VOL 3 No. 25
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2010
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FCCA swims against tide: Pool versus water park
By BARBARA FULENWIDER There’s a major standoff between some residents of Edgewater’s three subdivisions in First Colony and the First Colony Community Association (FCCA) board of directors. The residents want to keep their swimming pools and quiet neighborhood parks. The board wants to close some under-utilized pools and update aging neighborhood parks with splash pads, etc. The park upgrades clearly have residents riled. The May and June FCCA board meetings were well attended by protesters who opposed park enhancements because they say they like, use and want to keep the quiet oasis of a park they now have. “There’s no particular one thing residents oppose,” said, Sherrie Knoepfel, FCCA executive director. “They just don’t want redevelopment at all because they don’t want other people coming to use their park. They are concerned that when we update this park it will start getting more use,” so noise and more traffic will be an issue. Knoepfel said there are similar facilities all over the community, and that the contested pool is not a “destination-type facility.” Edgewater resident Kim Mason, who attended the board’s May and June board meetings, said she preferred her subdivision’s park the way it currently is, “open and natural.” “We feel that a spray park does not belong in our neighborhood,” she said. The park is in the middle of three subdivisions: Edgewater Bay, Edgewater Gardens and the Lakes of Edgewater. About 75 percent of the residents in those three subdivisions have signed a petition saying they do not want the spray park. Mason also said residents believe the proposed enhance-
ments do not belong in their area and don’t “meet the natural flow of our park,” which is used by all ages. “I think what the board is suggesting is a total change,” she said. “It doesn’t match what we have.” She went on to say that community members are not opposed to the idea of park additions. They have made suggestions along the lines of updated playground equipment, more landscaping and separate picnic tables, rather than one large pavilion. “We are not against updating the amenities because we think that’s important to maintaining the value in our homes,” Mason said. “The objection is what they are wanting to put in our parks.” Mason said she is also concerned about the board closing a swimming pool in Creekshire, which is within walking distance for Edgewater residents. According to her, the board wants to replace the pool with a spray park. Mason has countered with a suggestion of adding a smaller spray section to the existing pool. According to her, the board wants to replace the pool with a spray park. Mason has countered with a suggestion of adding a smaller spray section to the existing pool. “A splash pad is not wanted in place of a pool,” she said. “Our park is being used the way it is, so why not continue it that way? Again, it’s okay to upgrade and we welcome that. We feel we’ve reached out a lot to try to work with them (FCCA board) and it does not appear that they have reciprocated.” Nancy Hentschel, who owns a home in Edgewater but lives elsewhere, blames the standoff on a “lame survey” sent out by the FCCA to area homeowners. “One half of one percent of the people responded – HOA (Homeowner Association) reps,”
10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Stafford, TX 77477 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487 Seshadri Kumar www.fbindependent.com Publisher & Editor 281-980-6745 Fort Bend Independent is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas 77477. Periodical postage application pending. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.
she said. “The homeowners had a super majority opposing this in three communities surrounding Lakes of Edgewater. They like what they’ve got and want it maintained better, and they don’t want the swimming pool torn out.” Between 15 and 20 people told the board what they thought of the proposed park plans at the June 17 board meeting. Complaints ran the gamut from draining chlorinated water into the lake and hurting wildlife, to closing swimming pools, having more noise and traffic in their neighborhoods and the costs involved. When the speakers had had their say the board voted to move forward with the next phase of the project, which is preparing the construction document for Edgewater park redevelopment. Knoepfel said they hope to get two to five qualified bids submitted for the construction, which is budgeted at $730,000 and expected to total “about $800,000.” The executive director also said the recreational facilities in First Colony need to be updated because the subdivision is more than 30 years old. “We want to update, revitalize and modernize all of our facilities,” Knoepfel said. “Things have changed and now there’s a lot more opportunity for inner action with our parks and pools – more hands-on activities. Today’s kids expect more stimulation.” She said she plans to put in new playground equipment, a splash pad, additional landscaping, a picnic shelter and a small parking lot at the Edgewater park. Edgewater resident Bala N. Aiyer said he is protesting the planned splash pad in his quiet neighborhood because he feels it will be a destination. See PARK, Page 3
THE QUAIL VALLEY YARD OF THE MONTH award goes to Joanne and William Gore of 3323 El Dorado Boulevard. The Gore’s garden is a great example of combining annual and perennial plants for seasonal color that include day lilies, pentas, salvia, begonias, plumbago and climbing roses to create a welcoming home. The Gores received a lovely variegated plant from Flowers by Adela and a certificate from the Quail Valley Garden Club.
An artist’s sketch and illustration of the proposed water park in First Colony.
Sugar Land Superstar competition
Sugar Land Town Square recently kicked off the first round of the 2010 Sugar Land Superstar competition, sponsored by David Taylor Cadillac, with the first batch of contestants performing live in the Plaza. Evan Hines, left, Samantha Garcia, Mary Sarah Gross, Alisha Pace and Toni Davis were named finalists at the end of the night and will go on to compete in the finale of the competition on August 14. Round II will take place from 7-9 p.m. on July 10.
‘Blue Fort Bend in 2010’ campaign kicks off
Hundreds of Fort Bend Democrats gathered at Safari Texas Ranch in Richmond on June 18 to pay tribute to County Commissioner Grady Prestage and kick off their 2010 coordinated campaign – the first such county-wide effort in years. Among many others on hand to honor Prestage – the county’s longest-serving Democratic elected official, with more than 20 years in office – was Texas gubernatorial candidate and former Houston Mayor Bill White and U.S. Rep. Al Green. “I think what we’re seeing is a new standard being set for this Party, with the expectation that Democrats will start winning elections as soon as this November,” said newly elected Fort Bend County Democratic Party Chairman Steve Brown. “Fort Bend is perhaps the most diverse county in our state, but unfortunately that diversity hasn’t been reflected in our local or county governments.” Aiming to change that, the FBCDP Chairman Steve Brown, left, and longtime County Democratic Party introduced Commissioner Grady Prestage at “Blue Fort Bend 2010” a slate of local candidates Fri campaign kick-off held on June 18 at Safari Texas Ranch. SEE BLUE, Page 7
Children’s Emergency Center Now Open.
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