Monday, October 15, 2012

Recreation Plan Hints at City Plans for Lake Nasworthy Development


Embedded in the October 16th City Council packet is a Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan (pages 384-616).  The Lake portion essentially calls for updating all of Lake Nasworthy's public parks.  Mary Lee Park received special attention for development as a public-private partnership.  The document proposes moving the Nature Center to a new Nasworthy-Twin Buttes park and providing modern marina facilities for Concho Cruises, which operates out of Mary Lee Park.

Staff recommends council adopt the plan tomorrow.  Should council do so, the public would have no time to review proposals and provide guidance to their City Council representative.  

Texas Outdoor Consulting, the creators of the proposed plan, sought public input in creating the plan.  I participated in a meeting on Twin Buttes Reservoir, as one of four windsurfing representatives.  

The City "operates" the park on the north side of the North Pool at Twin Buttes.  I would give the city an "F" on maintenance in my eighteen years of windsurfing from the shores of this park. City workers do pick up fireworks after the annual July 4th trashing, but that's about it.  A Texas Department of Parks grant provided a new boat ramp, but left out the promised rest rooms.

Enough about history, what about the future?  It's hard to know given this City operated park received no mention in this proposed Master Plan.  Also, the report does not mention any of the following words, North Pool, South Pool, windsurfing or sailboarding.

I e-mailed Parks Chief Carl White for insights regarding my questions. If this is the plan for Twin Buttes, it's clear as mud.  If it's not, I'd like to know when that plan might be out for public review.

Update:  The Twin Buttes Recreation Plan will be a separate document (as clearly stated in the report's Executive Summary).  

1 comment:

Mary said...

Why is recreation other than permit fishing from non motorized boats allowed on a water reservoir anyway? Swimming is not usually allowed either in most parts of the US having fresh water reservoirs for public water systems.