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Parks staff report rising summer participation, staffing shortfalls and ongoing flood recovery
Summary
Staff reported 10–20% growth in summer day camp enrollment, more than 70 summer football teams, senior meal service (about 1,500 meals per month), a planned $40,000+ pool sanitation upgrade, and department staffing shortages (10 full-time and 1 seasonal positions).
Parks staff provided updates on summer programs, sports and maintenance as the department continues recovery after recent flood events.
Jesse (Speaker 6) reported summer day camp enrollment rose about 10–20% from last year, and that restored bus transportation through the independent school district will enable more field trips and improved promotion for next year. Staff introduced a new recreation coordinator, Christina Garcia, who will support summer day camp and splash‑pad operations. Senior programming served about 1,500 meals at the Santa Fe Crossing location over the month; staff highlighted upcoming senior events in late August.
On athletics, staff said the West Texas All‑Star Tournament proceeded after the flood with more than 60 teams, and summer football participation increased from 47 teams last year to more than 70 this year. Adult softball (37 teams) and flag‑football brackets were also active.
On aquatics and splash pads, staff said pool attendance has been lower due to weather-related closures; the department is considering a secondary sanitation system for the pool with an estimated cost above $40,000. Staff described intermittent technical and sensor issues at Kirby Park and UNIDAD splash-pad systems and ongoing repairs and vendor upgrades for more robust commercial fittings.
Maintenance staff (Speaker 8) said the department has authorized overtime and weekend work to catch up on flood-related tasks, but remains short 10 full‑time and 1 seasonal positions. Ongoing projects include the World War II Memorial groundbreaking, Texas Bank Sports Complex construction and shade-structure work, pickleball court resurfacing at Brown Park (vendor scheduled), and sod installation at UNIDAD and Kirby Park using leftover project funds.
Staff said they would pursue targeted outreach to recruit applicants and coordinate with communications for social-media outreach and job-fair possibilities.
