Category: meetings

Patterson Projects to be Reviewed by Nearby Neighborhood Associations

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Friends of Patterson Park is ready to move forward on two parts of our Neighborhood Park Plan. These proposals has been approved by our group and are now submitted for consideration by surrounding neighborhoods, including Cherrywood, Mueller, Schieffer-Willowbrook and Wilshire Wood-Delwood 2.

The Cherrywood Neighborhood Association will vote on the following proposals at their upcoming general meeting on Wednesday, August 21 (Servant Church, 6:30pm), and Schieffer-Willowbrook will vote at their biannual meeting on Thursday, September 5 (Genesis Presbyterian Church, 6:30pm) The other meetings are still TBC.

PROJECT 1: Tree planting and educational signagE

* Add shade trees around the perimeter of Patterson Pool for the enjoyment and protection of swimmers.

* 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.

PROJECT 2: Enhancing safety and playability of the basketball court and baseball field

* Resurface aging blacktop.
* Replace baskets and add 9 ft baskets on sides of court for youth.
* Install a shade structure over the blacktop for sun safety.
* Replace backstop with a larger and angled style backstop.
* Install a 15′ – 20′ ft. bench for players with shade.
* Install a small 4 to 5 row bleacher for spectators with shade.
* Install warning and informational signage around the field.

Health and safety are the cornerstones of this project. Making improvements to the court and adding a shade structure will encourage many more people to use it for physical activity during more hours of the day, especially during warm months. Adding baskets at a rim height appropriate for younger players will encourage youth to play basketball using proper technique.

Replacing the backstop with an appropriately angled backstop would prevent baseballs from going into the street and the church parking lot. It would also improve pedestrian safety, as foul balls would not threaten walkers or joggers. The shaded seating structures would would give players, their friends and families a place to rest and offer support during hot Texas afternoons. Note that these improvements would make this a better practice field for adults and children, but that it will still not be appropriate for games because there is no netting along the foul lines.

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
End of Summer Pool Party at Patterson Park. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/FoPP.

Patterson Park News and Events, August 2018

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Patterson Park News

The new grove of trees Friends of Patterson Park planted in March is doing great thanks to the volunteers who have been caring for them weekly. I recently met with new folks from PARD, Austin Parks Foundation, and Treefolks (our partners in the project) and they were all impressed with how the trees have thrived (even bloomed!) this summer!

The summer swim season at Patterson Pool was a lot of fun, and we are so grateful the pool opened after only a 2 day delay when a tree fell on the pool’s pump the day before it was scheduled to open and damaged it. A HUGE THANKS to the Patterson Piranha Swim Team families, who raised $700 to plant shade trees and possibly add shade sales before next year. The end-of-summer ice cream party was a blast, and brought out many neighbors to enjoy our pool before it closed until 2019.

Our Community Grant from the Austin Parks Foundation for the playground project has been funded and PARD will be applying for our permit soon. 134 people took the poll to choose the color scheme, and 48.5% voted for the palette featuring green, blue, turquoise and grey. Work will begin later this fall.

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Photos by J. Potter-Miller

Upcoming Events at Patterson Park

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29 @ 7:30pm
Yoga with Zoe: A SafePlace Benefit
 Austin Yoga + SoloSol Movement present this all-levels flow yoga class led by neighbor Zoe Mantarakis.   Enjoy a nourishing sunset yoga class and shop yoga retail before and after from SoloSol Movement. Proceeds going to SafePlace, an organization aiming to end sexual assault and exploitation, child abuse, and domestic violence through prevention, intervention, and advocacy for change.Pay-what-you-can, $10-$20 suggested donation (cash only please).

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Friends of Patterson Park Meeting
Sour Duck, 1814 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 8pm
AGENDA
1. Welcome and introductions (5 mins.)
2. Update on Austin Parks Foundation Community Grant and next steps on playground project: Jennifer Potter-Miller (10 mins.)
2. Update on Neighborhood Partnering Program grant application: Jennifer Potter-Miller (5 mins.)
3. CherryWoodstock Music and Art Festival: Jeremy Klitzman, Organizer (10 mins.)
4. Roots and Wings Celebration: Kathleen Mannello, Austin Parks Foundation (10 mins.)
5. Proposed improvements to baseball field: Seth Kessler, Cap City Cobras (10 mins.)
6. Proposed tree planting & shade sails with funds raised by Patterson swim team: Dusty Harshman, Patterson Piranhas (10 mins.)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2
National Night Out
Patterson Park Pavilion, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Neighborhood block party at the park. Pot luck dinner, playtime, and hopefully a visit firefighters at Fire House #14.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27
Roots and Wings Celebration
Austin Parks Foundation and FoPP will co-host a satellite celebration to the Zilker Botanical Garden’s Family Arbor and Monarch Appreciation Day. Stay tuned for more details!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11
CherryWoodstock Music and Art Festival
Patterson Park Great Lawn
The festival is winding it’s way through approval by the surrounding neighborhoods and PARD permitting.
Read more: http://cherrywood.org/cherrywoodstock-is-back/

Baseball diamond imrovements at Patterson Park. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/FoPP.

September 6 Friends of Patterson Park Meeting

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Join Friends of Patterson Park for a discussion of current and proposed projects and refreshments. We’ve got a lot to talk about but will keep things moving quickly.

Thursday, Sept. 6 @ 8-9pm
Sour Duck, 1814 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

1) Welcome and introductions (5 mins.)

2) Update on Austin Parks Foundation Community Grant and next steps on playground project: Jennifer PM (10 mins.)

3) Update on Neighborhood Partnering Program grant application: Jennifer PM (5 mins.)

4) CherryWoodstock Music and Art Festival: Jeremy Klitzman, Organizer (10 mins.)

5) Tree and Butterfly Party (held in parallel to Oct. 27 Family Arbor and Monarch Appreciation Day at the Zilker Botanical Garden): Kathleen Mannello, Austin Parks Foundation (10 mins.)

6) Proposed improvements to baseball field: Seth Kessler, Cap City Cobras (10 mins.)

7) Proposed tree planting & shade sails with funds raised by Patterson swim team: Dusty Harshman, Patterson Piranhas (10 mins.)

Friends of Patterson Park illustration by Caitlin Alexander

May 19 Community Meeting: Updating Park Furnishings and Making Trail Improvements

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Join Friends of Patterson Park for to discuss our latest proposal to make our neighborhood park an even more comfortable and enjoyable place to spend time with family and friends. Coffee and muffins provided.

WHEN: Saturday, May 19, 10a.m.
WHERE: Patterson Park pavilion

The following proposal fulfills the priorities of updating aging furnishings to current PARD standards, adding a limited number of new furnishings where they would be useful, maximizing functionality of the trail, and improving the connection to Mueller. To read more, visit https://friendsofpattersonpark.org/parkplan/.

PROJECT 1: UPDATING FURNISHINGS

1) Add seating on trail at
* Dance of the Cosmos sculpture
* hill west of playground
* under oaks on Wilshire Blvd.

2) Add picnic tables
* next to tennis court
* next to volleyball court
* under trees across from Dance of the Cosmos sculpture

3) Add grills at picnic tables
* between bathrooms and Wilshire Blvd.
* between new grove of trees and tennis court
* small pavilion next to basketball court
* under oaks next to Schieffer Ave.

4) Replace trash cans at southeastern end of park (6)

5) Add trash cans next to picnic tables
* between playground and Genesis Church
* Dance of the Cosmos sculpture

PROJECT 2: TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS

1) Add trail markers for the 3/4 mile loop
2) Add kiosk with map and information indicating location of park amenities and nearby trails and green spaces
3) Add shade structure at intersection of Wilshire and Airport Blvds. to improve connection to Mueller

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Patterson furnishing survey

Notes: Neighborhood Partnering Project meeting, April 25

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A few Friends of Patterson Park met with Marcus Primm, the Program Manager for the City of Austin’s Neighborhood Partnering Program (NPP) on April 25th to discuss the next community priorities identified in our neighborhood park plan and how they might fit with NPP’s mission.

For reference, the full set of community priorities in our park plan is the following:

1. Playground improvements
2. Pool improvements
3. Bathroom improvements
4. Amenities/furnishings
5. Trail improvements
6. Tree plantings
7. Shade Structures
8. Athletic field/court improvements
9. Skate ramp improvements
10. Lighting
11. Fitness Equipment
12. Other

Friends of Patterson Park recently submitted a grant application to Austin Parks Foundation to fund a project that would fulfill the playground improvements priority. There are significant pool improvements slated for Patterson in the Aquatic Master Plan completed by PARD in 2017, but no funds allocated so far. Bathroom improvements (remodeling or, more likely, new construction) would fall to PARD as they require bond funds.

Priority #4 is amenities/furnishings. Potential projects include adding new seating and grills, replacing the remaining decades-old trash cans, and adding a limited number of picnic tables.

Priority #5 is trail improvements, and potential projects include lighting, trail markers, signage. Since PARD recently reconditioned our granite trails and added the two segments we had requested (from the roundabout to Schieffer Ave. and Airport Blvd.), and both APF and PARD have suggested waiting to see how new solar lights that will be installed soon at other Austin parks work out, these two priorities could easily be rolled together into one grant.

Mr. Primm described the Neighborhood Partnering Program as helping Austin residents carry out improvement projects in the city’s right of way or on city-owned land. Park improvements are among the major categories of work that they do. The main details were:

* projects fall into two categories, under 150K and over 150K
* projects under 150K require a 30% cost share by the applicants in either funds or volunteer hours
* NPP collects bids and selects contractors for the project
* grant application deadlines are June 1 and October 1
* a high percentage of applicants are funded, and those that are not are assisted in strengthening their proposals for the next funding cycle.

Our group was encouraged to go big and roll in the next priorities, shade structure and improvements to the athletic courts and fields. However, this is more complex because we have no consensus yet on a multi-use field, so it may make the most sense to start with a smaller project this summer while we work out what it is we want in terms of improvements to the athletic fields. We could plan to apply for a second, bigger grant in October that could include some or all of the following projects

1) resurfacing and shading the basketball court
2) improvements to the baseball field
3) improvements to the volleyball court
4) a multi-use field in some configuration

The next steps are identifying what furnishings need to be updated, where additional pieces would useful, and what kind of markers and signage would be most helpful. PARD has already replaced most of the ancient pebble-covered trash cans and rusty green picnic tables, so we probably only need a few more grills and trash cans, some seating along the path, and 2-3 picnic tables by amenities like the sculpture and volleyball court.

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Friends of Patterson Park community meeting January 20, 2018.

Notes: FoPP Community Meeting Jan. 20

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Twelve Friends of Patterson Park met at the playground on January 20 to review plans for spring projects.  The major topics were 1) the tree planting planned for March 10, 2) grant application for playground improvements due April 30, and 3) spring fundraising. There was a great discussion with several issues resolved and we enjoyed dinner together at the pavilion afterward.

Tree Planting

Guest speakers Bill Stout (Austin Parks Foundation) and Suzannah DesRoches (TreeFolks) spoke about the location of the new grove of trees to be planted in March, and led a discussion of how to organize a “Patterson Tree Huggers” watering crew, what it would involve, and ways to offer an “adopt-a-tree” marker for families participating in the crew as an incentive. The decision was made to use Treegator watering bags to maximize ease of watering and efficient soaking, and to search for markers that can be attached to tree branches identifying the species and recognizing a tree adopter.

The area where the grove will be planted is just west and north of the playground. Bill has worked out a plan with PARD where they will use their equipment to clear the bermuda grass and dig post holes prior to planting day. Austin Resource Recovery will donate cardboard, and APF will donate mulch, so that on March 10 volunteers will plant the trees, and cover the entire area with cardboard and mulch to suppress grass. This will allow mowing crews to stay clear of the young trees.

The list of trees included in the planned grove is Burr Oak, Monterrey Oak, Flameleaf Sumac, Goldenball Lead, Texas Kidneywood, Mexican Plum, Texas Persimmon, Red Bud, Desert Willow, Anacacho Orchid. TreeFolks plans to procure them from the Barton Springs Nursery.

Playground Improvements

FoPP has worked with PARD to identify circular monkey bars and spinners as equipment that will 1) fit in this area 2) meet need for new equipment focused on strength and balance, and 3) be durable. The preferred vendor is Landscape Structures. Paige Oliverio Hill (Urban Patchwork) presented her design for seating around the area where the playground addition is planned. This is immediately adjacent to the playground, on the west side. Plans also include steps down to the bathrooms, and boulders for natural play and seating in front of the bathrooms.

Spring Fundraising

Jennifer Potter-Miller, FoPP Chair, shared plans to raise funds through the Austin Parks Foundation during the Austin Marathon races (Feb. 18) and Amplify Austin (March 1-2). There will be a taco night on Feb. 20 at her house for neighbors interested in creating individual fundraising pages for Amplify.

Friends of Patterson Park illustration by Caitlin Alexander

Community Meeting Saturday, Jan. 20

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Please join Friends of Patterson Park at the pavilion on Saturday, January 20 for a community meeting to discuss projects planned for 2018. We can order pizza for dinner afterward!

AGENDA

4-4:30 pm Tree planting

Guest speakers: Bill Stout, Austin Parks Foundation and Suzannah DesRoches, TreeFolks

Finalize project plans, including location of new grove, selection of tree species, and watering commitment. Planting is scheduled for March 10, and planting prep will take place on It’s My Park Day, March 3.

4:30-5 pm Playground addition

Guest speaker: Paige Oliverio Hill, Urban Patchwork

Review plans for installation of circular monkey bars, spinners, and seating,

5-5:30 pm Upcoming fundraisers and discussion of small project/phased addition of park furnishings

Speaker: Jennifer Potter-Miller, FoPP

In search of neighbors to fundraise for Friends of Patterson Park during the Austin Marathon races (Feb. 18) and Amplify Austin (Mar. 1-2). Also, should we consider a small project this spring as playground addition would not be implemented until fall?

proposed Patterson Park playground addition

 

Friends of Patterson Park illustration by Caitlin Alexander

Park Plan Continues to Move Forward

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Both the Cherrywood and Schieffer-Willowbrook Neighborhood Associations voted unanimously to approve the Patterson Neighborhood Park Plan in November! The Mueller and Delwood 2 Neighborhood Associations previously approved the plan, and and the last association to review it will be Wilshire Wood/Delwood 1. They will hold their next meeting in the next few weeks, and after that the plan moves to the Department of Parks and Recreation for formal review and adoption.

The Patterson Neighborhood Park Plan is available for review and download here.