City parks staff provided a broad overview of operations and upcoming projects at the Jan. 8, 2024 meeting of the Benbrook Park Board.

Mister Howell, representing city parks staff, described preparation for Heritage Fest and routine maintenance duties including mowing, landscaping, restroom cleaning and playground repairs. Howell said park crews prepare baseball fields year-round at Dutch Branch Park and operate a full-time employee assigned to that task.

Howell described the parks department's mosquito surveillance program. The department sets traps beginning in April and continuing through October, sends samples to Tarrant County Public Health for analysis for West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis and related pathogens, and conducts targeted spraying when traps return positive results. Howell also noted the department distributes mosquito “dunks” at areas of stagnant water to reduce larvae.

Staff described recent and planned facility work. The department has installed shade structures, built pumps and irrigation systems, constructed entrance monuments and built Jerry Dietrich Park (formerly South Pembroke Park). Parks staff perform resurfacing work: in recent years they resurfaced tennis courts and converted some courts to accommodate pickleball. Howell said the department plans to resurface an upper court at Dutch Branch Park this year and add striping for pickleball; that court is also used by Fort Worth ISD.

Howell reported that the city hosted fish-stocking events at a maintained pond. He said 500 trout were placed in the pond most recently and that the department also received an unexpected catfish stocking after the originally intended pond did not meet the stocking requirements. The department said Texas Parks and Wildlife values the pond as a clean, accessible site for stocking.

Howell listed community partners and concessionaires that operate or use park facilities, including the YMCA, Power Play Racing, Benbrook Stables, the par-3 driving range, the Benbrook Youth Baseball and Softball Association and the Benbrook Marina. He cited recent special events supported by parks staff such as programs by the American Diabetes Association, a Benbrook Middle/High School event, Bikers Against Child Abuse, a disc-dog competition, the Eric Williams race, Relay for Life and a Restoration Church event.

"With that, I'd be happy to answer any questions," Howell said, after the overview. The transcript records no substantive public comments on the agenda items and the meeting moved to adjournment.