[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6500833,"mediaKeyId","5551785-513ea2d9eb1c864faf068c8be9a8a30d","parentId",5551785,"title","Parks staff reports sharp visitation increases at Ridgeview Park, outlines operations and program updates","audioSeconds",1328,"startMs",557355,"endMs",1885620,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5551785-513ea2d9eb1c864faf068c8be9a8a30d&start=557&end=1885","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5551785-513ea2d9eb1c864faf068c8be9a8a30d/thumbnail_557355.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6500833/Missouri-City/Fort-Bend-County/Texas/Parks-staff-reports-sharp-visitation-increases-at-Ridgeview-Park-outlines-operations-and-program-updates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500833-8a7980d74092871b824e7b87dac84ad1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771109434&Signature=igqhAucrbMeXz6-2B8yHPVT9YdiFSKw2MsWCoB8Ql7TzB~EYzlC6Oawr3Z99Ux1jTXVSsi0TunaKeOTRuUpTjmfZ-Q6suc56i~dtsTHLC0T92C72Ro4zM-fR9HgRAYJ6VgnKK4qsWYjYrKOvZOh2OXxf69oVffpKUZ4lF6poXN~DF22GJUnCMIGuzDiDB3r1ldd4g3Y~kiXsKlSDotk05lnhVAQXZsEdnhKjYRy5~nEXkd5QU7DOPMfEyy1qdhUBpQ7LgNSTl7w0qyqDfK4fKA2CCEYNGukQ~xJGRn9D-PlEdxdRb~leyD0rNGzqQhGO-eIBYvkmHiqU~zMyXB18LA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Missouri City","date","2025-08-07T00:00:00Z","article","Missouri City parks staff told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board that park visits and facility use rose substantially this summer and outlined several operational changes and new programs intended to manage that growth.

In a staff report, the parks department said July 2025 recorded about 120,010 park visits, a roughly 30% increase from July 2024. Staff highlighted Ridgeview Park as a notable case: renovations there coincided with a sharp jump in visitors. Staff reported roughly 27,900 visits to Ridgeview between May and July this year, compared with about 14,000 for the same months in 2024; staff said unique visitors to Ridgeview increased more than 100%.

Director’s and operations updates
Director Hayes and other staff described a series of operational adjustments. Staff purchased a 40‑by‑80 event tent for about $13,000 — presented as a cost‑saving move compared with an estimated $27,000 rental for the same period — to support events such as Ford Fest and Snowfest. Parks operations also switched to geographically assigned maintenance crews, with each crew responsible for five to six parks including trash, bathrooms, mowing and repairs; staff said the change will expand in coming months as crews gain experience.

Ridgeview parking and visitor management
Staff said visitor data—including a cellular‑data product used to track origins and post‑visit destinations—showed that roughly 40% of Ridgeview visitors also visited nearby shops and restaurants before or after park visits. That finding prompted staff to announce near‑term parking lot striping changes to improve organization and a plan to add an additional parking lot on the park’s south end this fall. Staff also said they will propose a commercial‑use fee and permitting requirement for organized commercial visits (for example, adult or youth camps bringing buses) and planned to bring fee adjustments to the board in September; any new fee would then go to city council for approval.

Recreation programs and facility use
Recreation staff reported program growth across multiple areas. Pickleball youth classes are expanding, the Monstars Special Olympics Unified Basketball program registered 124 participants for recent events, and the city’s summer day camp served 624 participants (up from 576 last year). Staff reported facility usage across rentals and programs rose about 27% year‑over‑year and revenue from rentals, programs and memberships increased about 39% (roughly $40,000), which staff attributed largely to increased field reservations.

Swim lessons partnership
Because the city does not operate a municipal pool, staff described a new partnership with One Stop Aquatic Services, which manages Meadow Creek Pool, to offer swim lessons. Staff said the program charges $100 per month for a 10‑lesson block (guaranteed minimum of eight lessons when weather cancels outdoor sessions) and that the city’s administrative cost is negligible: staff said the city receives 10% of lesson revenue and the partner handles instructors, lifeguards and pool maintenance.

Staffing, facilities and other notes
Recreation staff reported two full‑time departures: Roderick Ferguson and Chris Cantu. Parks staff also said Centennial Park bond work will add shade structures, seating and fences soon; staff described recent small repairs and fence work, and asked board members to use park assessment surveys which staff use to generate work orders and shout‑outs for crews.

Board members asked about negative social‑media posts reporting buses traveling to Ridgeview; staff said the park is public and that the proposed commercial‑use permit would allow the city to manage larger organized visits and recoup costs. Staff closed with a series of informal kudos to individual employees for event work and daily park maintenance; staff also noted a light‑hearted string of incidents in which parks staff rescued kittens during the summer.

What’s next: staff said they will bring a proposed fee schedule that includes a commercial‑use fee to the board in September and that design work to expand parking at Ridgeview will continue this fall.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Missouri City - Parks Board","oneSentenceSummary","Missouri City parks staff reported a year‑over‑year increase in park visits, heavy use at Ridgeview Park after renovations, new swim lesson partnership, a one‑time tent purchase to cut rental costs, and operational changes including a switch to geographic maintenance crews.","taxTitle","Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas","taxId",2794,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6500836,"Missouri City parks board approves cash‑in‑lieu for three small developments",305,6160,311315,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5551785-513ea2d9eb1c864faf068c8be9a8a30d&start=6&end=311","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5551785-513ea2d9eb1c864faf068c8be9a8a30d/thumbnail_6160.jpg","/articles/6500836/Missouri-City/Fort-Bend-County/Texas/Missouri-City-parks-board-approves-cashinlieu-for-three-small-developments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500836-1890b6f9b29493855149e85a1f83c85f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771109434&Signature=A6AjDMzi9qTw6JsIgdF2SgIr0q67t2pWmDMZaEd3sKOM18Q2xknJYazzvNOMbfz1WCeGwCklqGRiCEYycMn-6UqIxWbB1KdxAIEerQeB-mlz1gBcKw9ZTvfh-yWfhLx2RAHS2KA9n3nrYjJFjaR5fmXObCJDKlBXhpE4iR2-DqYwdfG1PyJPX-AjsmrNvi4zECRsYAlKcvrNm3CmEHR6MpK6ZDp4fr16FKMrBnRWLcxDlGBaWqZKMIXWr~bG3aSCyayGTtEMpbIOnVDSnTaz-Nl6mVBRLpmPPcactobXZ3ov99z-4p-ZQA2Ykjd7Y3v5NPnpQvk1ZSdkaiQpxBzKRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Missouri City Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted to recommend acceptance of cash‑in‑lieu payments for three small residential infill projects, moving each item to the planning commission and ultimately to city council for final action.

Staff described each site and recommended approval of the payments during the board’s meeting. A staff member identified in the meeting as Train said the first request covers one single‑family lot on Underwood Drive, west of Austin Drive, and recommended accepting $1,400 in lieu of on‑site parkland dedication. The board moved and seconded the measure and approved it by voice vote.

The board then considered a replat on Underwood Drive that will create two single‑family homes; staff said the applicant proposes $2,800 cash in lieu for the two units and recommended approval. The board approved the recommendation by voice vote after a motion and second.

A third item asked the board to accept a cash‑in‑lieu payment related to apartment mitigation at Rock Homeplace, an address listed as 1937 Rockwell Street. Staff noted the site has closer access to existing parks, including Lexington Village Park and Independence Park, and recommended approval. A board member identified as Rothwell moved approval; another member seconded and the board approved the recommendation.

Why it matters: Missouri City’s parkland dedication policy requires roughly 1 acre of parkland per 100 dwelling units; for very small infill parcels that requirement often converts to a cash payment instead of land dedication. Board recommendations are advisory: each approved payment will be forwarded to the planning commission and city council for final approval before developers can proceed with their planning applications.

Votes at a glance
- Underwood Drive (single family lot): staff recommended accepting $1,400 cash in lieu. Motion by board member Catherine; second by board member Brian. Approved by voice vote.
- Underwood Drive (replat to two single‑family lots): applicant proposes $2,800 cash in lieu (for two units). Motion moved and seconded; approved by voice vote.
- Rock Homeplace (1937 Rockwell Street, apartment mitigation): applicant proposed $1,400 cash in lieu (as noted in the meeting materials). Motion by board member Rothwell; seconded; approved by voice vote.

Board and staff repeatedly stressed that small infill parcels have limited options for on‑site parkland and that these cash payments feed the city’s Park Zone 8 funds. Staff told the board Park Zone 8 currently lacks available acquisition funds but that any cash received would help future park purchases in the zone. Staff also noted that developments cannot complete planning steps until parkland requirements (or cash alternatives) are resolved, which is why the board’s recommendations occur early in the city’s review process.

Board members asked no substantive changes to the staff recommendations during debate. All three items were approved by voice vote and will be routed to subsequent planning and council reviews.","The Missouri City Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted to recommend accepting cash‑in‑lieu payments for three small infill developments, advancing each recommendation to the planning commission and city council for final action.","actionData","errors"]

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Parks staff reports sharp visitation increases at Ridgeview Park, outlines operations and program updates

Missouri City parks board approves cash‑in‑lieu for three small developments