Board finalizes market calendar details, agrees to form parks subcommittee to pursue leases and grants

Chair (S2) led a briefing on the Lucas Farmers Market season calendar and asked the board to validate assignments and organizers for special events. The chair reported 66 vendors had been confirmed for the April 25 plant sale and that Crystal will organize that market; Puckett's was unable to attend due to staffing, so the regular plant vendor will run the sale.

The board discussed the May 9 market, which will include the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. Members debated whether to hold a noisy birdhouse build the same day; S1 cautioned that the raptor center "may not wanna bring birds when you're doing building birdhouses because of the hammers." The board agreed to move the birdhouse activity to June 27 and assigned Brian and Bill to operate it.

The chair outlined summer events (ice‑cream contest June 13, Picnic in the Park, back-to-school market in August) and asked board volunteers to staff AM/PM shifts. Music and performer vetting will be handled by Michelle.

On parks development, the board discussed forming a subcommittee to advance Brockdale and Highland Park projects and fundraising. The chair said the goal is to pursue grants and sponsorships and named Brian and others as interested. The board heard that a meeting with the U.S. Army Corps yielded a lengthy list of steps; staff estimated about six to nine months before the city can start and suggested a final lease could be expected next summer at the earliest. The chair emphasized the importance of having the city involved from the beginning.

A motion to approve the minutes from the Feb. 10, 2026 Parks and Open Space Board meeting was made and passed without recorded opposition; the meeting then adjourned.

Why it matters: the calendar decisions lock in volunteer and vendor commitments for the market season, and the subcommittee will focus limited city dollars by pursuing grants and sponsorships for park leases and improvements.