7 replies to this topic

[Doohickie]

I didn't realize it, but the E.R. Van Zandt Southwest YMCA closed.  I ran across a topic about the YMCA on Nextdoor stating that the two buildings on the site were being torn down.  Eventually Mayor Price posted this:
 

The Y closed several years ago due to low membership and use and the building needed lots of repairs. The city purchased it recently and tried to save the pool but it was too far gone. It will be a park.

[johnfwd]

Wonder what kind of park?  A children's playground and/or something more elaborate--like ball fields?

[Doohickie]

I asked, let's see if Betsy answers.

[txbornviking]

2012 Z-Boaz Golf Course, closed for a park

                    - after 8 years there's been a dog park and small children's playground installed on a small parcel of the land but there's still no funding plans to make the full park

 

2019 Sycamore Creek Golf Course, closed for a park, but this too still has no master plan or funding to actually make the park

 

2020 seems city has purchased an old YMCA with the idea to preserve the pool but it'll be to expense to rehab, so it'll "be a park"

 

"be a park" seems an easy excuse for non-action from our city leaders.

Parks are wonderful, yes, but they do have costs. a cost to develop, and a cost to maintain. The golf courses may not have paid for themselves, but I wonder how their financial loses compare with the maintenance costs of the existing conditions.

[Doohickie]

I could see a park happening fairly short term at the old Y though; the scope of that would be much smaller than the other two examples.

[Doohickie]

I could see a park happening fairly short term at the old Y though; the scope of that would be much smaller than the other two examples.

Well this didn't age well.

[Doohickie]

Looks like the city put up a sign and voilà!  A new park!

Westhaven Community Park

[Crestline]

It'd be nice if the city installed a tall wooden fence on the west edge of the park to visually separate it from the commercial stuff along Hulen. But in general, this feels like a win for the neighborhood.