PARK PLANNING & OPERATIONS

The adoption of the Parks, Recreation, and Trails System Master Plan in March 2022 marked a significant milestone in our commitment to enhancing our park system. To implement the identified initiatives in crucial areas such as land acquisition, park planning, and construction, our organization has mobilized extensive efforts.

The Park Planning & Operations Team plays an indispensable role, ensuring the seamless functioning and continuous improvement of our parks. Through meticulous strategic planning, streamlined operations management, and a steadfast focus on community, this team seeks to create public spaces for both present and future residents to enjoy.

Meet The Team

Russell Koch

Park Manager

Russell.Koch@cityofdenton.com

(940) 349-7747

Craig Arrington

Park Manager

Craig.Arrington@cityofdenton.com

(940) 349-8676

Marshall McGee

Park Manager

Marshall.Mcgee@cityofdenton.com

(940) 349-8430

(940) 349-8287 dentonparks.com dentonparksnrec

For more information, scan the QR code using your smartphone camera!

Chris Escoto

Park Planning Manager

Chris.Escoto@cityofdenton.com

(940) 349-8232

Jason Donnell

Sr. Park Planner

Jason.Donnell@cityofdenton.com

(940) 349-8275

Haywood Morgan

Urban Forester

Haywood.Morgan@cityofdenton.com

(940) 349-8337

Parks and Recreation is constantly seeking opportunities for alternative forms of funding to maximize resources and limit the burden of our city’s tax dollars. This year, staff submitted grant applications to the following organizations:

Texas Parks and Wildlife

Parks and Recreation has successfully applied for and received the Local Park Grant for the past two years. Currently, staff is working on a third application for improvements to the Briercliff Park Master Plan. In addition, staff worked on a Boating Access Grant during the spring and submitted three projects for consideration. If awarded, the grant will fund the installation of two new fishing and ADA kayak launch docks at North Lakes Park and Lake Forest Park, as well as an ADA kayak launch at the existing fishing dock in South Lakes Park. Staff anticipates hearing about the grant outcomes by next spring.

Texas Department of Transportation

The TxDOT 2023 Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set Aside Program provides federal funds for local bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects in communities across the state. On June 5, 2023, Park Planning staff submitted a detailed grant application for $13,714,880.00 to secure funding for 3.1 miles of critical segments on the Pecan Creek Trail. The City’s responsibility under this program is a 20% match of $2,742,976.00, with the remaining 80% ($10,971,904) awarded as reimbursement from TxDOT. This project will greatly improve access and mobility within our city. We eagerly await the grant award announcement in October.

US Department of Agriculture

Staff applied for a $3.4M Urban and Community Forestry grant to fund three programs.

• Planting of 900 trees in parks and center medians throughout the City, focusing on providing shade to paved surfaces to reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect.

• Removal of invasive Chinese Privet from up to 230 acres of natural areas in parks including Cross Timbers Forest and Environmentally Sensitive Areas to preserve native forest, and restoration native habitat with the planting of native ground cover and up to 20,000 understory shrubs and trees to reduce the occurrence of re-infestation of privet.

• Education of the public about the importance of urban forestry

Texas Commission on the Arts

On June 15, Parks and Recreation submitted a grant to the Texas Commission on the Arts. The grant aims to secure funding for a series of high-quality public performances in the Original Denton District (ODD) for the upcoming year. The requested grant amount is $12,000, which, when combined with the City’s matching funds from the annual Public Art Hotel Occupancy Tax allocation, would provide a total funding level of $24,000. The program’s goal is to bring art to public spaces in the ODD where people gather, offering surprising and impactful encounters with excellent artistic performances. By sustaining Denton’s reputation as a vital arts and culture hub in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, the program contributes to the city’s artistic legacy.

Traffic Box Art Wraps

Parks and Recreation staff oversaw the installation of 10 wraps from DISD high school student, and will be adding additional wraps designed by local university students and the community members. Recently, the Public Art Committee approved of two additional wraps to be installed featuring TWU student art. Soon, staff hope to add additional art by TWU students, as well as art created by City of Denton employees. A grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts for $6,000 is supporting the artistic wrapping of the utility boxes.

Librada “Lily” Cantú at North Lakes Park Master Plan

Master planning efforts for this project officially began May 2023. This project aims to provide a universally designed, sensory-rich environment that enables children to develop physically, socially and emotionally. The visioned play space will allow kids of ages and abilities, regardless of physical, mental, sight and hearing impairments to play. The process includes the master planning, design, and construction drawings.

This playground for all will include, but not limited to offering:

• Multi-sensory play opportunities

• Inclusive and accessible play elements

• Social play opportunities

• Safety, comfort, and access

• Incorporate safety, comfort, access

• Wayfinding and universal communication signage

• Accessible pathways and ramps to and from play area

• ADA site furnishings

At this time no funding has been identified for the construction of this project but sponsorship/donation opportunities will be developed as a partial funding mechanism.

Avondale Park Rehabilitation Project

The park pavilion was replaced this spring by Parks Maintenance staff with a large structure and additional picnic tables. In addition to the park improvement, design is underway for creek restoration. Design will be completed by the fall and funding has been requested in FY2023-2024 for the capital improvement. The creek improvement will include lueder limestone blocks to serve as armament to protect the shoreline from erosion while allowing park users to gain access to the creek for exploration.

Audra Oaks Park

A master plan for a new neighborhood park named Audra Oaks Park will start this fall with community meetings Efforts to create a neighborhood park started in 2017 with public feedback. A partnership with a local development resulted in the acquisition of a 5.19-acre lot in 2021 for a neighborhood park. Funding has not been identified for the construction phase of this project, although it is anticipated that the park will consist of a playground, trail, pond and open space for play.

Aquatics Master Plan

Last fall, Parks and Recreation staff began gathering information from residents, aquatics users, and community partners (DISD, UNT, and TWU) to plan for the future. The purpose of the plan is to identify opportunities to outline and prioritize the capital needs in the area of aquatics for the community over the next 10 years. It is anticipated that this plan will be presented to City Council this September.

Denton Tennis and Pickleball Center

Construction continues with completion projected in the spring. The new tennis center has 12 tennis courts, 8 pickleball courts and a pro shop.

Joe Skiles Park Renovation

Construction documentation is nearing completion and enhancements to Joe Skiles Park are expected to occur this Fall. The proposed project improvements consist of a loop trail around the perimeter of the property, irrigation, installation of trees and turf, new 2-5 year old play structure, court fencing replacement. It is anticipated that this project would conclude by spring 2024.

Denia Park Renovation

The anticipated Park enhancements consist of the completion of a loop trail around the park, trail connection to the Eagle Creek neighborhood, irrigation, trees, softball field improvements, and ADA accessibility requirements. Due to scope of project, staff sought outside consulting services for construction document creation. Documents are anticipated to be completed this fall with the project beginning to start construction late fall or early Winter. Funding for this project is supported from ARPA, Denton Parks Foundation, Brewer Foundation and park dedication fees.

South Lake Park Mountain Bike Trails

An estimated 3-4 miles of trails are being constructed by volunteers in South Lakes Park. The trails will use existing rogue dirt trails that have been created over the years along with new trails created by the removal of Privet. Privet is an invasive plant that slowly takes over a forest and chokes out native growth from occurring. Eventually, it is a goal of the department to removal all the Privet from the park although this will be challenging.

Carl Young Sr. Park Phase 2

Earlier this year staff started working on plans to expand the existing sprayground. Over 285 individuals provided responses for the selection of specific amenities. The sprayground has a budget of $700,000 and improvements will include the addition of 4 vertical components, additional ground sprayers, expansion of equipment/pump room, benches, and shade opportunities. Construction is anticipated to begin this fall after the aquatic season concludes. Other improvements to the park over the last few years have consisted of a new playground, parking lot, restrooms and trail lighting.

McKenna Park Performance Boulders

In the past three years, the Parks and Recreation Department focused on improving McKenna Park. This involved various enhancements such as completing the loop trail, adding shade structures, constructing a parking lot, and replacing the playground. After these upgrades, there were still remaining funds from the project that could be used for future opportunities within the park. As a result, the Park Planning staff explored different alternatives that would be suitable and affordable. By considering feedback, goals, and initiatives outlined in the Parks Master Plan, the staff made a recommendation. In March 2023, the City Council approved a contract for the purchase and installation of climbing boulder equipment. The staff expects the boulders to be installed in late August.

Quakertown Park Playground

This past spring the existing playground at Quakertown Park received new musical equipment. Donations from the Denton Benefit League and the Denton Parks Foundation made this new equipment possible. This new musical equipment helps continue to celebrate Denton’s musical heritage.

Quakertown Update

Parks staff are working on events for the summer and fall that will center and amplify voices from among Quakertown descendants. We are working on a “Quaker Speaks” event that would include descendants’ testimonies, commentary from Quakertown congregations, and musical performances speaking to the rupture that was the removal of Quakertown.

Public Art Update

The Public Art Committee recently chose artists for a vinyl wrap mural on Sycamore Street Bridge and a sculpture at the intersection of Old Bonnie Brae Street and Bonnie Brae Street north of Vintage Boulevard. The Sycamore Bridge mural will feature a design of flowers and butterflies, while the Bonnie Brae sculpture will feature a tree, buck, hawk, and background moon fabricated out of steel.

Artist Christine Sanders and her fabrication partners at 23 & Co. recently installed the art work “Serve” at the new Denton Tennis and Pickleball Center. The work will be officially unveiled at the grand opening of the Tennis Center in October.

Parks staff hope to begin restoration of the City’s National Humane Alliance Fountain soon. This fountain was initially given to the city in 1911 as part of a bequest that installed around 170 similar fountains in cities across North America.

Water PLAY

Aquatics and fall may seem an unusual pairing but not when you consider that drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years of age. Fortunately, this major health risk is preventable. In addition to other preventative measures such as supervision and the use of personal flotation devices, formal swimming lessons can significantly reduce the risk of drowning.

The Aquatics division of the Denton Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of learn-to-swim programs for people of all ages year-round. “Our goal is to help our community be as safe in and around the water as possible.” Says Aquatics Program Area Manager, Monica Martin. “Learning to swim is an essential life skill and one we want to make available to everyone. Taking a lesson in fall is a great way to prepare kids for summer aquatics fun.”

This past June, Denton joined thousands of communities around the globe in World’s Largest Swim Lesson. Held annually, this event is designed to bring awareness to the importance of learning to swim to prevent drownings. Instructors taught children and adults how to call for help, the reach or throw-don’t go method of assisting, the dangers of shallow and deep water, and floating and kicking. “We are proud to be part of such a great community event,” said Martin.

As of July, Denton Parks and Recreation has provided lessons for 2,912 people this year. “Last fall we were fortunate to undergo some restructuring and add a full-time learn-to-swim supervisor to our team.” Says Martin. “This addition has allowed us to focus more on providing both private and group lessons and maximize our flat-water space. That’s really our biggest challenge, keeping up with the growth of Denton and our limited flat-water space which is required to teach lessons. Staff has gotten very creative this summer in using all of our available resources including the wave pool and the slide catch pool at the water park to offer lessons but we still have people on our waiting list.”

Recently, the Aquatics division contracted with Kimley Horn and Councilman Hunsaker- two leading consulting groups in the industry, to develop the Aquatics Master Plan which will be adopted by Council this Fall. The Aquatics Master Plan works in conjunction with the Parks, Recreation, and Trails Master Plan, which was adopted by Council in March of 2022, and acts as a roadmap to direct and guide the planning and development of aquatics for the Denton community over the next ten years. Among other findings, the Aquatics Master Plan recommends the addition of flat-water space to meet the growing needs and demand of the rapidly increasing Denton population. To find out more about the Aquatics Master Plan and the future of Aquatics in Denton visit www.discussdenton.com