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Thursday, March 23, 2023
This week on Minute with the Mayor, get the low down on our newest beautification project for the Bicentennial Park playground!
Director of Community Services Chris Tribble and Parks Manager Mike Reasoner gave a rundown of the project, including timelines and details of what is to come.
Director Tribble mentioned that a section of the playground at Bicentennial Park will soon be replaced with artificial turf. This area has already been poured with concrete to accommodate any winter weather we may experience.
The artificial turf will allow our youngest Southlakers to play safely regardless of weather conditions. “The playground is heavily used, and with the foot traffic we’ve had to maintain, it’s just a muddy pit down here,” said Reasoner.
The project should not cause closures to the surrounding areas of the park, but there is a chance that the playground may close when the installation nears the sidewalk.
Reasoner mentioned cones, barricades, and caution tape would be used to keep safety in mind for residents. In addition to the turf installation, shade structures and planter beds will be added to the playground. A seating wall by the small slide has already been completed.
Stay tuned for updates on this project as we move forward in 2023! To watch the full episode of Minute with the Mayor, click below.
The City of Southlake’s Park Division is proud of the gorgeous community parks that make up our community’s green spaces. No park represents our city’s commitment to world-class public spaces for personal enjoyment more than our first and largest community park—Bicentennial Park.
Southlake residents and visitors stroll through the beautifully maintained trails at Bicentennial Park daily. From baseball practice and tennis classes to playing in the playground and walking through the Liberty Gardens, there is a unique spot for everyone at Bicentennial Park. But what makes this award-winning space so incredible?
Let’s get to know more about Bicentennial Park!
Bicentennial Park is a community park comprised of the first land assembled for park purposes in Southlake, with initial purchases and donations beginning in the 1970s. As the city acquired additional land, the park became the center of athletic facilities for Southlake.
Today, Bicentennial Park remains the heart of recreation in Southlake. Boasting various baseball and softball diamonds, a basketball court, the Southlake Tennis Center, a Miracle League, a playground, and our award-winning recreation facility, The Marq Southlake, Bicentennial Park is a world-class example of professional park planning.
While the temperatures are dropping, December is still a fabulous time to visit Bicentennial Park. Grab your hat and bundle up your kiddos for an afternoon of imagination at the Bicentennial Park Playground! Warm up with a brisk walk down the trails with your four-legged friends! If you prefer to spend your free afternoons indoors, check out the two indoor courts at the Southlake Tennis Center or work out at Champions Club at The Marq Southlake.
What’s your favorite feature at Bicentennial Park?
It wouldn’t be Parks and Recreation without the incredible Parks team that keeps our award-winning parks system looking world-class!
Our Parks Crews rise for Parks and Rec as they are the early birds that get to work when many of us are still catching some zzzzs. In the heat of the summer months, our friends at Parks are up at 6:30 AM keeping our favorite outdoor gathering spots clean, green, and safe! In celebration of Park and Recreation Month, we want to take some time to highlight the incredible services our Parks Crews provide our community.
Our Parks team does a lot to serve our community. They manage over 1,100 park acres, including city-wide beautification, contract management, field maintenance, facility utilization agreements, event support, and working with our Athletic Associations. With only so many hours in a day, how does the Park team keep our City looking so beautiful?
The Parks Division focuses on the highest level of customer service to create a world-class experience by providing a safe, secure, and aesthetically beautiful parks system for all. Our staff consists of different Parks Crews organized by location and specialized skills. Each Crew oversees specific parks to ensure our residents create lifelong memories.
Here’s the breakdown of our incredible Parks Crews:
North Park, Bob Jones Park, and Bob Jones Nature Center Crew
You can find this team on the North side of town. You’ve experienced the dedication of this Crew if you’ve ever enjoyed a softball tournament at North Park, hiked the trails at the Bob Jones Nature Center, or taken your furry friend to Boo Boo’s Buddies Dog Park!
Bicentennial Park Crew
This Crew spends their days close to home in the largest community park in Southlake– Bicentennial Park! They take care of everything within this park, including the playground, Tennis Center, Liberty Gardens, and the soon-to-be Pickleball Complex.
Southlake Sports Complex, Neighborhood Parks, and Facilities Crew
Travel any direction in Southlake and you’ll run into this Parks Crew. This is the team in charge of the Southlake Sports Complex, Town Square Parks, and the plethora of neighborhood parks we have scattered across the City. Not only that, but this team also handles maintenance of the City’s decorative fountains, ponds, and pavilions!
Thank you to our incredible Parks professionals that keep our City looking beautiful. We rise up for this team because they rise up for us every day!
With Fall well underway, there’s no telling when the weather will take a turn for the worst. What does rainy weather mean for our field availability?
There are multiple considerations our hard-working Parks Team evaluates when deciding to close a field due to weather. Today we put ourselves in the shoes of a Parks Supervisor to get a deeper understanding of the field evaluation process.
What to look for when closing a field:
1. Safety Always Comes First
The first things we look for are the safety and playability of the fields. If the field appears questionable, you need to evaluate whether someone can perform their usual actions during a game. For example, can they run and make a cutting or stopping action safely and without hurting themselves? Resident safety is our priority, and we want to eliminate the risk of accidents as much as possible.
2. Preserve Our Fields
The other thing we pay attention to is the preservation of the fields.
When you play on a field with soft or wet turf or infield areas, it becomes damaged and will not respond to these same conditions the next time we have rain. Areas with turf or infield damage will create wet spots that retain water and makes it harder to drain or flow with the pitch of the field. Consequently, this could create safety concerns and the potential for injuries.
3. Manage our Resources
The last aspect we evaluate comes from a resource management perspective. How much would it cost in time and money to address issues created by playing on fields during unideal conditions? Fixing a damaged field includes re-leveling areas with soil, reseeding, resodding, aerating, extra infield leveling, and inserting more infield material.
As you can see, a lot of thought and consideration goes into deciding to close a field due to weather. In the end, it all comes down to safety. Our mission is to create world-class experiences for those that use our fields. That includes making sure they are safe, clean, and green!
City Council adopted the City of Southlake’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan at its June 15 meeting.
The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan is an element of the Southlake 2035 Comprehensive Plan, which encompasses the vision, goals and objectives that define the values in the community. The plan development represents over a year and a half of work between elected and appointed officials, community stakeholders and citizens and will serve as a framework to guide decisions related to parks and open space planning for the future.
In 2019, City Council appointed the Parks Board to oversee the development of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan. As part of the plan’s development, the Park Board conducted a community parks citizens survey and studied the results, received feedback from social media engagement, held 15 public meetings, received input from other City boards such as the Southlake Youth Action Committee, Senior Advisory Committee, Southlake Kids Interested in Leadership and School Health Advisory Council, held an open house to receive public feedback on the plan and held a SPIN (Southlake Programs for the Involvement of Neighborhoods) meeting.
In addition, both the City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on the plan prior to adoption. The plan development process took place in four phases: review of the current state of parks recreation and open spaces, incorporate community feedback and develop new concept plans and recommendations.
Once the Park Board developed the recommendations were divided into three categories: citywide policy recommendations, capital parks projects recommendations and non-capital parks project recommendations.
For each specific recommendation, a relative tier ranking was established to articulate the expected implementation timeframe for that recommendation and are then prioritized and ranked by the parks board and City Council.
“Great parks and open space play such an important role in strengthening our community, improving our physical and mental health, and making Southlake a great community to live and work. The Park Board in conjunction with the Community Services and Planning and Development Departments have worked diligently over the past 18 months to create a plan that will serve as a blueprint to ensure that Southlake has great parks and open space to serve our citizens and many future generations,” Senior Director of Planning and Development Services Ken Baker said.
A full copy of the newly adopted City of Southlake Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan is available on the City of Southlake’s website.
The plan encompasses strategies that will continue to accommodate the growing Southlake community by creating more opportunities for recreational programs and services, in addition to investing in enhanced park facilities and open spaces.
These recommendations were collected utilizing community surveys, public meetings and social media engagement.
With so many fantastic outdoor opportunities in Southlake, we decided to create a list of outdoor safety tips to ensure your summer consists of only happy memories.
Summer is here, and the fun is just beginning! From athletic leagues and summer camps to our beautiful parks and playgrounds, there are plenty of opportunities to get outside this summer. Make sure to keep the following safety tips in mind when you venture out in Southlake and beyond.
Protect yourself from the sun and heat when you head out to one of our parks such as Bicentennial Park or Bob Jones Park!
Stay hydrated when out on our many trails or playing on one of our 44 athletics fields!
Fight the Bite when out in nature like the trails on the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve.
Be vigilant near water sources like the pond at Chesapeake Park!
With these safety tips in mind, you’re sure to have the summer of a lifetime!
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. We want to emphasize the small habits you can build daily to maintain your mental health.
Life can get stressful, and with the everyday hustle and bustle, it’s easy to put our mental well-being on the back burner. In honor of National Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to highlight some steps you can implement to take care of your mental health this month and beyond. Taking a walk outside is an easy habit you can incorporate into your routine to improve your mental health. With an estimated 1,200 acres of dedicated parkland and over 6 miles of trails, the possibilities for walking in Southlake are endless!
While there are many benefits of walking outdoors, the biggest ones go beyond the advantages of being physically active. Your brain benefits tremendously from outdoor hikes and excursions. For example, just getting a few minutes of fresh air a day helps improve brain function and concentration. For those of us who spend most of our time indoors, this is especially important. Not only does walking outdoors increase productivity, but exposure to Vitamin D is also crucial for healthy brain activity. Of course, one of the best benefits of walking outside is that it’s fun! Getting fresh air and taking in the sounds of nature is a great way to take a break and reduce stress.
The Parks division has made it easy to incorporate this habit into your mental health routine. Our parks and trail system has the perfect walking path for everyone. Bicentennial Park and Bob Jones Park are crowd favorites due to their beautiful trails and recreational opportunities; however, there are many hidden gems throughout the city.
Check out the southwest side of town by walking around the pond at Chesapeake Park. If nature trails are more your thing, you can always hike at the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve or explore the wetland areas of Gateway Lakes Park. For a more urban feel, combine your next shopping spree with a stroll along the paths of Family Park in Southlake Town Square.
Whatever your preference may be, there is a walking path in Southlake for you. Commit to taking time for your mental health by walking outside for at least 10 minutes every day! Get a comprehensive list of our parks and facilities here.
Embrace the change of season and recharge your fitness goals with the Outdoor Fitness Spring Series!
Champions Club is all about bringing the best fitness to the Southlake community, and the Outdoor Fitness Spring Series is no exception. Back by popular demand, the Outdoor Fitness Series is open to all community members for free. Registration is not required! Change up your fitness routine while enjoying time in our beautiful parks!
April 19 at 6:00 pm
Start your Monday off on the right foot with High Fitness at the Aria Amphitheater. This hardcore class focuses on interval training through popular music and accessible choreography.
April 28 at 6:00 pm
Join us at Outdoor Turf 2 in Bicentennial Park for Rise ‘N’ Grind! Bring your A-game and prepare to mix strength training with cardio for a workout that is sure to burn some major calories.
May 3 at 6:00 pm
Train like a champion through high-intensity interval training during Strength HIIT at the Outdoor Turf 2 in Bicentennial Park. Push yourself to the limit with this fun yet challenging workout.
May 8 at 9:00 am
Start the weekend off right with a relaxing yoga class at Bob Jones Nature Center! Connect with your soul and nature as you stretch and practice breathing.
May 12 at 6:00 pm
Get ready to dance to the beat at the Aria Amphitheater with Zumba! Explore Latin rhythms and moves as your get your heart rate up with this party-like exercise.
May 15 at 9 am
End the series with a mindful session of Yoga at North Park. Take a moment to be grateful for the chance to exercise outdoors.
Whether you are a Champions Club member or not, there is an outdoor class for you! Don’t miss your chance to find your new workout frenzy and win a door prize at the end of each class! You will be entered into a random drawing at every session. There is also a grand prize for two lucky winners at the end of the series. Those who attend four or more classes could win either a 5-pack of Personal Training sessions or a 3-pack with our Registered Dietician. Drawing winners will be announced on May 17.
See you at the parks!
There is no time like Springtime in North Texas: the weather is pleasant, your dog’s tail is wagging, and the great outdoors are beckoning!
If your pup is craving a fun day in the sun, look no further than Boo Boo’s Buddies Dog Park at Bob Jones Park. Bob Jones Park consists of almost 500 acres of primarily native Cross Timbers habitat. Apart from its multiple soccer fields, ample parking, playground, and six miles of scenic trails, Boo Boo’s Buddies Dog Park boasts 2.5 acres of canine fun! Who says the perfect playdate must include other humans?
A trip to Boo Boo’s Buddies Dog Park is sure to be a day you’ll never fur-get; however, we’re offering some tips to make sure your puppy outing is pawsome!
Tip #1: Walk your dog before going to the park
If your dog is smiling with his head out the window and his tail is wagging on your drive to the park, you can bet he is excited to play with friends. However, other dogs and owners may get scared if an overly energetic puppy dashes through the park. To blow off some steam, take your dog on a short walk before letting him in the park.
Tip #2: Ensure your dog is well trained
Dog parks are ideal places for dogs to socialize, exercise, and exhaust their energy, but an untrained dog can easily turn a day at the park sour. Before letting your pup off the leash, it is essential to have mastered basic training commands such as sit, stay, come, and leave it. Additionally, your dog must be comfortable socializing with other dogs calmly and without getting aggressive or scared.
Tip #3: Pay attention to your friend
The atmosphere at a dog park can be very stimulating. Keep a close eye on your pup at all times to ensure he is having fun, playing nice, and not getting into fights. A trip to the dog park is not the time to catch up with your news feed. So put your phone away and pay close attention to body language as well! Your dog might feel overwhelmed or could be intimidating other pups. Don’t forget to keep your dog hydrated and pick up after him with one of our available Dog Stations!
The dog park is a fun space for your furry friend to play and meet other pups! Make your stay at Boo Boo’s Buddies Dog Park a positive one with these tips! Adhering to this advice will ensure your best friend is the most pupular pooch in the park!