Parks and Recreation

City Council News

June 2009 News

Administration

The Special Needs Softball League held the grand opening of their new field at Winston Park.  Restrooms have been renovated, fences installed, dugout benches and covers are in place.  Most importantly, the kids are having a great time.  Mayor Gorden and Park Board members Victor Bruce, Roy Reyes, and Richard Joseph assisted with the ribbon cutting.

The Deep East Texas Council of Governments Summer Program Grant is experiencing some hiring difficulties.  The grant criteria are for “At Risk” teens or seniors over 60 years.  We have several applicants, but they do not meet the requirements of the program.  We had hoped to accomplish some of the labor intensive projects on Gaslight Blvd, the Wetland Education area, and several park locations.

MHS Planning and Design continues to work on the Master Plan.  They are developing a citizen survey.  We are getting a mailing list together for that document.  We have also worked with them to divide our park users and interested groups into three categories for Focus Groups.  These will be Sports, Leadership/Civic, and Environmental.  Plans are to have all three meetings on one day.  It is a crucial aspect of the plan, as they gathering data and document the current and future needs of our citizens.

Arborist

Gardening Friends of Lufkin will not have a lecture in July.  The August speaker will be Keith Hansen, County Extension Agent – Horticulture Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Smith County.  He will present “Planting for Fall Color and Winter Interest,” August 6, 2009 at 7:00 pm in Lufkin City Hall room 102.  The Gardening Friends continue to work hard to keep the landscape at the entrance to Ellen Trout Park and Zoo looking good.

The Lufkin Landscape Task Force’s annual fall gala, “A Taste of Down Under” will be November 14, 2009.  There is a lot of excitement for this year’s Australian theme and décor.  It will be an evening of casual “outback” dress.  Proceeds will go for development of Bronaugh Park.  As soon as the bronze plaques are made for those who bought flags, the poles, flags and lighting will be installed.

Summer is in full force, hot and dry.  The crew is working hard to keep the weeds under control, perennials dead-headed and irrigation repaired and running.  Roses are in bloom at City Hall, Gaslight, and Mantooth Park.  Gaslight is in bloom with a variety of day lilies, giant cone flowers, and Bengal Tiger Cannas.  “Laura Bush” petunias and day lilies are blooming at the library.  The butterfly garden at Chambers Park is in full bloom with lots of butterflies. 

Recreation

The Summer I recreation program began classes June 1^st with 195 participants.  Classes and enrollment are as follows:  gymnastic – 114, cheerleading-15, pilates-12, karate-12, senior aerobics-23, softball camp-9, dance camp-5, and cheer camp -5.

Ali McClendon, Lindsey Chandler, and Dayna Zbylot are doing a great job teaching 114 children the concepts of gymnastics.  Eighteen classes are being taught this session.

Registration for the summer II recreation program begins June 29^th and will continue through July 10^th, with classes beginning July 13^th.

The annual July 4^th Celebration will be held at Ellen Trout Park on Saturday, July 4^th from 1:00 pm till 9:15 pm.  Mike Love and Associates will be sponsoring the fireworks display.  The City of Lufkin, Mike Love and staff, and K-Fox 95 Radio have been meeting on a regular basis and are set and ready to go.  Candace Dawson is working with Barry Cox to make sure all vendors know where to set up and have passes to get in the park.

The Parks Department is still trying to open Jones Pool this summer.  The City has not received enough qualified lifeguards to open.

Sports

Adult softball leagues are only running one week behind schedule.  Nights are extremely hot, but so far no injuries have occurred, due to heat.  City play-offs should begin play the week of July 6^th and finish the week of July 20^th.

Registration for Summer II softball leagues began, June 22^nd and will continue through July 10^th.  Leagues being offered are Men’s Open, Open Co-Ed, and Church Co-Ed.  These games are scheduled to begin play the week of July 27^th.

Lufkin hosted the ASA Girl’s 12U “B” Fast-Pitch State Tournament June 12-14 at Kit McConnico Park.  Twenty-nine teams from all over Texas traveled to Lufkin to play.  Twenty-five teams spent two nights in motels with fourteen teams staying in Lufkin.  Over 1000 people showed up at Kit McConnico to enjoy the state tournament festivities.  Nacogdoches, Nitro, took first place honors and has a chance to travel to La Grange, Georgia for Nationals.  This is one of the smoothest tournaments the Parks Department has ever hosted.  Almost every team had nothing but good things to say about quality of playing fields, umpires, and how well the tournament was organized.

Parks

With the hot weather, all crews have to be careful with fluid intake and keeping an eye on each other.  

The parks are looking good.  This is accomplished by all maintenance personnel.  It has been a challenge to keep all of the plant material alive throughout the park system with the dry conditions.

The crew is working to get the 4th July Celebration at Ellen Trout Park set up.  This comes after completion of the Juneteenth event at Brandon Park.  The crew moved and set three bleachers for this event.

The softball field at Winston Park was finished and used by the special needs teams. There was a girl’s youth State Tournament at Kit McConnico Park on the 12th, 13th, and 14^th.  This was a big turnout, the crews worked hard to keep up with this event.

I would like to thank the maintenance crew for the work they accomplish for the City of Lufkin.  Without the crew, the parks would not be a pleasant experience for our citizens, visitors, and many special events.

Office

The month of June was full of individuals wanting to reserve park pavilions for birthday parties and family reunions.  The total reservations at each park was down a little from last month, but the parks were still very busy.

Number of Reservations

Chambers Center -22

·         Meetings – 5

·         Dulcimer – 4

·         Reunions – 6

·         Weddings – 1

·         Baby Shower –1

·         Wedding Anniversaries-1

·         Church-1

·         Birthday Parties-2

·         Bridal Showers-1

Brandon Center -15

·         Special Events – 2

·         Church – 4

·         Graduation Party – 5

·         Meeting – 3

·         Reunions-1

Total revenue for Chambers Center – $880.00

Total revenue for Brandon Center – $300.00

Chambers Park – 77

Grace Dunne Richardson Park – 26

Herty – 2

Jones Park – 5

Kiwanis – 44

Winston – 5