Month: June 2019

trees + pool + Cocoon+House+_+John+Pirman+_+Only+in+Sarasota+

FoPP Supports Planting Trees and Adding Educational Signage

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Members of Friends of Patterson Park have voted to support a project to implement the next phase of our Neighborhood Park Plan. The proposed project includes planting up to four trees around the Patterson pool, and installing three signs identifying trees at the park.

The vote was held online using Google Forms and 42 member voted, with 41 supporting the project.  The next steps are to submit the proposal to PARD for review and apply for funding to complete the project. The goal is to install it by the end of the year.

This project addresses the sixth community priority identified in our 2016 survey, landscaping. It fulfills the goals of 1) replacing shade trees around Patterson Pool (where several have been lost in recent years) and 2) adding educational signage identifying trees at the park.

Note: The Community Grove planted between the bathroom and pool in 2018 fulfilled the goal of adding more biodiversity to the park’s trees. Another project suggested by respondents to the community survey was a butterfly garden. However, as the Patterson Park Community Garden has planted an extensive pollinator garden along the fence line (stop by to check them out!), we don’t believe another is needed at this time.

Tree Planting

  • Add shade trees around the perimeter of Patterson Pool for the enjoyment and protection of swimmers. Funds to purchase trees were raised by the 2018 Patterson Piranha Swim Team. FoPP will commit to watering these trees for two years together with the new trees in the nearby Community Grove.

Educational Signage

  • Add tree identification signage for the Community Grove, Post Oaks, and other trees found at the park. The priority is interactive signage encouraging park visitors to identify trees during different seasons based on their leaves, flowers, and nuts.

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Patterson Hosts 1st Pride Picnic June 28

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Come show your love this Friday night at the Patterson Pride Picnic, 6-9pm! As Pride month comes to an end, let’s get together for a potluck feast. Patterson Park embraces all of our neighbors, the LGBTQ+ community included. Bring a dish or drink to share and see how colorful you can make it. Rainbows are welcome!

baseball

Notes: June 2019 Community Meeting

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Friends of Patterson Park
June 17, 2019 Community Meeting Notes

Thanks to everyone who came out for to talk about what comes next for our neighborhood park!

  1. Community Priority: Landscaping
  • Plant replacement shade trees around the pool
  • Install tree identification signs for community grove planted in 2018, other trees around the park, and our heritage post oaks

Notes:

We discussed different kinds of signage used to ID trees, and settled on fewer signs with info on multiple trees. These would engage park visitors in searching for the leaves and flowers to ID trees. Trees will need to be watered either by volunteers watering community grove or swim team volunteers. Potential funding through Urban Forest Grant or Austin Parks Foundation Neighborhood Grant, and supplement with $700 raised by the Patterson Piranha Swim Team. This project has been submitted to PARD for review and will be put to a Friends of Patterson Park vote this week.

  1. Community Priority: Shade structures and athletic field/court improvements
  • resurface basketball court, replace hoops, add kid-sized hoops, install shade structure
  • install new backstop at baseball diamond, bench with shade for players, small bleacher or bench with shade for family & friends, informational signage, storage shed for materials needed for upkeep of diamond.

Notes:

The basketball court has been in need of serious attention for 15+ years. The addition of hoops at the basketball court at a lower height appropriate for kids would bring additional users. Solar lighting for the court was discussed as there is no electricity on this side of the park, but it seems that a large solar array would be necessary so it is probably not feasible at this time.

The Cap City Cobras have been practicing at the baseball field for four years and have made several improvements in that time. These have resulted in the field being used for practice by little league teams and families in the surrounding neighborhoods.  The closest open baseball field from Patterson Park is Rosewood Rec Center, which is 2.8 miles away.

The Cobras recommend urgent upgrades to the backstop and signage to improve safety. Seating and a storage shed would be desirable. The Patterson field is not appropriate for games because it lacks netting in the outfield, so it will be strictly a practice field. Potential funding through City of Austin’s Neighborhood Partnering Program grant. This project will be submitted to PARD for review to determine feasibility and put to a Friends of Patterson Park vote later this summer.

baseball

June 17 Community Meeting to Plan Park Improvements

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Please join Friends of Patterson Park at the pavilion on Monday, June 17 at 6pm for a community meeting to discuss next steps on our Neighborhood Park Plan. We will have pizza delivered, please feel free to bring a side dish to share. 

AGENDA

1. Updates

  • New sidewalk connections to Patterson by Public Works.
  • Volunteers needed to water new community grove planted with Treefolks, APF, & PARD in 2018.
  • Neighborhood Partnering Program project for new furnishings and trail improvements to be installed in mid July.
  • Celebration of park improvements planned for early fall with PARD and CoA.
2. Next Steps on Community Priorities for Park Improvements
 
The Patterson Neighborhood Park Plan approved in 2018 outlined 12 community priorities for park improvements. The next ones we want to address are: 
 
#6 Landscaping
 
Proposal to consider:
  • plant fast growing shade trees around pool to replace 4 lost in recent years.  FUNDING: 2018 donations by Patterson Piranha Swim Team
  • install tree identification signs for community grove behind pool and bathrooms, post oaks, other trees. Two options are 3 larger signs with identifying illustrations and info, or 20+ small signs leading on “tree walk” around park. POTENTIAL FUNDING: Urban Forest Grant (due July)
#7 Shade Structures and # 8 Athletic field/court improvements
 
Proposal to consider:
  • resurface and shade basketball court
  • various improvements to baseball field proposed by Cap City Cobras, who have been practicing at Patterson for four years and making improvements to the field themselves. They recommend a new backstop, bench, small row of bleachers, shade structure, netting, signage and shed. POTENTIAL FUNDING: Neighborhood Partnering Program Grant (due October)
See the Patterson Neighborhood Park Plan here: https://friendsofpattersonpark.org/parkplan/
3. Review of 2019 FoPP income and expenses
* Funds raised during Amplify Austin
* Expenses to date on community events and park improvements