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Jul 27, 20235 min read

01 August 2023 Parks Board Meeting

Updated: May 4


• Agenda Items: dedication of Kings Gate Park from Wilks Development; update on Willow Park and EPCoT Trail System (Willow Park Trails Amendment Master Plan)

• Location and Time: El Chico City Hall, 120 El Chico, Suite A, Willow Park, Texas 76087, 6PM





 

Agenda Items


Minutes: Staff member Fisher thanked Board Member Gomez for his generous donation for the non-verbal sign presented and ordered by WPPD Lt. Ramirez which was approved by the Board at the last meeting.member Gomez confirmed the cost of the Title Policy.


2. Discussion & Action: Consideration and acceptance for the dedication of Kings Gate Park from Wilks Development to the City of Willow Park, and payment of Title Policy. #TIRZandWilksDev

  • Background: The Planned Development Zoning District for The Shops at Willow Park, approved by City Council on October 25, 2016 [Agenda] Ordinance 740-16, and amended April 12, 2022 [Agenda], states in Paragraph 14(a) “Hike and Bike Trail: Open Space”: …“At the developer’s written request and after a final plat for at least 80 percent of the Property has been recorded, the developer will dedicate by separate instrument some or all of the greenbelt (GB) planning arca shown on the Site Plan, including the hike and bike trail and public parking areas, and City will accept and maintain the dedicated area and improvements.”…


City staff approached Wilks Development in February 2023 to discuss its early release and dedication of Kings Gate Park to the City of Willow Park. This early transfer will not only accelerate the city’s possession of additional public park space, but its city ownership will also allow for easier construction of the single-track hike and bike trails planned and more park improvements.


Due to surrounding property owners other than Wilks Development, it was agreed by Staff and Wilks that the property should be fully surveyed and a title commitment completed for property transfer. Wilks Development has agreed to pay the cost for the engineering and survey, and for the legal documents to be drafted, and the City to pay $2,347.60 for the title policy.

  • Exhibits:

  • Easement Map

  • Rattikin Title Insurance quote and survey maps (2)

  • Ordinance 740-16

  • PCAD Information

  • Wilks TIRZ Zoning Maps


  • Willow Park Civics Research

• 02 May 2023 Parks Board Meeting, Agenda Item 5. Future parkland projections. Minutes: Mayor Pro Tem Young explained that the City approached Wilks Development about taking over Kings Gate Park now instead of later, as per the Planned Development agreement. She told of its importance to adding another park to our city, but also its availability for us to have space to make additional improvements, such as the proposal for the city's trailhead with restrooms.

• Minutes:

Staff member Fisher recapped the City's request to Wilks Development to convey the Kings Gate Park before the PD's development is 80% complete to help expedite our building of the planned single-track trail along the Clearfork. In addition, with this park being even larger than Cross Timbers Park, the City will be able to expand its public amenities moving forward, ideas are those such as a restroom, a skills area for beginner mountain bikers, more playground equipment, larger parking area, and a trailhead.

Board member Wagner confirmed the Board's desire to add other items to the park.

Board member Gomez confirmed the cost of the Title Policy.


3. Update on Willow Park Trails and East Parker County Trails (EPCoT) trail systems by Larry Colvin, President of Weatherford Mountain Bike Club and Senior Civil Engineer Designer for Baird, Hampton & Brown.

• Minutes:

Mr. Colvin brought the Board hard copies of the marketing materials for the Willow Park trails (in the packet) and he explained and expanded on the packet. He recapped points from his previous visit about the potential and importance of trail connectivity from Aledo to Weatherford, the way it can happen, the various entities involved, the existing gas lines and public utility easements, and the obstacles and opportunities that are constantly moving and changing among and within all of it.

Mr. Colvin explained that the digital files used to identify trail locations and mapping are programs and files usable by other professionals in the industry (designers, planners, architects, and developers), making the files more attainable and usable for greater exposure.

Mr. Colvin expressed the necessity for more parkland and their [Weatherford Mountain Bike Club] desire for a 150 acre park for trails, but most (94%) of the land in Texas is privately owned, not publicly. Board member Wagner added that the Corp of Engineers is also about to take away Benbrook Lake area from cyclist use, for even less parkland accessibility.

Board members Gomez and Wagner discussed the bike lanes and how the width standards change as related to the City's street project and bike lanes added to Crown Road. Mr. Colvin said that the addition of the bike lane is important to Willow Park to raise awareness of cyclists on our streets in our community.

The "Willow Park Trail Amendment Priorities" were reviewed by Mr. Colvin in detail and referenced actual examples for many of the items. Board member Gomez asked what needs to happen for us to adopt the Amendment to the Willow Park Trail Plan and start moving to making these priorities happen. Mr. Colvin said that he felt the first step was getting the Kings Gate trail in, which would raise community awareness, and secondly to get Chad Marbut, TXDOT rep in Weatherford, involved to get the trail under I-20, an absolute necessity for trail connectivity. The Board was very interested in making these ideas a reality, and it was agreed by the Board that they felt that the Willow Park Trail Amendment Master Plan presented by Mr. Colvin was a clean document that was well prepared and ready to take to City Council for adoption. Fisher said that she would plan to add it to the Council agenda as soon as for the end of August.

Board member White asked from where the funds were coming for the park improvements for Kings Gate Park. Fisher replied that the FY2024 budget has separated the Parks into its own department with its own funds for maintenance and improvements, and they she will be managing that budget.

Mr. Colvin was thanked for his extensive work for and with the City, and his partnership in this project.
















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