I'M NOT THE CHAIRMAN.
THE COUNCIL HAS A BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING BUSINESS, AND THEN WE'LL GIVE IT BACK TO YOU.
NO PROBLEM. OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO START OVER.
[1. Consider approval of the following Parks and Trails Master Plan Committee minutes: a. April 12, 2022 regular meeting]
NO, SO FIRST WE HAVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM LAST OUR LAST MEETING.EXCELLENCE. AND SO WITH THE MOTION BY COUNCIL, MAYOR, PRO TEM SABLE AND COUNCILWOMAN ALMENDAREZ AND WE'LL GO FOR A VOTE.
[00:05:02]
ALL IN FAVOR AYE. ALL OPPOSED.EXCELLENT PASSES, IT'S AMAZING.
[2. Workshop to gather resident feedback on park uses, trails, and amenities.]
NOW, MR. SIMS, PLEASE COME ON DOWN.THANK YOU, SIR. I'M DENNIS SIMS, AND I'M WITH DUNKIN, SIMS, STOFFELS.
BECAUSE WE'RE DOING AN UPDATE ON YOUR MASTER PLAN.
WE ARE GOING TO SUBMIT THIS TO THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, IF I CAN.
GO AHEAD. WHO'S DOING THE WORK? THANK YOU. OOPS.
THEN WE'LL GO OVER SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.
THE REASON THAT THE PARK MASTER PLAN IN THE FIRST PLACE IS TO.
PLAY IN THE ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT AND ACQUISITION OF YOUR PARK SYSTEM FROM YOUR CITIZENS.
AND IT'S A PLAN THAT THE CITY NORMALLY PREPARES, BUT LIKE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OR TRAFFIC STUDY.
WHAT'S THE PLAN IS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH THE LAST ONE YOU HAVE WAS APPROVED IN 2016.
EVERY FIVE YEARS YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO THE STATE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
AND PART OF THAT UPDATE IS TO HAVE PUBLIC INPUT.
REALLY THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING TONIGHT.
WE LIKE TO KEEP IT LOW KEY, NOT TO KEEP IT INFORMAL.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU HAVE VERY SPECIFIC COMMENTS THAT YOU WANT US TO RECORD AND WRITE DOWN.
YOU CAN REALLY? YEAH, I THINK I DON'T THINK IT'S ON.
YOU'LL LEAVE ALONE. IF I TURN IT ON, IT'S GOING TO SQUEAL.
OKAY, SO YOU HEAR ME BETTER NOW.
THERE'S NOT AN INCORRECT ANSWER TO THAT.
YOU LIKE TO SEE IT. WE WANT TO HEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECORD IT AND IT'S GOING TO GO PART OF OUR PUBLIC ANALYSIS TO RESUBMIT THIS PLAN BACK TO PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROVAL.
I KIND OF COVER ALL THESE BULLET POINTS IN VERY BRIEF FASHION.
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT WE'VE DONE THIS.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GATHER YOUR INPUT TONIGHT.
AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE KIND OF WENT THROUGH THE SAME DRILL THE LAST TIME.
IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TO THE FRONT AND ADDRESS, YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO DO THAT.
BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE, WE HAVE WHAT WE ARE CALLING THE DOT GAME AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY VOTE ON FACILITIES ON THE BOARD JUST SIMPLY BY I'VE GOT THE GREEN DOTS AND YOU JUST SIMPLY VOTE FOR THIS BOARD TO MY FAR RIGHT IS GOING TO BE YOUR TOP THREE OPTIONS OF WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE. OVER THE BOARD IN THE MIDDLE IS GOING TO BE WHAT DO YOU DO IN BEDFORD PARKS NOW? WHAT DO YOU USE THEM FOR? AND THEN THE OPEN BOARD IS AN OPEN COMMENT BOARD.
IF I HAVEN'T COVERED IT THERE, THEN I WANT YOU TO WRITE IT ON THE BOARD.
WE CAN ALSO WRITE THOSE SAME COMMENTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THESE BOARDS.
IT'S AN INFORMAL PROCESS AND WE CAN GET STARTED IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
YEAH. DO YOU WANT TO COME UP AND ADDRESS FORMALLY OR DO YOU JUST WANT TO BREAK INTO THE GROUP? I MEAN, I THINK WE SHOULD JUST OPEN UP LIKE WE DID LAST TIME.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO
[00:10:10]
Y'ALL SHARE THAT.[00:16:22]
THANK YOU.HEY, DENNIS. MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAD A CITIZEN WHO WANTED TO COME.
YEAH, YEAH, THAT WAS ABOUT TO SAY I WAS GOING TO OPEN IT FOR ANY COMMENTS.
IF ANY CITIZENS HAD ANY COMMENTS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO APPROACH TO THE MICROPHONE AND.
AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW I WOULD.
BUT ONE OF MY CONCERNS I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS AGAIN IS THAT FOR THE FACILITY, THE ACTUAL BUILDING.
IF THE YMCA IS GOING TO OPERATE IT, I JUST AM CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE JUST SPEAKING OF JIMMY, ABOUT THE AMENITIES THAT IT WILL HAVE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ON A CITIZENS USE BASIS THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO BE MEMBERS OF THE Y OR WHATEVER, OR THAT THE CITY WON'T BE ABLE TO USE THOSE FACILITIES AS EASILY IF THE Y IS OPERATING THE FACILITY.
I DON'T KNOW. IT MAY NOT IT MAY WORK OUT JUST FINE.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS THINKING AHEAD FOR THAT.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF USE BY FOR SOME OF THESE PURPOSES?
[00:20:06]
FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS? I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO RESPOND BECAUSE THAT.OKAY. WHY DO YOU WANT ME TO RESPOND? I DON'T WANT TO FEEL LIKE I'M LIKE, WELL, IT'S THE SAME WHETHER THE YMCA OPERATES IT OR THE CITY OPERATES IT, THE YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE A MEMBERSHIP TO BE ABLE TO USE THE FACILITY. SURE.
AND THEN ALSO WE'RE IN THE AGREEMENT, WE'LL HAVE IT SET ASIDE AGAIN.
BUT NO, ANY THOUGHTS LIKE THAT? WE WANT TO HEAR BECAUSE THOSE ARE GREAT COMMENTS.
SO OPEN COURT, WHERE IS OPEN COURT TIME? WHERE IS IF I JUST I DON'T WANT TO BE A MEMBER, BUT MY FAMILY WANTS TO COME AND WE WANT TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY SWIM NIGHT, YOU KNOW, AT THE POOL.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND WHAT HOOPS DOES A RESIDENT HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT FACILITY AND AT WHAT COST TOO. SO THAT'S A BIG CONCERN FOR ME.
NOW, FOR THE REST OF THE MASTER PLAN, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE I'VE DONE A COUPLE OF MASTER PLANS FOR THE PARKS AND I HAVE A LIST.
OKAY, SO I'M JUST GOING TO RUN THROUGH THE LIST, IF YOU HAVE A THOUGHT.
JUST STOPPING ANY OLD TIME SPLASH PAD SOMEWHERE DOESN'T MATTER.
SIDEWALKS THAT CONNECT TO ALL THE PARKS.
YOU CAN'T TURN THE CORNER ON FORREST RIDGE AND HAVE A SIDEWALK.
SO THAT THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I DID PUT A GREENHOUSE ON HERE.
YEAH. WE HAD ONE A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.
MAYBE THAT HAS COME BACK IN, ON VOGUE NOW.
I DON'T KNOW, A ROCK CLIMBING WALL.
WHO KNOWS? WIFI IN ALL THE PARKS.
I THINK THAT IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE PARKS AND STILL HAVE ACCESS TO EVERYBODY'S ACCESS HAS ACCESS TO THEIR PHONES RIGHT NOW AND TO THEIR DAILY LIVES.
LIGHTS AT ALL THE PARKS FOR USE AFTER DARK, PARTICULARLY AFTER DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.
OF COURSE WE KNOW. I JUST SAW THIS ON AN ARTICLE.
I DON'T KNOW. I JUST SAW SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND I WENT, OH SOUNDS KIND OF GOOD.
MORE BASKETBALL, MORE BASKETBALL COURTS.
SO WE HAVE ONE OUTDOOR COURT IN THE CITY OF BEDFORD.
DO YOU THINK THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY TO TO COME TO THAT ONE COURT? AND THERE'S A SEPARATE ISSUE I NEED TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT ABOUT ACCESS TO THAT COURT ON THE WEEKENDS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? WELL, WE'RE THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
WELL, GENERATIONS PARK IS ALSO GOING TO HAVE OUTDOOR COURT.
SO ARE YOU REFERRING TO CENTRAL PARK? YEAH. THAT'S ONLY WHEN WE'VE GOT RIGHT NOW.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE AXIS. I WAS AWARE SO IT'D BE AWESOME.
WE GOT RID OF THE VOLLEYBALL COURT AT CENTRAL PARK TO PUT IN THE BASKETBALL COURT.
AND THE VOLLEYBALL COURTS ARE NOT AT GENERATION'S PARK ANY LONGER.
IT WASN'T REALLY A PARK, BUT IT WAS A SKATE FACILITY.
WHAT'S THAT CALLED? THAT SPORT THAT EVERYBODY PLAYS ON THE ICE? HOCKEY, THANK YOU. YEAH, HOCKEY.
AND THEN JUST KIDS, JUST SKATING.
WHETHER IT'S A PARK WITH RAMPS AND STUFF OR IF IT'S JUST THE FLAT RINK, I THINK IT'S NECESSARY.
DISABILITY ITEMS AT ALL PARKS, SOME KIND OF AMENITY AT EVERY PARK FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
KIDS IN WHEELCHAIRS, ADULTS IN WHEELCHAIRS, WHATEVER.
EASY ACCESS FOR THOSE PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS TO GET TO THOSE AMENITIES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
BUT HOW DO YOU GET FROM THE SIDEWALK TO THAT SWING WHEN YOU HAVE TO IN YOUR WHEELCHAIR, WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO OVER ALL THE MULCH? AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT WE NEED TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT THAT.
HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? CITY LEAGUE.
FOR SPORTS AND CITY LEAGUES FOR PLAYING PICKLEBALL, WHATEVER.
[00:25:01]
I DON'T KNOW. BUT LOOK AT THE CITY LEAGUE OPPORTUNITIES, SAFETY TOWN, I THINK MANY OF US PROBABLY DID SAFETY TOWN OR WE SENT OUR KIDS TO SAFETY TOWN TO LEARN HOW TO RIDE THEIR BIKES SAFELY ON THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.AGAIN, MAYBE IT'S BACK IN BUSINESS AGAIN.
AND I SAW THAT ON ONE OF THESE LISTS HERE.
IT'S REALLY COOL, REALLY LIKE IT.
POWER OUTLETS IN ALL THE PARKS AGAIN.
SO YOU CAN CHARGE YOUR ELECTRONICS, WHATEVER.
LITTLE KIDS, PLAYGROUND, MAYBE SOMEWHERE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PLAYGROUNDS FOR KIDS.
BUT DO WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING FOR LITTLE PEOPLE? MAYBE. AND I READ SOMETHING COOL ABOUT.
I THINK IT WAS CALLED BATTERY SOIL PARK.
SO IT'S LIKE THEY'RE USING SOLAR ENERGY TO LIGHT THE PARKS AND IT'S SOMETHING IN THE GROUND.
DON'T ASK ME, NRPA.ORG, WHATEVER, THAT'S WHERE I GOT IT.
BUT IT SOUNDED REALLY COOL AND DOABLE.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD BE THINKING AHEAD AND THINKING ABOUT THE NEXT TEN YEARS.
WHAT IS WHAT ARE OUR PARKS GOING TO LOOK LIKE? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO NEED? WHAT AMENITIES ARE WE GOING TO NEED? TODAY? WE MAYBE WE DON'T NEED SO MUCH.
MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE NEED MORE SOLAR, MORE CONNECTIVITY, MORE STUFF LIKE THAT.
THAT, WHO KNOWS? OKAY. DID I GO TOO FAST? DID I SAY ENOUGH? DID I LEAVE ANYTHING OUT IN THE OFFERING? GREAT. GREAT.
OKAY, ALL RIGHT I'M PASSING MY LIST OVER.
I JUST WANTED TO RESPOND TO YOUR COMMENT, MISS COOK.
STORMY JONES ACTUALLY HAS VOLLEYBALL THERE.
I DON'T KNOW, IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A FEW YEARS.
I KNOW. I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE.
I'LL STAND OVER HERE. I GOT A LOUD VOICE ANYWAY.
Y'ALL KNOW ME. I'M RANDY NEWBY.
I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD.
SOMETHING I'VE BEEN PUSHING SINCE 2016, WHICH JEANNETTE BROUGHT UP TO IS AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND.
I PROPOSED THIS SIX YEARS AGO NOW.
SO, ANYWAY, I PROPOSE THIS IN 2016 BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED.
WE CHOSE CENTRAL PARK, MAINLY BECAUSE IT'S VERY LARGE AND IT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED, BUT IT'S GOT ACCESS, HUGE PARKING LOT, THINGS OF THIS NATURE.
WE NEED IT. QUESTION, AND I MAY NOT, I MAY, BUT WASN'T FORMER COUNCILMAN SADR WORKING ON A DREAM PARK? WELL, THAT'S WHAT IT IS SO IS ANYONE ON THAT BOARD THAT'S HERE? ME. SO WHERE ARE WE AT? WELL, THE BOARD WHAT WE ENDED UP CALLING THE FRIENDS OF BEDFORD PARK'S FOUNDATION, EXCUSE ME, AND 501 C, WE GOT THAT ALL DONE AND EVERYTHING SO WE CAN RAISE FUNDS AND THINGS, BUT THAT'S ALL WE SEEM TO DO FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO.
THAT'S ALL WE DID. AND AS FAR AS IT GOES, IT HASN'T GONE ANYWHERE ELSE.
WE HAVE SOME DONATIONS SAM FAIRCHILD HAS THAT, KNOWS ABOUT THAT.
IT'S NOT MUCH. I THINK IT'S $5600.
I THINK THEY SAID SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
YEAH. SO ANYWAY, IT REALLY HADN'T GONE ANYWHERE BUT KIND OF GETTING AWAY FROM THAT.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IN ALL OUR PARKS, NOT JUST CENTRAL PARK.
AND WHAT JEANETTE WAS TALKING ABOUT IS ACCESS TO IT.
THAT'S ONE REASON I PICK CENTRAL PARK, BECAUSE ONE THING, IT HAS A HUGE PARKING LOT.
IT ALREADY HAS WALKWAYS WHICH DO NEED TO BE AMENDED.
ADA, YOU GOT TO HAVE THEM WIDER.
YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TWO WHEELCHAIRS THAT CAN PASS EACH OTHER.
AND RIGHT NOW THEY COULDN'T DO THAT ON THOSE DIFFERENT TYPE PLAYGROUND SURFACES.
[00:30:03]
SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE WATCHED KIDS IN WHEELCHAIRS TRY TO STRUGGLE ACROSS THAT JUST AT WORK.SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M REALLY BEEN PUSHING FOR MANY YEARS TO GET DONE.
THE FOUNDATION WE COULD SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF BEEN MY DREAM.
SO I WANT TO SEE IT DONE WITH CENTRAL PARK STILL.
I'D LIKE TO SEE IT IN OTHER PLAYGROUNDS, THINGS OF THIS NATURE.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M REALLY ADAMANT ABOUT.
IT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO SEE FOR BEDFORD.
WE WERE GOING TO BE NUMBER NINE.
FORT WORTH GOT WIND OF IT AND THEY OPENED THEIR BIG PARK, GRAND PRAIRIE OPEN, THEIRS.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LOT MORE WORK TOWARDS INCLUSIVE.
WE NEED THAT. NOT JUST CENTRAL PARK BUT ALL THE PARKS.
THANK YOU. QUESTION THEY HAVE NOT MET IN TWO YEARS.
YEAH. OKAY. SO THEY'VE MET IN TWO YEARS.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, WELL, THANK YOU, RANDY.
SINCE RUSTY LEFT IT'S JUST KIND OF FALLEN APART.
SO, ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY.
WELL, I APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT.
YOU WANT TO. YOU WANT TO YOU YOU WANT TO GET UP OR DO YOU WANT TO MEET HALFWAY? YEAH, WE CAN MEET IN THE MIDDLE.
AND THEN NOTHING EVER HAPPENED TO.
WE DON'T. WE HAD OTHER INTEREST.
SORRY. THEY DID HAVE OTHER INTEREST AT THE TIME.
AND SO THAT DID GO ON THE WAYSIDE.
AND WE HAD TO BUILD OUR 501 3 C BEFORE WE COULD ACCEPT THOSE FUNDS.
YEAH, WE DID HAVE ALMOST A YEAR TO GET THOSE TAKEN CARE OF, BUT THAT WAS GREAT.
I MEAN, WE REALLY WANTED THAT TO HAPPEN, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T.
SO WE'RE STILL GOING TO TRY TO DO SOME THINGS.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY UP HERE FOR.
THANK YOU. ANY ANYBODY ELSE? YES, SIR.
MOST OF IT. BUT YOU CAN SEE I'M A SENIOR, SO I VOICE IT MOSTLY ON SENIORS.
BUT I'VE BEEN HERE 50 YEARS AND I HAVE TO SAY, IN 50 YEARS, THE ONLY THING I'VE EVER SEEN THAT BEDFORD DID REAL QUALITY IS THE LAKE AROUND THE BOYS RANCH.
AND I'VE SEEN SO MANY OTHER THINGS IN BEDFORD.
IT'S JUST BEEN TOTAL FAILURES.
AND I JUST HATE TO SEE ALL THIS HAPPENED WHEN I MOVED HERE.
I EXPECTED A LOT OF GOOD THINGS TO BE HAPPENING AND IT HASN'T.
AND AS FAR AS I GO TO HEARST AWFUL LOT AND BECAUSE THEY REALLY TAKE CARE OF THEIR CITIZENS AND ANYHOW OVER THERE ON THEIR SENIOR CENTER, THEY HAVE THE MOST WELL DESIGNED AND AND MANAGED FACILITY OVER THERE.
AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE TO GO ON.
AND IT CHARTS FOR HEARST RESIDENTS, YOU ONLY HAVE TO PAY $20 A YEAR, WHICH I THINK IS A STEAL.
NOW I BEING OUT OF BEDFORD, I HAVE TO PAY $80, BUT I THINK THAT'S A STEAL TOO.
AND IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT INSURANCE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING.
IT'S SILVERSNEAKERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
YEAH, BUT ANYHOW, I THINK A LOT OF THESE THINGS, YOU JUST BEDFORD JUST HASN'T BEEN UP TO SNUFF.
I DON'T THINK IN THE 50 YEARS I'VE LIVED HERE.
AND I THINK THEY REALLY HAVE TO HAVE MORE QUALITY THINGS.
IT'S. WELL, THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR INPUTS.
ONE THING THAT I DID NOT PUT ON MY LIST, BUT I DID SEE ON THE BOARD WAS ACQUISITION OF MORE LAND, THAT PROPERTY THAT IS SOUTH OF.
[00:35:05]
PARK AMENITY. THAT'S ALL.I PRESENTED LAST YEAR WHEN I REALIZED THE TENNIS COURTS WERE GONE FROM THE PLAN AND SOME BACK.
SO TENNIS COURTS WERE NOT HIGH ON THAT LIST.
SO I JUST WANT SOME CLARIFICATION.
ONE SAYS NEEDED RECREATIONAL OPTIONS AND ONE IS CURRENT.
SO ON THE NEEDED YOU HAVE ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY IN GENERATIONS PARK PLAN AND THEN IN THE BOTTOM YOU HAVE SOME STUFF THAT'S WRITTEN IN. SO WE HAVE WRITTEN IN TENNIS COURTS.
SO IS THAT RIGHT WHERE WE'RE VOTING FOR WHAT'S NEEDED? BUT IT'S ALREADY THERE.
THIS IS FOR THE WHOLE PARK SYSTEM.
AND SO WE MIGHT NEED TO LOOK AT ADDING THEM AT MEADOW PARK OR CENTRAL PARK.
BUT YEAH, IT'S FOR THE ENTIRE PARK SYSTEM.
OKAY. BECAUSE I KNOW THIS THESE MEETINGS YOU'RE HAVING ARE TO TRY TO GET THOSE TENNIS COURTS BACK.
I HAVE I UNDERSTAND I HAVE SOMETHING VERY SEMI EXCITED AND I GOT CLEARANCE TO SAY IT.
SO BECAUSE OF THE COST SAVINGS THAT THE THE CITY AND CITY MANAGEMENT HAS DONE WITH THE WITH THE NEW GENERATIONS PARK THAT THERE IS IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A VERY, VERY HIGH PROBABILITY OF HAVING THOSE TENNIS COURTS PUT IN.
OK. SO I ASKED FIRST, AND THAT IS REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE ON THESE BOARDS, OR DO YOU NEED TO HAVE THE BOARD SHOW IT? WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THERE'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS.
IT'S TOO EARLY BECAUSE THERE'S STILL SIX MONTHS LEFT.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO KIND OF COUNT OUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY'RE FOR THE HATCH.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE GETTING COST ESTIMATES FOR DIFFERENT AMENITIES, PRIMARILY LIKE THE TENNIS COURTS, BECAUSE THERE'S A REMAINING PORTION OF GENERATIONS PARK THAT IS VACANT, THAT WILL BE VACANT.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE COST ESTIMATES ARE, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT.
AND THEN ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT WE'RE UPDATING OUR MASTER PLAN AND MR. SIMS HAS MENTIONED BEFORE, IS WE WANT TO APPLY FOR A GRANT WITH THE STATE UP TO $750,000 AND BASICALLY IT'S TYPICALLY A CASH MATCH.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET THERE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT'S DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR.
AND SO BUT IT COULD BE AT ANY PARK.
THE COST SAVINGS WOULD NEED TO BE USED AT EITHER OBS OR GENERATIONS PARK, BUT THEN WE WOULD COME TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND SAY, OKAY, THESE ARE THE REMAINING FUNDS, THESE ARE SOME OF THE AMENITIES THAT WE CAN DO.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
AND SO ULTIMATELY IT'S CONTINGENT UPON THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL APPROVING IT AND WE'LL GIVE THEM DIFFERENT OPTIONS KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE REQUESTED THE STAFF LOOK AT WAYS TO BENEFIT OR IMPROVE ALL THE CITY PARKS.
SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE TURNOUT IS ON THAT, WILL THE TENNIS COURTS BE THE PRIORITY WITH THIS GRANT? WELL, THAT'S ULTIMATELY.
DENNIS, ARE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING? SORRY. THIS IS ONE PHASE, THIS EXACT PHASE OF THE PUBLIC INPUT.
THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSIDERING, TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PRIORITY IS.
SO THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS IT'S GOING TO PLAY INTO IT, BUT IT'S NOT FINAL.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE, SAY, 50 PEOPLE TONIGHT SAY WE WANT A MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE.
SO I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT APPEAR THAT IT'S ALWAYS A POPULARITY CONTEST IN TERMS OF AMENITIES.
SO I SEE HOW HARD I HAVE TO WORK TO GET PEOPLE TO SHOW UP.
I THINK, WELL, I THINK BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL KNOWING THAT WE'RE GETTING COST ESTIMATES ON TENNIS COURTS AND THEN LOOKING AT OTHER AMENITIES, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S DEFINITELY ON THE RADAR.
BUT THE SPACE WHERE THEY WERE ALLOCATED IS STILL THERE AND IT'S EMPTY.
SO THERE IS ROOM ON THAT PLAN WHERE THEY DROP IN NICELY.
[00:40:11]
ANYHOW. THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE TENNIS COURTS, AND I THINK TENNIS COURTS ARE GREAT.AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY HIGH.
I'M 85 AND I JUST DON'T DO IT ANYMORE.
BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUNG ALL THE WAY THROUGH 40, 50, 60.
YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THERE ARE GOING TO BE PICKLEBALL COURTS IN THE NEW FACILITY.
THERE'S LAND THAT'S NEXT TO MEADOW PARK THAT'S BEEN THERE SEEMS VACANT FOR A LONG TIME.
DO WE OWN THAT? THE CITY OF BEDFORD? NO, THAT BELONGS TO ISD, HEB ISD.
OK, ARE THEY EVER GOING TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT OR IS JUST GOING TO BE WELL, WE ACTUALLY THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
BUT JUST TO CLARIFY, THE CITY DOESN'T OWN ANY OF MEADOW PARK.
WE HAVE A LEASE TO USE THE PORTION THAT WE'RE USING.
SO THE IMPROVEMENTS WE MAKE ARE ARE BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE AN ACTIVE LEASE ON THAT PROPERTY.
WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE, Y'ALL.
BUT EVIDENTLY THAT WAS INITIALLY BOUGHT FOR ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SO NOW THAT THEY'VE DECIDED THEY DON'T NEED IT FOR A HIGH SCHOOL OR ANY OTHER SCHOOL, THEY'RE SUPPOSEDLY VERY CLOSE TO DECIDING WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH IT IN TERMS OF SELLING IT OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
BUT WE'RE WE'RE AS CURIOUS AS YOU ARE, QUITE FRANKLY.
THING ALSO. I HAD INTRODUCED OR TALKED TO DON AND OUR COUNCIL BEFORE ABOUT A NATURE PARK, WHICH JEANETTE BROUGHT UP TOO, ONE SOUTH OF DEWEY TENNANT PARK, BUT ANYWAY, ALSO ACROSS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NEXT TO THE WHERE DON HENDERSON'S OFFICE IS, THERE'S THAT LAND.
I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GREAT NATURE PARK.
WELL, I KNOW COLLEYVILLE HAS A BIG BIRD WATCHING SOCIETY, AND CAROL HAS TALKED WITH THEM AND THEY SAID, WELL, HOW COME YOU DON'T HAVE SOMETHING? AND I SAID, WELL, I'VE TRIED TO INTRODUCE SOMETHING.
AND ANYWAY, I JUST THINK THAT LAND COULD BE USED AS A NATURE PARK.
THEN A PARKING. NOW, NO DOUBT PARKING WOULD BE TOUGH.
ANYWAY, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING I THINK BEDFORD COULD UTILIZE ALSO.
ANYONE ELSE BEFORE? OH, YES, SIR. I LOVE YOUR SHIRT.
THAT'S AWESOME. APPRECIATE THAT, BRAD DANIEL, BEDFORD, RESIDENT SINCE 2003.
I'M JUST GOING TO GET UP HERE AND BE A SUPERHERO FOR PICKLEBALL FOR JUST A MINUTE.
RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY VIABLE OPTIONS WE HAVE ARE TCC NORTHEAST AND DOVE PARK IN GRAPEVINE.
AND IF YOU WANT TO GO TO BEAR CREEK AT PARK AND KELLER, THEY HAVE ONE THERE.
TCC THE CAMPUS? YES. IN NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, I MAY HAVE MISSPOKE, WHICH ONE THAT IS, BUT THE COLLEGE, THEY HAVE THE TENNIS COURTS, THEY HAVE THE PICKLEBALL COURTS.
THE PICKLEBALL COURTS ARE ALWAYS PACKED.
ALL FOUR COURTS ARE PACKED UP.
THERE'S LINES OF PEOPLE WAITING TO GET IN A GAME.
YOU LOOK OVER THE TENNIS COURTS HERE AND THEY'RE.
SPORADIC, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
IT'S THE SAME WAY AT DOVE PARK.
IT'S GOING TO BE A RESTAURANT WITH PICKLEBALL COURTS THAT YOU CAN GO PLAY THERE.
I DON'T WANT TO GO THERE. IT'S 40 BUCKS AN HOUR TO PLAY.
LIFETIME FITNESS, ALSO YOU CAN JOIN.
I'M LOOKING FOR THE FREE OPTIONS NOW.
ALL RIGHT. SORRY, SORRY, SORRY.
[00:45:01]
IF IT'S FREE, IT'S OKAY. SORRY.SO WE GO FOR THE FREE OPTIONS IN MY HOUSE.
AND LIKE. LIKE THIS GENTLEMAN SAID BEFORE, IT'S 8 TO 80.
IT DOESN'T MATTER. YOU CAN PLAY.
YOU COULD FIT TWO COURTS IN THIS ROOM.
I MEAN, I'M GOING TO I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU, I DON'T THINK YOU GO TO A ROOM 44 BY 20.
YEAH, I GET I MEAN, I GET STOPPED AT WORK ALL THE TIME.
AND I'M TOLD THAT WE NEED MORE PICKLEBALL COURTS.
HOW MANY PICKLEBALL COURTS ARE PICKLEBALL COURTS? EVERYWHERE I GO HAS FOUR COURTS AND THEY'RE ALWAYS PACKED UP.
SO JUST LET ME BE A PROPONENT FOR EIGHT.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE UP TO TWO AND A HALF SIZES OF OF A TENNIS COURT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SMALL OR COMPACT, BUT, YOU KNOW, COULD YOU THROW COULD YOU USE ALL SO COULD YOU USE LIKE IF WE WERE TO BUILD A FACILITY, COULD THAT BE FLEX USED, LIKE FOR TENNIS OR PICKLEBALL? I WOULD I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD WANT DESIGNATED COURTS SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT OUTDOORS.
AND YOU PLAY FOR 2 HOURS IN THE MORNING ON A WEDNESDAY ONCE A WEEK.
THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT PLAY THAT WAY.
THEY GO OUT THERE. WE'LL GO ME, MY WIFE, MY DAUGHTER.
WE'LL GO PLAY FOR TWO OR 3 HOURS.
IT'S A GREAT ACTIVITY BECAUSE WE NEED A FOURTH.
WE HAVE FOUND A FRIEND TO COME PLAY WITH US.
YOU CAN WALK UP AND PLAY WITH ANYBODY.
AND THERE'S A GROUP OF SENIORS THAT COME AND PLAY.
THERE'S YOUNG PEOPLE THAT CAN PLAY.
THERE'S FAMILIES. IT'S A GREAT SPORT.
I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON.
BUT THE POINT I REALLY WANT TO MAKE IS THAT YOU CAN'T JUST PAINT LINES ON A TENNIS COURT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY, IT'S IT'S A SHORTER NET.
YOU CAN'T JUST USE A TENNIS COURT BECAUSE IT'S JUST DIFFERENT.
THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT. ALL RIGHT.
THANKS FOR THE TIME. ALL RIGHT.
ARE WE ANYBODY? ANYBODY ELSE? YES, SIR. COME ON DOWN.
BUT I REALLY WANT TO SEE, LIKE, A SKATE PARK, RIGHT? BECAUSE I LIKE SKATING.
IT'S FUN. AND THERE ARE NONE THAT I CAN GO TO, LIKE, FROM MY HOUSE, SO.
I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC MEETING.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY? SO JUST AS A REMINDER, THESE WILL BE UP IN IN THE LIBRARY NEXT WEEK.
SO IF YOU'RE WATCHING AT HOME, PLEASE SWING BY THE LIBRARY.
WE'D LOVE YOUR INPUT. THIS IS HOW WE GET THE CITIZENS VOICES BY EVERYONE'S INVOLVEMENT.
NO, I THOUGHT YOU DID ANOTHER GOOD MEETING.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. SO KNOW WHAT TIME IS WHAT? WHAT TIME WE'LL BE IN THE LIBRARY? WHEN THE LIBRARY IS OPEN. VERY SPECIFIC.
YEAH SO SWING BY AND WE'LL LET'S GET YOUR INPUT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING BY AND GIVING YOUR INPUTS.
AND I AM NOW LOOKING FOR A MOTION.
A MOTION TO ADJOURN. OH, WE'VE GOT A FIRST MOTION FOR MAYOR PRO TEM SABLE.
WELL, DO I HAVE A SECOND? BOB COCKER? NO. I MEAN, CINDY ALMENDAREZ FOR THE SECOND AND ALL IN FAVOR.
HAVE A GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.