Howard Payne University students made a presentation Tuesday to the Brownwood City Council regarding their work and conclusions through a public information campaign on the city’s Parks & Recreation Master Plan Survey.
Council members approved the survey form at their council meeting held Tuesday, January 27th city and authorized the survey to be conducted. Students publicized the survey through posters at city buildings, in local news media and online through social media and the City’s own website.
According to Parks and Recreation Director David Withers, the first Park & Recreation Master Plan was developed with the help of the Lower Colorado River Authority and was adopted by the Brownwood City council on January 9, 2001, with an updated version being approved on April 22, 2008. The survey, according to City Manager Bobby Rountree, was developed by the city staff and has been approved by the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board.
Dr. Kevin Kelley and his class at Howard Payne University publicized and then analyzed the results which they presented to the council Tuesday. According to the students, 1118 residents participated in the survey, most of which lived in Wards 3 and 5 of the city (locations near Riverside and Coggin Parks). Students also noted that the majority of respondents were between the ages of 25-54 and were mostly Caucasian.
The respondents to the survey indicated that they enjoy walking and swimming at city parks more than any other activities. The majority of respondents also stated that parks improve the city’s image and that the city should improve existing parks before creating new parks.
Coggin Park, Riverside Park and the Bert Massey Sports Complex were the most visited parks in the city according to the survey results.
Respondents also stated that they would like to see more lighted play areas as well as an increased number of walking/jogging trails in the city’s parks.
With these results and other data collected, City Manager Bobby Rountree stated that residents’ input will help determine Brownwood’s future Parks & Recreation Master Plan. This plan is a major part of what allows the City of Brownwood to receive grants from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), explained Rountree.
To date, the city has received $1,235,691 million in grants over the last ten years. These grants are as follows:
2005: Trails Grant for Riverside Park $85,692
2008: Small Communities Grant for Coggin Park $50,000
2010: Indoor Recreation Grant for Annex $500,000
2010: Outdoor Recreation Grant for Aquatic Center & Sports Complex $500,000
2013: Camp Bowie Soccer Complex $100,000
Rountree thanked the students for their hard work and diligence. He explained that the students came to city officials looking for a project just as city administration and staff had begun discussing the creation of the survey, and that the timing could not have been better.
Mayor Stephen Haynes stated that the conclusions will be taken into consideration during the next year’s budgeting process to see where the tax payers’/respondents’ money needs to be spent.
At Tuesday’s meeting, council authorized City Manager Rountree to enter into an agreement with Texas Parks and Wildlife accepting a National Recreational Trails Grant in the amount of $200,000 which will be used to help construct a 2 mile walking trail from the Brownwood Middle School along the west side of Calvert Road to the new soccer complex and will continue along South Willis Creek around Gordon Wood Stadium, crossing Milam drive passing the Camp Bowie Family Aquatic Center and around to the Bert V. Massey Sports Complex to the existing large parking lot along Dickman Drive.
The grant provides an 80%-20% match. The total project cost must meet a minimum total of $250,000; however, preliminary estimates for the trail, including concrete, asphalt, ADA ramps, handrails, cross-walks, culverts, signage and benches is $445,000. This total is expected to be reduced by designating existing asphalt for the trail. Maximum cost to the City of Brownwood would be $245,000 and funds would come from the Street Certificates of Obligation along with in-house labor, equipment and materials when possible.
Mayor Haynes suggested that the council consider expanding the trail slightly to a length of 3.1 miles in order to accommodate future 5K runs. The trail is expected to be completed by June 30, 2018. It will consist of an 8 foot wide path of concrete and asphalt, according to city officials.
Pictured at top are HPU students and Dr. Kelley after the presentation to the Brownwood City Council. Those participating on the survey publicity campaign and analysis include Brittany Cavness, Chandler Condra, Burke Edwards, Kellee Greenwood, Kelcie Hunter, Summer King, Victoria Krawczynski, Adam Lloyd, Sean Locker, Natali Maldonado, and their professor Dr. Kevin Kelley.
