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Council moves to prioritize Parks and Recreation master plan and more citizen engagement
Summary
Staff said an RFQ for a Parks & Recreation master plan is imminent; councilmembers discussed affordable park improvements, signage and holding town‑hall meetings within Open Meetings Act limits.
City staff told the Navasota City Council on May 13 that the city will issue an RFQ for a Parks & Recreation master plan, and councilmembers urged emphasis on low‑cost improvements and better public engagement. "I think we definitely need the parks and rec master plan," a council member said during the workshop.
Staff said the master plan RFQ will let the city obtain consultant proposals and cost estimates for park improvements and grant‑eligible amenities. The staff presentation noted that incorporating hike‑and‑bike trails into the plan would help the city qualify for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant programs; staff suggested designing looped and spoke trail systems that connect parks and downtown.
Council members urged the city to identify "low‑hanging fruit"—small investments such as replacing basketball goals, adding shade canopies, moving picnic tables and installing paver pads under tables to limit rot—that can improve park usability without large budget impacts. Council discussed specific parks: Cleveland Street Park (basketball slab), Brew Park (planning stage), and W M Albert Marjorie Miller Park (signage and benches already purchased by the FFA but not yet installed). Staff confirmed the benches were purchased and said staff will arrange installation and consistent park signage.
On public engagement, a council member asked for more town‑hall meetings (suggesting quarterly rather than twice a year). Staff cautioned that the Open Meetings Act requires posted agendas for discussion by a quorum and suggested soliciting topics in advance—via a public survey—then posting the top topics as an agenda to comply with the law.
Staff also pointed to existing online tools: the city website’s "report a problem" button can accept photos and service requests without a separate app, and the city has an intern working on a GIS field app that will allow crews to upload geolocated photos from the field for tracking park or infrastructure issues.
Why it matters: the parks plan will guide capital and operating priorities, improve grant eligibility and identify small‑scale projects residents can use immediately. Town‑hall design choices affect how the council can lawfully engage with residents outside formal agenda items.
Staff said the parks RFQ will be issued soon and that design and signage options will be brought back for council review; benches and basic improvements will be scheduled where feasible.
