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.

2. 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.