DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Briefing on Brackenridge Park Draft Master Plan
SUMMARY:
Briefing on the public input regarding the Brackenridge Park draft master plan.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City issued a Request for Qualifications in December 2014 to select a consulting team. In April 2015, City Council approved the selection of Rialto Studio and its consulting team including Alamo Architects, Ford Powell & Carson, and Work5hop to undertake the master planning process.
The draft master plan identifies primary park issues such as segmented functionality and flow; the dominance of impervious cover; lack of parking; constricted roadway access; invasive species; river quality; neighborhood pedestrian connectivity; limited free public space; and costly park maintenance activities. A copy of the draft document was provided to Mayor and City Council in early March in anticipation of the briefing provided to the Neighborhoods and Livability Committee on March 29, 2016. Subsequently, the draft master plan was presented in detail to the public on April 26 at the San Antonio Garden Center where citizens had the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the project team directly.
After the public presentation at the San Antonio Garden Center, Councilman Treviño was contacted regarding limited opportunities for public engagement and feedback on the Draft Brackenridge Park Master Plan and in particular by citizens who traditionally and historically use the park. Working with the Councilman and through his engagement with his Council colleagues, the Parks and Recreation Department facilitated six (6) additional public input meetings attended by a total of 384 residents which provided verbal and written comments. The meeting locations and dates are reflected below.
• Tuesday, June 14
o Lions Field Adult and Senior Center
o 103 attendees
• Tuesday, June 21
o Doris Griffin Senior Center
o 31 attendees
• Monday, June 27
o Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
o 94 attendees
• Tuesday, June 28
o Little Carver Civic Center
o 42 attendees
• Thursday, July 7
o Phil Hardberger Park Urban Ecology Center
o 45 attendees
• Wednesday, July 13
o Ramirez Community Center
o 69 attendees
Additionally, the Parks and Recreation Department created a dedicated online site for the draft master plan which included the narrative and strategies presented at each of the additional public meetings. Citizens were also able to submit feedback via surveys and email, which an electronic mail address specific to the Brackenridge Park Master Plan was created for direct input.
Of the five areas of the master plan presented at the public meetings the majority of the attendees indicated no support for closure of park roads or the removal of any existing parking within the park; nor was the concept of a people mover supported. The majority of attendees and comments received supported eco-restoration efforts including the conversion of the Catalpa-Pershing drainage channel, restoration and repair of historic structures, and efforts to improve a common park entrance environment and connections to surrounding neighborhoods.
ISSUE:
The Parks Department will provide the Neighborhood and Livability Committee with a briefing of the input received from residents attending the six additional community meetings regarding the Draft Master Plan Strategies. The briefing will also include a summary of the public comments made at the meetings as well as comment cards and responses received from the website, which have been compiled for review. The Parks and Recreation Department will work with the project team to finalize the master plan based upon direction from the Neighborhoods and Livability Committee for City Council Consideration.
ALTERNATIVES:
This is a briefing for informational purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this briefing.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a briefing for informational purposes only.