Ord 2019-012/adopting the 2019 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan

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Action PF-5.5. Evaluate opportunities to increase the number of O Park Rangers during the summer. Ensuring the safety of visitors to the parks is an essential element of operating a parks and recreation system. Currently,the City has two full-time and 20 part-time Park Rangers. In contrast,the City of New Braunfels has 70 Park Rangers during the summer.These rangers are funded by entrance and gate fees.While the public survey did not identify park safety as an overarching concern,there was an expressed need for additional staff resources to monitor park properties during weekends and special events.Accordingly, the City should conduct a study to evaluate and expand the Park Ranger program.This study would need to include solutions for improving parking, for improving weekend and special event park monitoring during the peak summer season, park safety, and citizen communication. Action PF-5.6. Evaluate opportunities to establish purple pipe (reclaimed water) irrigation in the riverfront parks system. Parks are one of the highest consumers of water in a water distribution system. Athletic fields(e.g., football, baseball, softball, soccer) require large quantities of water to keep the grass green and healthy. Using recycled water to irrigate riverfront parks would mitigate costs as well as provide potential educational opportunities. Action PF-5.7.Work with the Urban Forester and other stakeholders to clear the invasive trees and plants from the Meeks property as well as other park properties to improve the quality of wildlife and habitat and decrease erosion. The canopy of the Meeks property primarily consists of invasive tree species.As such,the protection value is relatively low. Moving forward,the City should work with the Urban Forester to clear the invasive trees, leaving the remaining, higher quality hardwoods.The removal of invasive trees and plants can extend to the greenspaces and public park properties as well, creating a unified system of park management beyond the river's edge. Action PF-5.8. Evaluate opportunities to limit the number of vehicles and pedestrians queuing off of Cheatham Street. Park safety is important to the long-term, sustainable operations of a park system.As such, the City should continue pursuing opportunities to limit the number of vehicles and pedestrians queuing off of Cheatham Street.This could be achieved by developing a bus drop- off/pick-up area outside of the current right-of-way or by closing off Cheatham Street for through-traffic during the peak summer season. 78 City of San Marcos, Texas San Marcos Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan