The Parks and Recreation Committee approved a new sign for John L. Tompkins Park and reviewed maintenance work across multiple city parks on Monday, while residents raised concerns about a proposal to add pickleball courts at Water Tower Park.

Debbie Heffman, Parks and Recreation Manager, told the committee the parks have benefited from recent rain and continued maintenance work, including a replaced basketball hoop at Water Tower Park and expanded garden beds at Turtle Park supported by the Birding Center. “The parks are looking really good,” Heffman said, noting staff replaced a rusted basketball backboard and are monitoring other equipment.

Why it matters: the committee approved a visible, low-cost sign for John L. Tompkins Park to help drivers recognize the park from Padre Boulevard, and discussed ongoing maintenance and programming that affect daily park users, volunteers and upcoming events such as the Christmas street parade.

The committee voted to approve an exterior sign mounted on the community center at John L. Tompkins Park. The sign will be laminated aluminum with reflective white background and a turquoise title treatment; staff presented approximate dimensions of 4 feet by 8 feet and a price of about $440. The committee approved the purchase with a revision to make the word “Park” larger so it reads more clearly from the road. The motion to approve the sign passed; Patricia seconded the motion.

Committee members heard several maintenance and habitat updates from Heffman. Staff and volunteers expanded planting beds at Turtle Park and installed irrigation, aided by contributions of plants from the Birding Center. Heffman said staff are letting newly treated gazebo posts cure before painting trim, repaired a book box showing moisture and rust, and are experimenting with soil preparation at John L. Tompkins Park to help grass establish after heavy rains. She urged residents to report park issues through the city’s Public Works email (pwcares@myspi.org) to ensure problems reach foremen for scheduling.

A resident who addressed the committee raised objection to a City Council agenda item that would rename Water Tower Park and place pickleball courts in a lot currently used by young children and for basketball. “I hate to see that go to a pickleball court when it's obvious that's a little kid's park,” the resident said, urging councilmembers and committee members to consider dual-use surfacing or other compromises. Committee members noted the council was considering the park renaming and the proposed pickleball installation on its agenda the same night and encouraged residents to attend the council meeting to comment.

The committee also reviewed community events and outreach. Heffman said parade preparations are under way: registration for the city’s Christmas street parade opened Monday and 10 entries had registered at the time of the meeting. The planned parade date is Friday, Dec. 5, with a rain backup of Dec. 12; staff are seeking Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) approval for the required street closure.

Votes at a glance
- Approve minutes of the Sept. 17 regular meeting — motion passed (voice vote; no roll-call tally recorded).
- Approve absences from the Sept. 17 meeting for Javi Gonzalez and Patricia McGrath as unexcused — motion passed (voice vote; no roll-call tally recorded).
- Approve purchase and installation of a John L. Tompkins Park sign (laminate aluminum, approx. 4 ft x 8 ft; ~$440) with requested revision to increase prominence of the word “Park” — motion passed (mover: not specified; second: Patricia McGrath).
- Approve Yard and Landscape of the Month winners for October (multiple residential and one business entry) — motion passed (voice vote).

Discussion vs. decision: The sign purchase and the yard awards were formal actions that passed. Other items — including the City Council’s proposed renaming of Water Tower Park and any court conversion to pickleball — were discussed but remain council actions or agenda items beyond the committee’s final authority. The committee encouraged public comment at the City Council meeting on those items.

Ending: Committee members said they will continue work on the broader parks signage project and will return updates to the committee when larger signage packages are ready for review. Staff asked volunteers to help with the parade and said they would provide further updates as TxDOT reviews the street-closure request.