05.13.2021 Parks & Rec Minutes ►`� MINUTES
TOWN OF Regular Meeting of the
P S P E R. Prosper Parks and Recreation Board
Prosper Town Hall Council Chambers
250 W. First Street, Prosper, Texas
May 13, 2021, 6:00 pm
Prosper is a place where everyone
1. Call to Order/ Roll Call.
The meeting was called to order by Rebekah Land, Chair, at 6:00 pm.
Board members present: Rebekah Land, Chair; John Metcalf, Vice Chair; Gina Kern, Secretary;
Ty Bledsoe; Matt Cely; Matt Furay; and Cameron Reeves.
Staff members present: Dudley Raymond, Director of Parks and Recreation; Paul Naughton, Parks
Planning Manager; Trevor Helton, Recreation Supervisor; Matt Furr, Parks Supervisor; and
Patty Kendzie, Marketing Coordinator.
2. Consider and act upon approval of the Draft Minutes from the April 8, 2021, Regular Meeting of
the Parks and Recreation Board.
Motion to approve by Metcalf. Second by Bledsoe. Approved 7-0.
3. Consider and act upon approval of Pecan Grove Park Improvements Master Plan
Raymond gave an overview of the Public Input Meetings held previously and described subsequent
emails and comments received from residents.
Raymond's presentation detailed the half basketball court, meeting notifications and publicity, the
Recreation, Parks and Open Space Master Plan, green space, home values, and the park survey.
• Law enforcement in Frisco and Prosper support construction of courts in parks and indicate there is
not a higher rate of criminal activity in parks with courts. Park rules and hours will be posted and the
courts would not be lighted.
• The Master Plan is the guiding document for the Prosper parks and recreation system and includes
input from the Board, Town Council and residents. The desire for basketball courts ranked above
many others in the Master Plan. Courts were slated for Pecan Grove Park in 2015.
• The Town publicized the Pecan Grove Park meetings and survey in multiple ways, including social
media, signage, HOA notifications, website postings, Town email and e-newsletter.
• Resident surveys in 2005 and 2015 garnered similar results which matched national standards fairly
closely, thereby indicating the validity of the data.
• 94% of the current park green space would be retained if the proposed park improvements were
constructed. Pecan Grove Park spans 990,000 square feet.
• Per real estate professionals, home values typically do not drop when courts are placed in parks.
• Migratory birds will not be affected by Pecan Grove Park development.
• Half courts are intended for small neighborhoods, as they reduce the need to drive to another park
which encourages children to stay close to home.
Raymond summarized the 2021 Pecan Grove Park Survey results: 13% favor Option A(courts by the
playground); 26% favor Option B (courts by LaCima Blvd.); and 61% favor Option C (no courts). The
Board asked numerous questions and also requested citizen input.
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Residents who addressed the Board spoke in opposition to the proposed improvements and asked that
courts not be placed in Pecan Grove Park. Several residents also requested: green space be kept;
sidewalks be added; the playground be improved; and concrete spaces not be added to the park.
Motion to approve Option C by Bledsoe. Second by Furay. Approved by a vote of 5-2, with Land and
Metcalf voting in opposition.
4. Comments by the Public.
There were no comments by the public.
5. Informational items
a. Recreation Update
Helton said participation in the 2021 Mayor's Fitness Challenge increased from 2020. Participants will be
recognized at the May 25 Town Council meeting and the Fitbit winner will be announced. T-shirts will be
available for pick up from the office. Cely requested that an hour option be added to the 2022 tracking
sheet to accommodate those who work out(for example, lift, row, attend fitness class).
Summer Camp begins in June and registration is already high. Wait lists will form and locations will be
added, if possible. Helton described the Recreational Scholarship Program and said four applications
have been received, to date. Cely reminded the Board they voted to fund scholarships at 100% in 2020..
Staff is working to rebrand the Community Picnic to a BBQ and Blues event per Town Council's request
to revamp an existing event. Entertainment and food options will be expanded and Council interaction
with the community and nonprofit booth spaces will remain consistent. CoSery is the Title Sponsor of the
I rebranded event, scheduled for September 25, from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, at Frontier Park. Marketing will
begin after July 4.
b. Park Development Update
Naughton gave an update on four projects; Windsong Trails, US 380 Median Improvements, Hays Park
and Whitley Place Hike and Bike Trail. The annual Tree Tour will be May 27 at Whitley Place Park.
c. Park Operations Update
Furr said staff is completing an inventory and getting bids for plant replacements required due to storm
losses. The list continues to grow. Cely commended Furr and staff for keeping fields playable with so
much rain. Metcalf asked if staffing was an issue, given the reported shortage of qualified labor. Furr said
they are fully staffed.
6. Discussion regarding any miscellaneous business or items to be placed on future Agendas.
7. Adjourn.
Motion to adjourn by Furay. Second by Cely. Meeting adjourned at 7:38 pm. Approved 7-0.
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Gina Kern, Secretary i
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