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Parks staff and board weigh downtown holiday‑lighting options; staff to return with cost estimates
Summary
Friendswood Parks & Recreation and Friendswood Downtown EDC discussed holiday‑lighting options for downtown medians, poles, City Hall and Stevenson Park. Staff and vendors are already preparing bids; the board asked staff to return with pricing and recommended phasing.
Friendswood Parks & Recreation staff told the Friendswood Downtown Economic Development Corporation that vendor discussions are underway and recommended a phased approach to downtown holiday decorations, beginning with lighted pole decorations and medians and potentially expanding to bistro/string lighting and park displays.
"Our Parks and Rec department had already begun discussions with vendors regarding holiday lighting for the upcoming season," Steven (city staff) said. Parks staff asked the board whether it preferred a modest starter program or a "moonshot" plan, and recommended the board direct staff to gather firm cost estimates so the board could prioritize elements.
James Tony, Parks and Recreation, presented several display concepts including lit garland on poles, roofline lighting at the library and City Hall, large ornaments in medians and bistro lighting between poles. He described multiple delivery options: the board could purchase decorations and arrange storage and maintenance, or contract a vendor that provides installation, storage and maintenance for a fee.
Staff warned the board that costs vary widely: preliminary high‑level estimates discussed at the meeting put pole decorations in a range of roughly $900–$1,500 per pole depending on options and vendor services. Staff said vendors offered storage and reinstallation services for an additional fee and that a partnership or cost‑sharing arrangement with the city could be explored.
Board members asked staff to return with concrete bids and suggested a prioritization framework: poles first, then bistro lights, then medians and park displays. Staff said they would try to have estimates in time for a workshop or the next meeting so the board could make spending decisions for the coming season.
