A sizable turnout Monday night by residents of the adjacent Baker’s Branch neighborhood surprised members of the PALS Undeveloped Park Land Subcommittee.
The meeting was not a public hearing.
The subcommittee met to view updated design concepts for the western portion of Bakersfield Park and the Braden Tract, at 1201 Duncan Lane, and for the Wilson, Carmel and Ruff Tracts at 1200 Gerualt Rd.
Presenting the revised concepts by Dunway Associates, Larry O’Flinn outlined elements of the Braden Tract and Bakersfield Park to include: soccer practice fields; baseball practice fields; infield baseball practice field; coin-operated batting cages; concession stands; and, a playground.
"B1 [The design concept] has everything we were looking for … and everything the citizens were looking for," subcommittee member, Elizabeth Lumpkins said.
Subcommittee member Karl Drescher said he was happy the design plan met all of the needs previously discussed.
"I like B1 [design concept] because there are items that can be used by all of the citizens," Drescher said.
The design concept for the Wilson, Ruff and Carmel tracts include: a botanical garden; butterfly garden; amphitheater; open play areas; disc golf; and, a dog park.
Drescher expressed his concern about using the term "botanical gardens" worrying that residents may assume the garden will be extravagant and costly, like gardens in Dallas or Fort Worth.
According to O’Flinn, the botanical garden will have native plants and focuses on clearing underbrush.
Members of the Baker’s Branch Home Owners Association attended the meeting hoping to discuss rundown properties near their neighborhood.
"We came to the meeting hoping to discuss the farm house. … We didn’t realize we weren’t able to speak tonight and plan to attend the public hearing," resident of Baker’s Branch Amy Brown said.
Brown said she is concerned about children playing in the farmhouse because it is unsafe. Director of the Parks and Recreation Jack Jones said a farmhouse and a few other houses need to be taken down.
"A budget of $300,000 was set aside this year to clean up the properties," Jones said. "With the Community Activities Center behind us we can focus on cleaning up those properties."
Jones said he understands Brown’s concerns and is trying to address the issues quickly.
A public hearing will be July 10 for residents to express concern and ask questions about the plans for underdeveloped parkland.