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- parks and rec
Saturday, April 20, 2024
It was a day of swings, slides, and serious know-how as the Community Services Parks team rolled out the welcome mat for the Texas Recreation and Park Society’s (TRAPS) Playground Maintenance Academy at Legends Hall on Tuesday, March 19.
Bringing together a knowledgeable group of 60 Parks professionals from every corner of the state, this statewide training wasn’t just about getting training hours – it was about getting down to the nuts and bolts of playground maintenance and safety. All range of topics were covered including specific operations, necessary tools, work schedules, safety standards, paperwork, and litigation. From conquering the art of slide lubrication to becoming masters of swing set safety, attendees dove headfirst into the world of playground upkeep.
Regular playground maintenance is vital to ensuring its long-term safety. Over time, playground equipment can experience various types of wear and tear due to constant use and exposure to the elements.
But it wasn’t all work and no play. The group took a break from their learning to embark on a tour of the Bicentennial Park playground, the perfect hands-on learning experience for participants to inspect all equipment and learn what to look for. TRAPS members then enjoyed snapping selfies with slides and making memories amidst the zip line with their peers!
With safety standards in their back pocket, Southlake’s Parks team is swinging into action to ensure that every playground in town remains a beacon of fun, frolics, and fearless adventure.
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?
The cooler weather may have taken a while to arrive, but it’s finally time to enjoy autumn outside!
Want your kiddo to develop a love for being outside while exploring our world-class parks system? Drop off your child at Liberty Park at Sheltonwood on Saturday, October 15, at 10:00 AM!
We know it can be hard to get kids excited about being outside. Our staff planned a sensational day of games and activities to keep your kiddos engaged, entertained, and safe! Lunch is included with your registration!
A life-long appreciation of the great outdoors and the importance of beautiful public park systems starts early, so don’t wait to register for this exciting program!
See you at the Park! Register today!
The Community Services Department aims to create world-class experiences for our residents and staff. There’s nothing we love more than watching our employees develop professionally and reach new career goals.
Today we celebrate our new Senior Recreation Specialist for Fitness, Matt Crutch! Matt is one of our most recent home-grown success stories and no stranger to Recreation and Champions Club. He’s currently studying Aerospace Engineering and previously worked as a Warehouse Supervisor, managing warehouse staff, completing, receiving, and shipping out orders. Let’s get to know him a little bit better.
Matt started his Community Services journey with the City of Southlake in May of 2021 as a part-time Programs-Athletics Recreation Attendant. In December of that year, he became a part-time Recreation Specialist and continued his work in Programs and Athletics. Those who participated in Summer Camp Mania this year recognize Matt as the Assistant Camp Director. It was in this role that Matt started working full-time with the City. When talking about his favorite Camp Mania memory, Matt stated that “going to Hawaiian Falls, riding the rides with the kids, but being the one yelling the loudest is a moment I’ll always remember.”
Now, you can catch Matt on the fitness floor of Champions Club in his new position as the Senior Recreation Specialist for Fitness!
“I’m looking forward to not just building my knowledge of the fitness space but also trying to push fitness to a new level. I hope to build a strong community between Champions Club staff and members. I want our members to love coming to Champions Club every day and for it to feel like more than just a workout,” exclaimed Matt as he explained his vision for the new position.
Matt is ready to jump into this new role and already has some great fitness advice for our members.
“Everyone has a different relationship with fitness. The best advice I can give is to try and push yourself to do ‘one more.’ Be that one more push-up, one more lap on the track, or one more rep on the fitness machine. If we continue striving for one more, then we will constantly improve!”
When Matt isn’t at work, he loves spending time with his wife and playing video games on the computer when “given permission.”
Congratulations on your new role, Matt! We love following your career journey with us and can’t wait to see the positive impact you’ll have on our members. Make sure to say hi to Matt next time you’re on the Champions Club fitness floor!
The Community Services Department consists of various world-class employees that help us create world-class experiences for our residents. This year, the employee that shone above the rest is Director Award recipient Janie Ocampo!
Janie Ocampo is one of two Office Assistants in our department and brings over ten years of knowledge and experience to her position. Super kind, resourceful, and patient, Janie keeps the department afloat as the department’s purchasing liaison, Adopt-A-Street program manager, and customer service specialist. Janie knows this department inside and out, and it’s apparent through her excellent internal and external customer service!
“Janie has a real positive attitude and demeanor that is contagious within our team,” stated Director Chris Tribble.
“She has a genuine desire to serve our community, and she has a wealth of knowledge. Janie is the go-to person in our department for all different types of questions and bridges the gap across all the divisions in Community Services. Janie is the voice of the department. She’s the one that typically answers the phone and has all the answers for our customers. Janie understands every aspect of our operations, including all the policies and procedures that we need to follow, and she’s able to articulate that very well to all our customers.”
Janie keeps this department running with kindness and ease!
Congratulations on your well-deserved recognition, Janie!
Love is in the air this month, and there’s no stronger love than family love.
The weather in Texas may change radically from day to day, but our love for our family and community stays constant. We were honored to celebrate love with you at the 2022 Sweetheart Dance last Saturday, February 12. This event was such a hit that we needed two sessions to celebrate. Both sessions were completely sold out!
Southlake families embraced the theme and brought their sweethearts to Legends Hall at The Marq Southlake for a Valentine’s Day family night to Remember! We pulled out all the stops to make this a fantastic night for the whole family. Participants made life-long memories with a photo booth, Valentine’s-themed crafting, cookie decoration, a candy bar, snacks, and dancing!
The night was a huge success thanks to our committed staff, hard-working volunteers, and incredible sponsors. Love was in the air and a great time was had by all.
Thank you so much to everyone that joined us. We can’t wait to see you at our next world-class family program! Happy Valentine’s Day!
These enhancements are a part of the Southlake 2030 Parks, Recreation and Open Space/Community Facilities Master Plan. The City anticipates substantial completion of this project by October 31, weather and external conditions permitting.
The project is divided into three areas. The first area includes irrigation and turfing of the large field west of the existing in-line hockey rink. The second area consists of the renovation and expansion of the in-line hockey rink and addition of synthetic turf. The existing restroom building will be repurposed into a storage facility. The third area includes the placement of safety netting at the 60/90 baseball field to protect pedestrians from foul balls.
The irrigation project at the large field west of the in-line hockey rink has been completed and the repurposing and renovation of the existing restroom facility is on schedule. Poles have been placed for the foul ball netting, with installation on the horizon.
The City of Southlake is working to improve the standard of living and keep Southlake special for our residents with a variety of projects from streets and other critical services to parks. For more information about the 2030 Parks, Recreation and OpenSpace/Community Facilities Master Plan, click here.
They shoot, they score! The City of Southlake would like to invite preschoolers, ages 4-5, to join us for Mini Dribblers this fall on Mondays and Wednesdays, October 16-November 8.
Mini-Dribblers will introduce children ages four and five to the game of basketball by teaching the basic fundamentals of the sport. Participants will learn how to dribble, shoot and pass, during fun and exciting basketball drills and activities in a well supervised environment. Teamwork, sportsmanship and overall fun will be emphasized over direct competition.
Practice will begin on Monday, October 16. Mini Dribblers will meet every Monday and Wednesday through November 8. Two sessions of the program are offered; 4:30p.m. – 5:15p.m. or 5:30p.m. – 6:15p.m. At the end of the four week program, players will demonstrate the skills they have learned in the Big Game.
This program costs $45 which includes a jersey, trophy and youth-size ball. Click here for more information or to register.
You can register your child online or at the Community Services office located at 1400 Main St, Suite 210. Please contact (817) 748-8019 for more information.
Summer is almost here! That means it’s time to start registering for all the great things Southlake Parks and Recreation has planned. In preparation for the opening of The Marq Southlake Champions Club in summer of 2018, Parks and Recreation is changing registration software.
The new software, CSI, will go live Monday, April 3 at 8:00am when summer registration opens. Registration will also be available in-person at Southlake Town Hall in Training Room 3C. City staff will be standing by to assist customers in creating an account in CSI and registering for their favorite summer programs. Take a sneak peek at all the exciting summer activities in the Summer 2017 Southlake Scene.
When participants go to register for programs on April 3rd they will notice the website looks a little different. Now, instead of having to search for an activity, you will be able to select a category to begin the search process.
One important transition note to keep in mind: All users will have to create a new account. Account information will NOT carry over from Active Network.
What does this mean for me?
Before actually registering for a program, you will be prompted to create a new account. Because CSI will also be used once Champions Club is fully operational, it will look like you are registering for a membership. Don’t worry, when you are asked to select your membership type, simply select the “Patron” membership and Parks and Recreation as the site. This will allow you to register as you normally would.
You will need to create your new account before you are able to register for summer programs like Camp Mania or Basketball, to name a few. Parents, when you are completing the account registration, be sure to list yourself as the “main member” on the account. Other family members, like spouses and children, will become “sub-members” on the account.
We understand change can sometime be confusing. We’re here to help! You can view the step-by-step instructions to help you set up you new CSI account or you can call us at (817) 748-8019.