Parks - Baytown

Baytown
Parks & Recreation
Department
ANNUAL REPORT
2013 - 2014
City of Baytown
Parks and Recreation Department
Annual Report 2013 – 2014
Mission Statement
The City of Baytown Parks and Recreation Department genuinely cares about its
customers and continually strives to not only meet, but also exceed their
expectations. Our department is dedicated to improving the lives of our citizens and
visitors, and enhancing the image of the City of Baytown through effective and
efficient recreational, educational, cultural, fitness and environmental programs
and services. We subscribe to the philosophy that parks and recreation positively
impacts health, crime prevention, the environment, the economy and the overall
quality of life of the Baytown community.
The Baytown Parks and Recreation Advisory Board members and the Parks and
Recreation Department staff are again pleased to present the Department’s Annual Report
to the Mayor, Council Members and City Management. This report is presented in its
traditional format and continues to serve as:
1. Our collective view of the past year’s activities
2. A progress / status report on most of our current programs and plans
3. A brief overview of our plans for the upcoming year
This report is made pursuant to Ordinance No. 885, adopted in September 1967, which
states that, annually, the Board shall make a study of the parks and recreation facilities
and policies of the City, and make recommendations concerning any changes,
modifications or improvements.
The Parks and Recreation Department enjoyed another fantastic year that was highlighted
by the opening of the new I-10/Spur 330 Gateway and three park facility ribbon cuttings
including the expansion of
Pirates Bay. The Department
added 67 acres of parkland to
the city’s park inventory this
past year. The Department also
claimed several statewide and
regional awards during the year
and had another huge crowd at
the annual July 3rd and 4th
Celebration.
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Several major projects kept the Department busy including the construction of the Pirates
Bay Expansion Project, the Goose Creek Phase V Trail, the lighting of the third field at
Central Heights Park, improvements to Roseland Park, Jenkins Park and Hollaway Parks
and the continuation of the cleaning of Tabbs Bay of hundreds of derelict piles and junk.
The Pirates Bay Water Park continued its popularity from the past four seasons. During
the 2013 season, 133,308 guests passed through the gates at Pirates Bay, and 453,107
people have visited the park during the past four seasons. On Thursday, June 19th, guest
number 500,000 walked through the Pirates Bay gate. If projections are on target, staff
anticipates over 170,000 people through the gates during the 2014 season.
Calypso Cove, located at N.C. Foote Park, continued to exceeded expectations with
18,059 visitors in 2013 beating the 2011 attendance record by 2,242 visitors. Calypso
Cove has welcomed 49,488 guests during the first three seasons. Currently, attendance is
projected to clear 18,500
during the 2014 summer
season.
The Department carried
out four grand opening
celebrations this past
year including ribbon
cutting ceremonies at
Central Heights Park
Splash Deck, the new
Cricket Field, I-10/Spur
330 Gateway and of
course the Pirates Bay
Expansion
Phase
I
project.
The City added almost
67 acres of parkland including a 48 acre tract north of I-10 that will be shared with the
future 911 Communications/ITS Facility. Parkland was added as part of the Baker Road
Extension project as 16 acres were set aside as a detention/retention pond. An additional
10.95 acre tract was acquired for a future park on Kilgore Road with Cedar Bayou
waterfront.
The Department continues to beautify the City with the landscaping of the Bergeron Park
Triangle. In addition, staff worked with the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) to design and landscape the medians of Highway 146 between North Main and
Garth Road. The project, which included planting hundreds of trees, landscape plants
and drip irrigation, was completed during the winter months.
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The Parks and Recreation Department also planted 45
thirty-gallon trees in various parks and gave away over
1,600 one-gallon size trees for the annual Arbor Day
Celebration.
The Department teamed up with
ExxonMobil to plant over 310 trees at Unidad Park and
along the adjacent Highway 146 median, making a
significant impact to the drought ravaged Unidad Park.
The Recreation Division conducted thirty-nine special
events this past year. The division also handles the rentals
and daily operations of the Community Center, three park
pavilions, and athletic fields. The Recreation Manager
also oversees the operations and management of both
Pirates Bay and Calypso Cove. In FY 2015, funding for
the Recreation Manager will be absorbed by the Aquatics
Division allowing the Aquatics Manager to spend 100%
of his time running the Aquatics Division. The Recreation
Division will then hire a new Recreation Manager to
manage the Recreation Division.
The 8th Annual Grito Fest was held at Bicentennial Park on October 5th. The event
featured the popular Los Herederos, along with Jimmy Gonzalez y Grupo Mazz and
Mariachis Los Gallitos. Festival goers enjoyed a Grito Competition, Salsa and Jalapeno
Eating Contest, and an Accordion Competition. An estimated crowd of 5,000 attended
the festival.
The City’s Annual 3rd and 4th of July Celebration at Bicentennial Park was tremendously
successful as tens of thousands attended the two-day event. The 3rd of July concert was
highlighted by rock-n-roll legends, Kansas. The 3rd of July rock-n-roll night continues to
grow in popularity as the event enjoyed its highest attendance in the event’s short history.
However, the 4th of
July was a different
story as heavy rain and
lightning provided a
major challenge for
staff.
Just as the
parade was scheduled
to start the annual
festivities, heavy rain
began to fall delaying
the start of the parade.
Staff worked with the
entertainer’s road crew
to reschedule and
adjust the times for the
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show. After a 45 minute delay,
local musician, Breelan Angel
provided a terrific lead in to
country music stars Montgomery
Gentry. A 20 minute fireworks
show immediately followed the
headliner, culminating a very wet
and
soggy
but
successful
celebration.
Despite the early
thunderstorms, several thousand
attendees enjoyed the concert and
fireworks.
The Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education and Recreation Center and Baytown Nature
Center continue to offer outstanding programs to GCCISD students, with the Back to the
Bay, Wetlands Ecology and Liquid Science Programs. The award-winning Nurture
Nature Series and Nurture Nature Festival draw visitors from across the state to the
Baytown Nature Center on a monthly basis, and Gator Tales and Tyke Hike programs
target our youngest citizens. Wade Into Wetlands Summer Science Camp continues to
fill to capacity, as do the Winter Holiday and Spring Into Nature camps.
The Baytown Nature Center educational programs led by our now full time naturalist,
continues to provide opportunities for Nature Center activities and scout workshops. The
naturalist also leads the Back to the Bay Program. The Nature Center attendance
continues to increase as visitors have discovered it’s not only a prime location for fishing
and birding, but also for kayaking, biking, and hiking. The Center’s newest program, a
guided “Full Moon Night Hike”, is held each month on the Saturday closest to full
moon. Participants walk the trails and look for the Nature Center residents that only
come out at night such as owls and coyotes. Scout workshops and overnight campouts
have become regular weekend
activities.
The Wetlands Wagon Outreach
Program often finds Wetlands
Center and Baytown Nature
Center staff on the road
throughout Texas, promoting both
facilities and the city of Baytown
as an environmentally friendly
destination.
The
Wetlands
Wagon partnered with the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department
again this year to promote the
Wetlands Center and the Baytown
Nature Center in Houston, Dallas,
San Antonio, and Fort Worth.
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Awards
The Parks and Recreation Department won ten awards in 2013 - 2014 including the
Texas Recreation and Park Society's “Lone Star Programming Award” and
Harris/Galveston Area Council’s, “2013 Parks and Natural Areas Award”. The
Department also won three personal awards in 2014.
Harris/Galveston Area Council
2014 Parks and Natural Areas Award
On the Ground Project under $500K
Emmett Hutto Parkway
For the second year in a row, the Parks and
Recreation Department won the Parks and
Natural Areas Award for on the Ground
Projects under $500K. On January 21,
2014, the City of Baytown Parks and
Recreation Department received the Harris/Galveston Area Council, 2014 Parks and
Natural Areas Award, On the Ground Project under $500K Category award recognizing
the Emmett Hutto Parkway Project.
The Emmett Hutto Parkway is nestled in the heart of Baytown and is a major street
connecting Rollingbrook Drive and Baker Road as well as several neighborhoods. The
northbound and southbound lanes are separated by a large median with a drainage ditch
in the middle. The median was an eyesore. Many residents, including the Mayor, reached
out for a solution to help beautify the area. The Parks and Recreation Department came
up with a design to beautify the street and to provide a loop trail around the drainage
ditch. The design was completed in house and included an eight foot wide walking trail,
landscaping, park amenities and crosswalks to attract pedestrians to the area. The result
was a beautiful area that can be admired by walkers as well as the motorist.
Harris/Galveston Area Council
2014 Planning - Special Recognition
Strategic Master Plan for Pirates Bay
Waterpark
Following the first three years of tremendous
success of the Pirates Bay Waterpark, the City
contracted with Kimley-Horn and CounsilmanHunsaker to develop the Strategic Master Plan
for Pirates Bay Waterpark during the summer of 2012. The master plan is designed to
guide the expansion of Pirates Bay for the next 10 years. The first phase, under
construction at the time of the award, focused on easing the parks daily capacity
limitation by 500 additional guests and expanding the concession and lifeguard facilities
to accommodate the large crowds. Future expansion plans call for three additional phases
that will elevate the visitors’ park experience.
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Texas Recreation and Park Society East Region
2013 Lone Star Programming Award
Wetlands Wagon Outreach Program
At the Texas Recreation and Park Society’s East
Region Conference on January 23, 2014, at the
Pearland Recreation Center, the City of Baytown,
Parks and Recreation Department received the Texas
Recreation and Park Society, East Region Lone Star
Programming Award for the Department’s “Wetlands
Wagon Outreach Program”.
The program educated people throughout Texas on the
value of the wetlands ecosystem. Staff from the Eddie
V. Gray Wetlands Education Center and Baytown
Nature Center visited several Texas cities and events to
talk about the value of the ecosystem. The program
was complete with a trailer featuring live animals, a
coastal touch tank, animal pelts and more.
Texas Recreation and Park Society East Region
Innovations in Park and Facility Design Award
Emmett Hutto Parkway
At the Texas Recreation and Park Society’s East
Region Conference, the Parks and Recreation
Department was presented the Innovations in Park and
Facility Design Award for the design and construction
of the Emmett Hutto Parkway.
Emmett Hutto Boulevard is a short major street
connecting Rollingbrook and Baker Road.
The
Boulevard’s northbound and southbound lanes are
separated by a large median with a drainage ditch in the
middle; the median was an eyesore. The Hutto
Parkway now includes a 1.27 mile loop trail and is the
new “heart” of our citywide trail system. The design
was completed in house and included an eight foot wide
walking trail, landscaping, park amenities and
crosswalks to attract pedestrians to the area.
The Hutto Parkway trail will link to the City’s spine trail, Goose Creek Trail and our
future East/West trail along Baker Road. The Parkway’s tie to the south Goose Creek
Trail is planned over the next two years. The City also plans to extend the trail to the
North connecting the City’s Northern edge of town and I-10.
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Texas Recreation and Park Society East Region
Advocate of the Year
Friends of the Baytown Nature Center
At the Texas Recreation and Park Society’s East
Region Conference, the Friends of the Baytown
Nature Center were awarded the Advocate of the
Year Award recognizing the Friends for their hard
work and dedication to make the Nature Center the
showpiece it is today.
The Friends of the Baytown Nature Center, has
been and continues to be a major catalyst in the
development of programs and facilities at the
Baytown Nature Center. Their continued efforts
toward the conservation, restoration, and
protection of the natural, cultural and historic
resources at the Baytown Nature Center (BNC)
have resulted in BNC’s recognition as one of the
premier environmental education facilities on the upper Gulf Coast. They have
contributed volunteered time and monetary support across a wide variety of programs at
the Baytown Nature Center, and have served as ambassadors to the Center by promoting
volunteerism and public awareness.
Texas Recreation and Park Society East Region
Part-Time Employee of the Year
Leon Smith
At the Texas Recreation and Park Society’s East
Region Conference, Leon Smith was awarded the
Part-Time Employee of the Year Award
recognizing Leon for his hard work and dedication
as a Sports Field Supervisor and as the Summer
Track Team Coach.
Leon Smith, a full time employee of the La Porte
Parks and Recreation Department, is a certified
United States Specially Sports Association
(USSSA) umpire, Field Supervisor, and Head
Track Coach of our 125 member youth track
program. Leon also volunteers to work events
such as Special Olympics, the Community Yard Sales, and the 3rd & 4th of July
Celebration and many other events put on by the Parks and Recreation Department.
More importantly than anything listed above is Leon Smith’s work ethic. Although
Leon is a full-time employee of La Porte, he is a true asset to the Baytown Parks and
Recreation.
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Texas Recreation and Park Society
Lone Star Recreation Programming
Achievement Award Class III
“Wetland Wagon Outreach Program”
The City of Baytown was awarded the
Lone Star Programming Achievement
Class III Award from the Texas
Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS)
at the 2014 TRAPS Institute & EXPO
Annual Awards Dinner February 21,
2014, at the American Bank Center in
Corpus Christi.
The Lone Star Award Programming
Achievement Award is presented for
the best new first-time recreation
programs
in
five
population
categories. Baytown won the Class III
Award for populations between 50,001 and 100,000. The award was given in recognition
of the “Wetlands Wagon Outreach Program”.
The program educated people throughout Texas on the value of the wetlands ecosystem.
Staff from the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education Center and Baytown Nature Center
visited several Texas cities and events to talk about the value of the ecosystem. The
program was complete with a trailer featuring live animals, a coastal touch tank, animal
pelts and more.
Texas Recreation and Park Society
Outstanding Service in Conservation Award
Friends of Baytown Nature Center
The City of Baytown Parks and Recreation
Department nominated the Friends of the
Baytown Nature Center for the Outstanding
Service in Conservation Award. The award
recognized the group’s commitment to the
development of programs and facilities at the
Baytown Nature Center. Their continued
efforts toward the conservation, restoration,
and protection of the natural, cultural and
historic resources at the Baytown Nature
Center have resulted in the recognition of the
center as one of the premier environmental
education facilities on the upper Gulf Coast.
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Texas Recreation and Park Society
Dan Whitworth Fellow Award
Scott Johnson
Much to Scott’s surprise, The Texas Recreation and Park
Society awarded “The Dan Whitworth Award” to Scott Johnson
at the 2014 TRAPS Institute & EXPO Annual Awards Dinner,
held on February 21, 2014 at the American Bank Center in
Corpus Christi. The Dan Whitworth Award is the highest
award the Society can bestow, recognizing a member of
TRAPS who has given outstanding service to the parks and
recreation field, and has contributed to the advancement of the
Texas Recreation and Park Society.
Scott was both honored and speechless and is very grateful for
the many people that helped him throughout his career. Scott
thanks the outstanding and dedicated staff he gets to work with
every day. Scott was also honored to receive an award named
after a good friend, Dan Whitworth.
ExxonMobil Corporation
Refiner of the Year
Wayne Gray
The 27th ExxonMobil “Refiner of the Year”
was presented to Parks and Recreation
Advisory Board Chairman Wayne Gray at
the Annual ExxonMobil Christmas Party on
December 3, 2013. The award is presented
to an outstanding community volunteer. The
recipient is usually a long-time resident
whose volunteer activities have made exemplary and lasting contributions for the good of
our community. His dedication to his board membership is shown not only in positive
results and lasting impressions, but also in his perfect attendance record. Wayne Gray is
one of the original members of the City of Baytown’s Parks and Recreation Board that
was formed in 1966 – serving for 47 years and counting. Our community is extremely
proud of the work the board and the City have done to create a thriving park system.
Wayne has been instrumental in the success of our park system with focus on protecting
and restoring the natural areas of the city, educating Baytown residents about the
importance of these natural resources and enhancing the quality of life for our residents.
His contributions through the Parks and Recreation Board, Lee College, along with other
boards including the Goose Creek Stream Development Committee and Community
Resource Credit Union have truly made Baytown a better place to live for our families
and citizens. Wayne’s outstanding dedication to our community is an example for us all.
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Publications
The Parks and Recreation Department was
honored to have the Pirates Bay Waterpark
featured in an article that appeared in a
national publication this past year. Kevin
Post
with
Counsilman-Hunsaker
and
Associates wrote “Planning the Perfect
Waterpark” highlighting the success of
Pirates Bay. Counsilman-Hunsaker has been
involved with the design of Calypso Cove,
Pirates Bay and the Phase I expansion, as
well as a key contributor to the Aquatics
Facilities Master Plan and the Strategic
Expansion Master Plan for Pirates Bay
Waterpark. The publication and article is
listed below.
Kevin Post, Counsilman-Hunsaker and
Associates. (April 2014). Planning the Perfect
Waterpark. PRB - Parks and Rec Business,
Volume 12 (Issue 9) Pages 48 – 53
Special Recognition
We express our sincere appreciation to the Mayor, City Council Members, and City
Management for their support of the Department, as well as to our allied groups,
including the Friends of the Baytown Nature Center, the Friends of the Eddie V. Gray
Wetlands Education and Recreation Center, The Bay Area Historic Society, The
Baytown Historical Preservation Association, Lee College, Goose Creek Consolidated
Independent School District, the Baytown YMCA, The Rotary Club of Baytown, The
Kiwanis Club of Baytown, Historic Goose Creek Association, the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, Baytown Chamber of Commerce, the Highlands Knights of Columbus, the
Evening Pilot Club, and the Pilot Club of Baytown. Collectively, these groups,
organizations and others, contribute a great deal to the success of many of the
Department’s programs and events. We would also like to acknowledge the numerous
contributions of volunteers, businesses and industries, noting that it is not possible to
recognize them all individually, while conceding that we could not be successful without
them.
On a special note, we would like to thank Ken Jones, Harris County Constable Precinct 3,
and his deputies for their help with the Christmas Parade, Grito Fest, and the 3rd and 4th of
July Celebration. A special thanks to Assistant Chief Bob Wooten, Captain Joe Eaglin
and Lieutenant David Jones for their assistance in the coordination of the deputies.
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The Parks and Recreation Department would like to thank several local industries for
their contributions of money and labor during the past year. Most notable are
ExxonMobil, Bayer Corporation, Chevron Phillips LP, Enterprise Products, San Jacinto
Methodist Hospital, Academy, Whataburger, Awards and Engravings, SNC-Lavalin
Calpine Energy, Cargill Inc. and the TPC Group. Without their support of the Eddie V.
Gray Wetlands Education and Recreation Center, the Baytown Nature Center, and
several special events, many of the activities that are provided to the public would not be
possible.
We would also like to take this opportunity to express our utmost appreciation to several
City Departments and employees who have provided noteworthy assistance to the
Department this year. The staff of the Engineering Department was of great assistance
again this year. The Traffic Control staff has helped with many events during the year,
most notably the Christmas Parade, Grito Fest and the 3rd and 4th of July events. A huge
thank you to the Police, Fire, Communications and Health Departments for their support
and assistance with numerous events our department coordinates, including this year’s
July 3rd and 4th Celebration and Grito Fest. Special thanks goes out to Chief Keith
Dougherty and his staff, including Lieutenant Roger Park, Detective Corporal Russell
White and Sergeant Glenn Slaven for coordinating the public safety at the 3rd and 4th of
July Celebration. A special thank you to Fire Chief Shon Blake and Fire Marshall
Bernard Olive for their assistance in planning and coordinating a variety of activities for
the July 3rd and 4th Celebration, including the parade and providing meals to event staff,
volunteers, and entertainers.
A giant thank you also goes out to the Montgomery Gentry Road crew. Despite the hard
rain and continued threatening weather, the road crew worked with Parks and Recreation
staff to insure that the “Show Would Go On”. We deeply appreciate the band’s
willingness to be flexible and happy to work with us to provide the great show that the
entertainers put on.
The Parks and Recreation
Department sends out a
special thank you to the
Baytown
Police
Department for providing
weekend security at the
Pirates Bay Water Park.
In addition, we would
like to recognize and
thank Darryl Fourte and
the
Public
Works
Department for their
assistance throughout the
year with several park
projects.
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We also would like to thank all the volunteers who helped make this past year a success,
specifically for the annual Daddy and Me Dance and the Summer Track program. We
would like to especially recognize the volunteers that worked in preparation for the 8th
Annual Grito Fest. A special thank you as well, to Enterprise Products and all our many
sponsors and volunteers for the annual Special Olympics Track Meet. Thanks also go to
the numerous volunteers that help staff the various programs at the Eddie V. Gray
Wetlands Education and Recreation Center and at the Baytown Nature Center.
We would also like to thank Administration and the Human Resources Department for
their hard work with the Compensation Study. The results of the study had a significant
impact on most of the Departments lower paid employees. We would also like to
recognize the Human Resources Department for all they do assisting the staffing of our
Aquatics Division.
A special thank you to the Parks and Recreation Department staff that continues to
provide innovative and cost-effective quality activities and for the long hours, many of
which are after normal work schedules. The staff continues to strive to make Baytown a
better place to live and work.
The remainder of this report describes in more detail the status of our projects and
programs. It also notes a number of completed improvements and concludes with a
review of a few specific goals for the upcoming year.
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Park Land Acquisition
The City’s parkland inventory grew by 66.95 acres this past year.
A. Blue Heron Park (16 Acres) As part of the Baker Road Expansion project, a 16
acre tract of land was set aside for a retention/detention pond and park. The land
was designed similar to the 10th Street detention pond better known as East Little
League Park. A three acre upland was constructed for a practice soccer/baseball
field and a pond that can be used for fishing. An eight foot wide loop walking
trail along with a 19 car parking lot was added as part of the Blue Heron Parkway
(Baker Road extension project).
B. Wallisville/911 property (48 Acres total – 40 acres park land) A major goal of the
Parks and Recreation Strategic Master Plan was to purchase land north of I-10.
The City purchased 48 acres of land along Wallisville Road that includes both
parkland and land for the future Communications/ITS Center that will be
constructed in 2015. The Communications/ITS Center will utilize approximately
eight acres, including a retention/detention pond that will be utilized by the future
park. The construction will leave approximately 40 acres for the future park.
C. Kilgore Park (10.95 Acres) – David Rogers donated 10.95 acres in June 2014.
The land is located on Kilgore Road with Cedar Bayou waterfront. The property
is located about 3,000 feet north of Roseland Park and will provide future
citizens’ access to Cedar Bayou.
Parks
Completed Projects
A. Community Center/City Hall Courtyard Improvements Phase II Park staff completed the second phase of the courtyard between City Hall
and the Baytown Community Center. Phase 2 included a trellis
installation with a decorative bench and landscaping as well as decorative
lighting on the walkway between the two buildings.
B. Roseland Basketball Shelter - Staff contracted with Kraftsman
Commercial Parks and Playgrounds to install a 46’ x 66’ basketball court
shelter at Roseland Park. The shelter was set in the existing spot of the
basketball court but staff contracted with Teamwork Construction to pour
a new concrete play surface under the shelter. The basketball court is one
of our heavier used in the City and now gives our residents a new covered
location to play. The shelter is similar to the ones built at N.C. Foote and
McElroy Parks.
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C. Roseland Park Union Pacific Locomotive #895 - Park staff contracted
with Valu Industrial Services of Baytown for the sandblast and
rehabilitation of the 100 year old train. The Contractor sandblasted the
locomotive and then applied a four coat paint system that included Zinc
coating and clear coat to ensure the longevity of the train. Valu also
replaced several rusted panels as part of their job as well. The train now
has an updated appearance that should withstand the elements for many
years. The project also included an interpretive sign to provide the history
of the locomotive and how it came to reside in Roseland Park.
D. Roseland Sand Volleyball Improvements – Staff received several
requests to light the popular sand volleyball court at Roseland Park. Staff
added new lighting, constructed a concrete border, a small shelter and new
benches and mortar sand to make it a destination volleyball court. The
new lighting improvements make Roseland Volleyball Court our first
lighted court.
E. Goose Creek Park Overlook Deck Renovation – Park crews replaced
the wooden decking on the birding overlook and kayak launch located at
Goose Creek Park and the decking on all four floating fishing docks.
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F. Community Center Window Replacement Phase I - City staff went out
for bids to replace the original Community Center windows with upgraded
hurricane windows. The contractor, JC Stonewall Constructors, is
expected to complete the project in September that will replace all three
doors and the windows in the Meeting Room. Staff has requested
additional funds in the 2015 budget to complete the rest of the building in
the fall of 2014.
G. Bayland Marina Ship Store and Restaurant Deck – Over the past two
years, park crews replaced the entire wood deck at the Marina that
connected the ship store to the fuel docks and overlooks. The project
replaced the 20 year old decking during the winter of 2014.
H. Central Little League Park – 3rd Field Lighting Project - The city’s
four little league associations combined into one association prior to the
2013 season and consolidated league play across the city. The league no
longer used Westwood Park for games and requested the third field at
Central Little League to be lighted. Staff was able to salvage the existing
MUSCO system used at Westwood Park and reinstalled them to light the
third field at Central Little League Park. The newly lighted field was
ready for opening in March.
I. Spur 330/I-10 Gateway Project The City of Baytown, in partnership
with the Economic Alliance –
Houston Port Region, completed
construction of the City’s first
gateway as part of the San Jacinto
Texas Historic District Gateway
program at the I-10 and Spur 330
interchange. The gateway designed to
welcome travelers to Baytown, consist
of a masonry base with a 24 foot tall,
vertical steel oil derrick that resembles
a derrick from the old Goose Creek oil
field. The total structure is 45 feet in
total height.
“Baytown” is
prominently displayed on two sides of
the monument base and features a six
foot blue star at the top of the lighted
monument symbolizing the proximity
to the San Jacinto Battleground. The monument was fully landscaped and
is maintained by the Department. The monument held its ribbon cutting on
September 5th. The Department plans to add Christmas decorations to the
monument and to change the colors on the monument to document special
days such as St. Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day.
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J. Ward Road Park Property Cleanup – After several years of waiting for
the Little Leagues to upgrade the former East Little League site, the Parks
and Recreation Department worked with the Public Works Department to
tear down and remove most of the dilapidated baseball field, fences, light
poles and old concession stand at the Ward Road Park Property. Parts of
the baseball field had been in use for over 50 years with very little
maintenance over the past several years. Once the demolition and grading
was complete, Park staff constructed four new backstops, and was able to
salvage a few of the old backstops. Contractors added a concrete mow
strip under the backstops to reduce maintenance and added park lighting.
K. Goose Creek Phase V Trail
The goal of the Goose Creek
Trail Phase V and VI is to
connect Hutto Parkway to the
Goose Creek Trail that
currently ends at Busch
Terrace Park. The project is
divided into two phases.
Phase V will connect the
Hutto Parkway trail to the
Animal Shelter and Phase VI
(planned for 2015) will
connect the Animal Shelter to
Busch Terrace Park.
Construction began on Phase V in May beginning at Goose Creek near the
Animal Control Facility and eventually connected to the Hutto Parkway
Trail at Rollingbrook and
Emmett Hutto Boulevard
near the Citgo station.
The phase V Trial will add
1.2 miles to the Goose
Creek Trail system and
will include an 80’ bridge.
Teamwork Construction
services was contracted to
build the eight foot wide
concrete
trail.
Terra
Associates was contracted
for the design of the 80’
bridge.
The project is
expected to be completed
by Christmas 2014.
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L. Jenkins/Hollaway Park Projects Improvements to the Jenkins and
Hollaway Parks include Hollaway
Park Tennis Court Improvements,
Cary Bayou Trail Improvements,
Hollaway Park Basketball Court and
Jenkins
Park
Dog
Park
Improvements. The heavily used
Hollaway Park Tennis Court received
upgraded lighting which included
new poles and eight new light fixtures that increased the light levels
significantly. The Court improvements also included the replacement of
the existing rusted galvanized fence with a new ten foot tall black vinyl
post and fabric fence all the way around the court. The Hollaway Park
Basketball Court received two new goals, backboards and posts. The Cary
Bayou Trail will receive a 1 to 2 inch cap of decomposed granite during
August and September. Improvements to the Jenkins Park Dog Park will
include additional dog park agility equipment to the large dog park area as
well as to the small dog park area that currently does not have any. The
Dog Park equipment will also be added in August and September.
M. Allenbrook Park Improvements – The Park has been undergoing some
major improvements to the parks drainage and facilities. The poor soil
conditions were heavily impacted by the 2011 drought. Park staff
removed the playground and several drought damaged sections of trail
before any work on the park began. Park crews plan to alleviate the
drainage issues by redirecting the drainage of the park away from
Allenbrook Drive to the Baker Road underground drainage pipes. Park
staff contracted with Teamwork Construction Services to remove and
replace several sections of uneven trail throughout the park and remove
and replace the basketball court. The new basketball court was slightly
relocated to the west. A new light pole and fixtures were also added to the
new court to enhance the lighting of the court. A new playground will be
constructed by the Parks and Recreation Department in August following
the tie in to the new drainage system. The playground is a new style
playground that incorporates a web of rope climbers as well as offshoots
of a more traditional playground.
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N. Playground Equipment Installation - Park staff installed new
playground units at McElroy Park and Travis School Park. The new unit
at Travis Park incorporates web-like rope climbers.
Park and Facility Accomplishment
A.
Wayne Gray Sports Complex
1.
Cricket Field – A group representing the Baytown Cricket Club requested
the construction of a Cricket Field in Baytown. The team was forced to
play their games in Beaumont or on the other side of Houston and needed
a place to practice, play games and host tournaments to attract players and
teams from great distances.
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Since a cricket field requires up to five open acres, site selection was
limited to only a few parks. The Parks and Recreation Department
selected a vacant area on the northeast side of the Wayne Gray Sports
Complex adjacent to the adult softball fields.
Staff contracted for the open area to be graded and crowned in the middle
and installed a 12 foot x 80 foot concrete Cricket Pitch with synthetic turf.
An irrigation system was also installed to insure excellent turfgrass
playing conditions.
A ribbon cutting was held on August 17, 2013, to officially open the new
facility. The event was well attended as members of the Baytown Cricket
Club were all introduced and Mayor Stephen DonCarlos was the first to
officially “Face the Ball”.
The Baytown Cricket Club held a
demonstration game following the ribbon cutting ceremony. The Club
plays at the new field every Sunday facing teams from across Southeast
Texas.
2.
The Republic of Texas Plaza lighting project upgraded the light fixtures in
the four antique lights that were installed in the center of the plaza in
1986. The original antique lights were salvaged and only the lighting
mechanism was replaced. Three additional antique fixtures similar to the
original fixtures were added along the trail leading to the historical homes.
The project improved the appearance and evening use of the Republic of
Texas Plaza.
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B.
Beautification Projects
1. Medians - The seventh year of the City’s median beautification project’s
primary focus was the landscaping of Highway 146 between Garth Road
and North Main Street.
A. Highway 146 (Garth Road to North Main) Landscape Project –
The City and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
partnered to landscape the medians that run between the main lanes
and the service road during the winter months of 2014. The
agreement with TxDOT included the City’s planning and design of
the project as well as the installation of the irrigation system and
plant material. TxDOT was to provide all supplies including plant
material, irrigation equipment and soil amendments.
Planning and preliminary preparations for the project were
completed by the Parks and Recreation Department including the
installation of all the needed water taps. Staff completed the layout
of the massive landscaping project prior to the delivery of the plants
in late November 2013.
Park crews worked overtime after normal work hours and weekends
to get the project completed. The overtime was paid for by
beautification bond dollars.
As part of the agreement, TxDOT provided up to $100,000 worth of
landscape plants and irrigation parts. The project included the
planting of 542 thirty gallon trees including Eastern Redbud,
Mexican Plum, Tuscarora Crape Myrtles and Natchez Crape Myrtles
and Vitex. In addition, 1,000 Petite Pink Oleanders were planted on
the median ends adjacent to North Main and Garth Road.
The project was completed in April just in time for the spring color
from the Eastern Redbud trees and the Mexican Plums.
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B. Kentucky/Louisiana Street Triangle - Park crews completed the
landscaping of the newly created triangle located adjacent to
Bergeron
Park.
Decorative
pavers
were installed around
the perimeter of the
median along with the
needed water tap for
irrigation. Park crews
planted
thirteen
Tuscarora
Crape
Myrtles (Pink) and
Bermuda grass sod to
stabilize the soils and
to reduce maintenance
on the small triangle.
C. 2015 Median Beautification Plan –During the eight year of the
Median Beautification project, the Department plans to focus on
completing the landscaping of Alexander Drive. The remaining
medians are located between Ward Road and East Texas Avenue.
Future beautification projects include the landscaping of the
Rollingbrook Drive medians and the Defee Triangle located at the
intersection of Defee, Sterling and Seventh Street.
2.
Arbor Day - Arbor Day was celebrated
on Friday, April 25th, at the Eddie V.
Gray Wetlands Center. Over 1,600 one
gallon size trees were given away
throughout the day including Live Oak,
Bald Cypress, Eastern Redbuds, Red
Maple, Chickasaw Plum, Bur Oak,
Nuttall Oak, Sawtooth Oak, Southern
Crabapple, American Beautyberry and
Texas Avenue Oak trees. The trees
were either grown from seed at the
Parks and Recreation Department's tree
farm or donated seedlings from the
Apache Corporation.
Restoration of
natural trees is a key component of
efforts to enhance and beautify the
appearance of a community. Staff also
created tree descriptions for all the trees
to assist residents in the proper care and
maintenance of each tree type.
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3.
ExxonMobil-Unidad Park Tree Project - ExxonMobil donated
$84,191.26 to purchase trees and needed supplies for a massive tree
planting project at Unidad Park and the adjacent Highway 146 median.
The project included planting 110 – 30 gallon trees at Unidad Park and an
additional 200 trees to be planted on the 146 median between 146 and the
feeder road adjacent to Unidad Park and JB LeFevre. ExxonMobil also
donated funds to provide the needed irrigation and planting supplies that
will support the project.
On the morning of Friday, January 31, 2014; more than 60 volunteers
from the ExxonMobil Baytown Olefins Plant, including BOP Plant
Manager Woody Paul, and fourteen Parks and Recreation Department
staff planted 150 trees at Unidad Park and the adjacent median. Members
of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and City Management
stopped by to show support and thank the volunteers.
The project positively improved the appearance of the park. Unidad Park
lost more than 100 trees during the drought of 2011. Parks and Recreation
Department crews completed the project by installing drip irrigation to the
newly planted trees to insure the success of the project.
Park Planner, Dustin Schubert and our horticulturist, Camille Borowiak,
planned, designed and supervised the completion of the project.
4.
Park Trees - The Department planted 45 - thirty gallon trees, grown from
the Department’s tree nursery. All of the trees were planted by Parks
crews at Jenkins and Unidad Parks. The Department adds drip irrigation
to the newly planted trees where possible.
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5.
Texas Department of Transportation Right of Way Maintenance –
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Right of Way Mowing
Program was developed to alleviate the number of complaints caused by
the lack of TxDOT contractors’ mowing major highways. Started on
January 2, 2009, the program continues to be a success and staff has added
broadleaf weed control to continue to improve the appearance of Spur 330,
Business 146 and Highway 146.
The Department continued the City’s commitment to the freeways
appearance again this past year. One day each month, the Parks crews
remove litter from the right-of-way along Spur 330, Highway 146
(Hartman Bridge to Cedar Bayou Bridge) and Business 146.
Starting in October 2012, TxDOT reimburses the City for three mowing
rotations and the once a month litter program.
6.
Median Crew – For the second year, the median landscape crew
consisting of a Crewleader and Park Caretaker was funded by the
Municipal Development District. The crew is primarily responsible for
the maintenance of the TxDOT landscape and to assist with the
Department’s median crew. The additional crew continues to be a
tremendous addition to the Department.
Grants and Special Projects
I.
Baytown Nature Center
A. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department –
Recreational Trails Grant – Baytown
Nature Center, Nature Trails, Phase II Staff received a $57,240 grant to construct
5,340 feet of new decomposed granite trail at
the Baytown Nature Center. The project is
broken down into two sections. The first will
provide access to the Myra C. Brown Wild
Bird Sanctuary. The second section will
improve a dirt path with a new decomposed
granite trial that will connect the Crystal Bay
Butterfly Garden to the Phase I Trail on
Bayshore Drive. The project also includes the
construction of a 20 foot by 40 foot wildlife
viewing platform that will overlook a brackish
water lake at the end of the Myra C. Brown
section of the trail.
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Construction began in late spring 2013, when a contractor used a hydro-ax to
clear the path through the thick woods from the trailhead near the BNC Visitor’s
Center to the Myra C. Brown Wild Bird Sanctuary. Several Boy Scouts
volunteered to clean the path of limbs, plants and other debris that remained.
Park crews began construction of the trail during the winter months of 2014.
Crews created a good trail base by utilizing milled asphalt stored from the mill
and overlay project of the Nature Center roads the previous year. The milled
asphalt base was then rolled and packed to provide a good base for the trail.
Crews then spread one to
two inches of decomposed
granite as the walking
surface of the trail.
Eagle Scout candidates and
park crews constructed the
Myra C. Brown Wild Bird
Sanctuary
wildlife
overlook. Park crews will
complete a few small
stretches of trail and place
benches and interpretive
signage to the trail. The
project is expected to be
complete before Christmas
2014.
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B. GB Biosciences - 11 Acre Mitigation Project – Staff continued working with
members of the GB Biosciences Team, Crouch Environmental Services, and the
Natural Resources Trustees Program (NRTP) headed up by the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality on an 11 acre mitigation project at the
Baytown Nature Center. The GB Biosciences team includes representatives from
GB Biosciences Corporation, Malcolm Pirnie and Arcadis.
GB Biosciences Corporation is required to do a mitigation project and has
negotiated the project with the City and the NRTP. The NRTP consist of members
from several environmental agencies such as the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas
General Land Office. GB Biosciences Corporation will provide funding for the
mitigation project and Crouch Environmental Services Inc. will perform the
work. The project will be located on Burnet Bay (north side of the BNC) along
Bayshore Drive between the road and the shoreline, and a small triangle shaped
corner of the old Crow Road and Mapleton Street.
After five years of waiting, the 11 acre mitigation project finally started on March
17, 2014. This project, which is actually in three separate areas of the Nature
Center, will include the removal of several house slabs and clearing the area of
vegetation in preparation of the final grading. The contractor, Crouch
Environmental Services will then grade and clean the area to the needed
elevations. The final phase of the project, planned for this fall, will be the
planting of Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) and Spartina patens
(saltmeadow hay).
An old swimming pool that was part of a home in the old Brownwood subdivision
(now the Baytown Nature Center), and located in the 11 acre project, will be
salvaged as an excellent interpretive opportunity to tell the story of the former
subdivision’s fight with subsidence.
This project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2014.
C. Day of Caring Projects - The Friends of the Baytown Nature Center,
ExxonMobil staff and Park crews worked on several projects at the Baytown
Nature Center for the United Way Day of Caring. Improvements include:







Fence Repair
Spreading mulch
Installing cedar benches
Installing concrete animals
Installing bat and bird houses
Filling potholes
Weeding butterfly garden beds
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II.
Tabbs Bay Cleanup
In 2012, the City of Baytown began the task of removing hundreds of abandoned
and derelict pilings and other junk that littered Tabbs Bay near Bayland Park.
The removal of the pilings from Tabbs Bay improve navigability, provided safer
public access to and enjoyment of the project area, and beautify this publicly
popular nighttime fishing spot and waterfront area as part of larger beautification
and redevelopment plans for the Bay and the adjacent Bayland Island Park and
Marina.
With the aid of two General Land Office – Coastal Management Program (GLOCMP) Grants and the Municipal Development District, the City has removed
1,273 pilings over the past two years. A third GLO-CMP grant scheduled for FY
2015 is expected to complete the removal project. A brief overview of the four
phases follows:
A. GLO-CMP - Cycle 16 Grant – With the aid of the City’s Grant writer, staff
applied for and was awarded a $135,000 grant that will fund the removal of piling
and litter in Tabbs Bay near Bayland Park.
This project officially began in November 2011. Staff completed an extensive
search with responsible agencies such as the US Corp of Engineers, the General
Land Office and the Port of Houston to ensure that no special permits would be
needed to complete this project. With the aid of the Purchasing Department, the
project was bid and a construction contract for the removal of 300 abandoned
derelict poles was awarded to Crawley Shoreline Construction in September
2012. The project began by removing abandoned pilings in Goose Lake, just
south of the West Main Bridge, and continues through Business 146 and into
Tabbs Bay. The removal and disposal project began in late October and took four
days to complete. There were a total of 312 piling removed and disposed of.
B. GLO-CMP - Cycle 17 Grant - The City’s Grant writer and Parks and Recreation
staff again teamed up, applied for and were awarded with a second $135,000
grant that continued funding the removal of piling and other debris from Tabbs
Bay. The second grant picked up where the Cycle 16 project ended.
The project began in October 2012 and staff used lessons learned from the Cycle
16 project to improve and speed up the bidding process. Since the Cycle 16
process went so well, communication with the GLO-CMP staff went very
smoothly. A construction contract for the removal of 427 abandoned and derelict
pilings was awarded to Huffman Construction in February 2013. The project
continued where Cycle 16 left off removing piles immediately around Bayland
Island, then moving toward Hog Island.
C. Tabbs Bay Derelict Pilings Removal Phase III – This project continued the
momentum from the first the two projects that removed 739 abandoned pilings
30
from Goose Creek and Tabbs Bay. Staff requested and received $100,000 in
Municipal Development District funds in the 2014 budget.
Following the same path as the first two successful projects, staff along with the
Purchasing Department, bid the project and awarded a construction contract to
Huffman Construction in December 2013 to remove 534 abandoned pilings from
Tabbs Bay. The project was completed in February 2014.
D. GLO-CMP - Cycle 19 Grant - The City’s Grant writer and Parks and Recreation
staff again teamed up, applied for and were awarded with a third grant. The
$166,000 Cycle 19 grant will continue and complete the removal of piling and
debris from Tabbs Bay. Staff added $20,000 to the MDD funded match to
remove tires, shopping carts and debris from Goose Creek. The project is planned
to be completed by March 2015.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Projects – The Parks and
Recreation Department applied for and received funding for three projects for FY
2013 which included:
III.
A.
Central Heights Splash Deck - Staff requested and received CDBG funding
for a splash deck, picnic shelter and signage for Central Heights Park. The
improvements were requested by the Central Heights neighborhood residents
to provide a safe, convenient water activity. The 1,340 square foot splash
deck included a large family size picnic shelter, a family size grill, six picnic
tables and appropriate signage. The picnic shelter was constructed by Parks
employees.
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The splash deck held its Grand
Opening on October 17th. Lamijah
Short’s name was drawn and had
the honor of being the first person
to turn the spray park on.
B.
Pelly Park Basketball Court
Lighting Improvements – Staff
requested CDBG funding for park
lighting improvements at Pelly
Park.
The
improvements,
requested by area residents,
included a new 30 foot galvanized
pole and two 1,500 watt light
fixtures. The upgraded lights for
the basketball court allow for
extended play. The project was
completed in March 2014.
Proposed 2015 Projects
Several major park improvement projects are
proposed for the upcoming year:
I.
Municipal Development District (MDD) Funded Projects
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
II.
City Gateway Monument (Highway 146 at the Base of the Fred Hartman
Bridge)
The Texas Avenue Town Square Project
Goose Creek Trail – Phase VI (From the Animal Control Facility to Busch
Terrace Park)
Sports Complex (East Road – Girls Fastpitch Fields) Relighting Project
Baytown Sports League Improvements
Tabbs Bay Cleanup Phase IV (General Land Office –Coastal Management
Program Cycle 19 Grant Including Cleaning of Goose Creek)
Roseland Spray Park Renovations
Special Needs Playground at Bowie School Park (Joint Venture with
Goose Creek CISD)
City of Baytown Budget Capital Projects
A.
B.
C.
Replace HVAC in Bayland Island Ship Store
Replace all Park Light Fixtures at Bayland Island Marina and Boat Ramp
with Energy Efficient LED Lighting
Community Center Windows Replacement
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D.
E.
F.
III.
Replace Sound System in the Community Center Auditorium
Replace Three Picnic Shelters at Unidad Park
Replacement Play Equipment
Projects Remaining
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Goose Creek Park Improvements – Replacing the Guardrail on the Goose
Creek/Texas Avenue Bridge
Allenbrook Park – Replacement of the Playground and Drainage
Improvements
Wetlands Center Boat Ramp – ADA Accessible Kayak Launch
Replace Port - a - Can Shelters at Nine Park Sites
Construct Picnic Shelters at the Wetlands Center and at Central Little
League Park
Recreation
2013 – 2014 Program Accomplishments
2013 Fall Community Yard Sale was held on September 14th at Bicentennial Park with
thirty-three community venders selling a wide array of goods.
2013 Baytown 8th Annual Grito Fest - was held at
Bicentennial Park on October 5th. The event was held
from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and featured performances
by Mariachi Los Gallitos, Jimmy Gonzalez y Grupo
Mazz, and Los Herederos. Festival goers enjoyed the
annual Grito Competition, Salsa and Jalapeno Eating
Contest, and an Accordion Competition. The event was
enjoyed by over 5,000 people. We enjoyed great
weather and many thanks to the Grito Fest volunteers.
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2013 Baytown Veterans Day Ceremony was held on November 11th at the Veterans
Memorial Plaza at Bicentennial Park. Over 200 attended the annual event, which
honored, recognized, and saluted our veterans in all branches of services. Our speaker
this year was Assistant City Manager and Retired Colonel in the US Army, Kevin
Troller.
2013 Baytown Christmas
Parade was held on Thursday,
December 5th.
Despite the
threat of ice throughout the
day, the parade drew a great
crowd as always. The parade
featured over 126 entries,
which included several entries
of two or more vehicles and
trailers. Texas Avenue was
filled with the holiday spirit, as
the “Santa’s Workshop” theme
parade kicked off the holiday
season with lighted floats, all
three high school bands, dance teams, fire trucks and of course Santa Claus.
2013 Baytown Art Exhibition and Reception was held at the Baytown Community
Center on Friday, December 6th. The reception featured the awards ceremony for both
student art and professional art. The event was well attended with an estimated crowd of
220 students, parents, professional artists and art enthusiasts. A new addition to this
year’s event was staff’s use of a PowerPoint displaying the artwork and winner’s names
on the screen. Staff also added a dance performance during the show to add some holiday
entertainment to the program. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Chairman Wayne
Gray, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Member Carmen Torres, along with
Councilman Scott Sheley, assisted with the awards program.
2013 - 2014 Ballroom Dances were held the third Friday of each month. Participants
enjoyed dancing the Fox Trot, Mambo, Tango, Swing, Cha Cha and more. Each month
an average of thirty-five participants attended.
2014 Youth Sports Expo was held at the Community Center on January 18th & 19th and
again on the following weekend, January 25th and 26th. Representatives from Baytown
Little League, Girls Fast pitch, Teenage Baseball, Baytown Saint Soccer, Optimist
football, Dirty Bay Aquatics, and The Baytown Summer Track Team were in attendance
to answer any questions from local parents. The City of Baytown’s has now been
updated with the new president’s information, and is linked to each of the leagues local
website or Facebook page.
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2014 Daddy and Me Dance was a
tremendous success on Friday February
7th. Attendance was so high that we had
to revert to our Pirates Bay entry of “one
out - one in” around 8 PM, but everyone
got in with lots of smiling little girls (and
a few Mommy and sons too). A total of
997 tickets were sold for the annual
event.
2014 Leagues Opening Day was held on
Saturday, March 1st for all youth leagues.
Staff worked with all the Leagues prior to opening
day by providing paint and supplies to make the
necessary improvements to the parks and concession
stands.
2014 Baytown Special Olympics Track Meet was
held on Saturday, April 26th, at the Goose Creek
Memorial Stadium. Nine teams and over 200
volunteers helped make this event a wonderful meet.
The reduction in teams was due to the date being
pushed back a week because of the Easter holiday. The event was
supported by a number of amazing sponsors to include Enterprise
Products, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, Academy, Whataburger,
Awards and Engraving, Highlands Knights of Columbus, SNCLavalin, Bayer, the Evening Pilot Club, and the Pilot Club of
Baytown.
2014 Spring Community Yard Sale took place on Saturday May
10th. We were a little afraid of the weather, but luckily the rain held
off until after the event ended. We had over 40 venders selling all
kinds of goods. We also had the Purple Heart on site to pick up any
unwanted “leftovers” once the yard sale ended.
2014 Memorial Day Ceremony on May 26th
had a tremendous turnout. With an estimated
crowd of well over 200, it was a nice
program that included the Bowie Elementary
Honor Choir singing the national anthem,
multiple service members reading the names
of the fallen soldiers, and State
Representative Wayne Smith as the guest
speaker.
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2014 July 3rd & 4th Celebration was full of excitement in many ways. Staff was excited
to have big name entertainers for headliners this year with Kansas on July 3rd and
Montgomery Gentry on July 4th. On July 3rd, we skirted the rain and had a tremendous
turn-out to watch performances by 4 Barrel Ramblers, Ryan Guidry, and our headliner
Kansas. The attendance set a record for July 3rd.
The July 4th Celebration kept staff on pins and needles with the downpour of rain at the
onset of the event. The annual parade kicked off at 5:45 PM (delayed) with Raymond
Holub, WWII and Korean War Veteran, serving as the Parade Marshal.
Breelan Angel opened the event, approximately 45 minutes late. The band originally
took the stage at 6:10; however, lightning struck near the park and staff cleared the stage.
Staff along with the road manager for Montgomery Gentry closely watched the weather
radar and determined that the heavy storms would clear the area by 8:00 p.m. and it
would take approximately 30 minutes to get the equipment ready for the show.
Meanwhile, Breelan Angel, playing on the protected side stage, did a great job
entertaining the slowly growing crowd.
The plan worked perfectly as the weather cleared around 8 PM as crews worked to clear
the tarps and tents covering the expensive electronic equipment for the headliner. The
opening ceremonies began around 8:15 p.m. with the singing of the “National Anthem”,
by Bryana Sandlin, followed by a welcome message by Mayor Pro-Tem, Mercedes
Renteria, III along with the introduction of the Parade Marshal, Raymond Holub.
The crowd continued to grow as the weather improved drawing a huge crowd, despite the
rain. The hundreds of spectators that endured the heavy rains were not disappointed and
welcomed this year’s headliner Montgomery Gentry to Baytown and the main stage right
at 8:30 p.m.. Montgomery Gentry put on an outstanding show singing all their hits along
with a few new ones as the crowd continued to grow throughout the night.
The fireworks show was spectacular as ever! The shoot was pushed back to 9:50 PM due
to rain delays earlier, but the crowd didn’t seem to notice or care. Even though the rain
may have prevented some from attending, the park was jam packed with people and the
entertainment was the best we’ve ever had! Our food and craft vendors were so
supportive this year, and endured the wet weather as well. A new addition this year was
ATM machines at the park. This was very beneficial for attendees to access cash, which
was a positive impact for our vendors.
Our thanks to Montgomery Gentry’s road staff as they were extremely flexible, friendly
and worked with us the entire night to insure that “The Show Would Go On”. The entire
Parks and Recreation Department, the Police Department, the Fire Department, the
Traffic Control Division, the Health Department, Public Affairs / Tourism Office, Public
Works Department and Harris County Constables went above and beyond the call of duty
to make the Independence Day event a tremendous success.
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37
Remaining Programs for 2014





2014 Baytown Community Garage Sale – Saturday, September 13th
2014 Grito Fest – Saturday, October 4th
2014 Veterans Day Ceremony – Tuesday. November 11th
2014 Baytown Christmas Parade – Thursday, December 4th
2014 Baytown Art Exhibition & Reception – Friday, December 5th
2013 – 2014 Programs and Activities
Leisure Programs - Staff was extremely busy
this year organizing new programs for the
public. Some are still getting off the ground,
and others were very successful. Staff is
continually adding new programs and enhancing
our current ones. Some of the programs offered
or expanded this year were:
Children/Youth:
 Messy Mitts
1. Trick or Treat
2. Christmas Crafts
3. Bottle Puppets
 Spring Art Camp
 Karate
 Hip Hop Dance
 City Adventure Camp
Adults:
 Boot Camps
 Zumba
 Yoga
 Ballroom Dance
 Workshop: Introduction to Watercolor
Painting
City Adventures Summer Camp was designed
for children ages 6 - 12 to spend a week at the
Community Center learning about the City of
Baytown in a fun and exciting way. Throughout
the week, the campers were introduced to the
different departments that help make the City
function. On Monday they were visited by the
Fire Department where they learned about fire
safety, watched a presentation and learned about
38
the importance of the Jaws of Life, observed
and participated in a smoke house
presentation, and played “Fire Hose
Tetherball”. They also had the opportunity to
watch an ambulance presentation where they
learned how the ambulance works and what
they do for our community. On Tuesday, the
camp was visited by Animal Control, Public
Works, and Parks and Recreation. Animal
Control came to the camp to educate the kids
on the different types of animals that Baytown
is home to, and what they should do if they
encounter a dangerous animal. They also
brought two ball python snakes, a ferret, a
bearded dragon, an Argentine Black and
White Tegu, and a miniature Sheltie dog
named Aggie for the children to see. An
employee from Public Works brought his
Gradall ditch digger to demonstrate to the kids
how they dig the ditches for the city to help
prevent flooding. Also, Parks and Recreation
brought some tractors and mowers so the
campers could observe how they work. On
Wednesday, the campers went over to City
Hall where they listened to a presentation
about some statistics on the City. While at
City Hall the kids competed in a scavenger
hunt which led them to different offices where
they learned a little bit about each department
in order to receive their clues which led to a
“treasure”. On Thursday, the campers listened
to a presentation by the ITS Department about
cyber safety. They were also visited by the
Police Department where they got to sit in a
police car, watch a police car presentation,
participate in a bicycle safety course, and
learned about stranger danger. The SWAT
team also visited the camp and taught the kids
what they do for the City. The last visit for
the camp was made by the mounted patrol.
The campers were allowed to pet the horse
and learn a little bit about what their job is for
the City. On Friday, we took the children to
Calypso Cove to end the week playing at the
waterpark.
39
Senior Recreation Center - The seniors continue enjoying the weekly programs each
month, including Bridge, Quilting, Bingo, Dominoes, and Cards. The monthly dances
with live bands are always a big hit. Each quarter, the seniors also host a luncheon,
where they plan new and exciting activities for the months ahead. Also, newly elected
president, David Webber, started monthly casino trips that are always fully attended, and
is in the process of making the Baytown Community Center part of the Senior Olympics.
Athletics Programs – The City of Baytown
is always striving to offer the community
many new and exciting recreational and
competitive sporting activities regardless of
skill level. Within the past year, we have
added many new and exciting sports such as
the 2014 Youth Summer Soccer Camps, Coed 7 vs. 7 Soccer Leagues, and Toy Drive
Christmas Softball Tournaments. The new
programs run simultaneously with existing
adult programs such as men’s 7 vs. 7 soccer,
flag football, rag ball, kickball, slow pitch softball, and other youth programs such as
summer track. All leagues are sanctioned by the United States Specialty Sports
Association (USSSA) and the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF), and play an
eight to ten game schedule with doubleheaders each night followed by a single
elimination tournament at the end of each season.
Along with our current leagues, staff also works with ExxonMobil, The Senior Softball
Association, and various other tournament organizations such as 24/7 Softball, Jokers
Tournament Series, GSA, ASA, and NSA Softball to assist in hosting league or
tournament games at the Wayne Gray Sports Complex.
Games are offered throughout the year with our Fall, Spring, Spring II, Summer, and
Winter leagues as well as many various year round softball tournaments. To date, more
than 300 teams have registered and participated in our sport leagues this past year.
The Texas Amateur Athletic Federation awarded The City of Baytown the 2014 State
Co-ed, and Industrial Tournaments that will be held on August 16th, and August 30th.
40
The 2014 Baytown Summer Track Program began on April 28th and ended at the
Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF) summer games at College Station, TX on
August 3rd. This year the program was led by 2nd year head coach Leon Smith, and
returning assistant coaches Daniel Staggs, and Kasandra Jefferson, as well as new
assistance coaches Teclesha Blanchard, and Ajante Russell. The program involved four
day a week practices at Baytown’s Ross S. Sterling High School Track, as well as weekly
circuit meets at various surrounding communities including Galena Park, La Porte, Deer
Park, Texas City, and Pasadena. All the participants, ages 9 – 14, competed in the
Hershey Regional Meet in Texas City on June 12th, and all participants, ages 6 – 18, ran
at the TAAF regional meet on July 11th in Beaumont, Texas.
2014 TAAF Games of Texas were held July 30th – August 3rd, in College Station,
Texas. The Olympic-style competition for amateur athletes includes events in a number
of sports including track, swimming, softball, bowling, tennis, gymnastics, boxing, golf,
flag football, volleyball, baseball and soccer. The Baytown Track Team participated in
the meet.
The Baytown Team was successful at both the Hershey and TAAF state games qualifying
a total of 50 athletes in 43 track and field events. Of those 50 qualifying athletes 9 placed
at the Hershey State meet, and 6 made the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation finals on
August 3rd.
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Aquatics
The Aquatics Division and the expansion of Pirates Bay continue to dominate the
Department’s focus. The City’s aquatic program not only completed the Pirates Bay
Expansion, but also completed a new spray park at Central Heights Park. Calypso Cove
and Pirates Bay both are at or near capacity daily. The City’s Aquatic programs and
facilities are quickly becoming one of the best in the State of Texas.
The Pirates Bay Phase I Expansion project held its ribbon cutting on May 16th. The
project’s goal was to increase the parks capacity and to provide additional service
facilities that included a second concession stand, additional restrooms, staff offices,
employee break room and additional parking. The aquatic features include a 10,500
square foot wave pool with a stage, a slide tower with two multi-rider slides including a
Boomerango and a Colorado Drop Slide and an interactive fountain. Two large picnic
shelters along with several shade structures surround the new wave pool. Construction
began in June 2013.
The Aquatics Division is set up as a self-supporting enterprise fund with revenue paying
for all operational expenses including personnel, utilities and routine maintenance for
both Pirates Bay and Calypso Cove. The operating costs for the two facilities have no
impact on the City’s operations budget. In addition, one dollar from every admission
ticket sold at both parks is set aside for future capital maintenance costs. Following the
2013 season, $463,876 has been set aside in the Capital Replacement account since the
park opened in 2010. The maintenance account has been very helpful this past year as
the park begins to need additional care between seasons to continue to have a “fresh”
look.
The Aquatics Division added a third full time employee to the division in 2013 adding a
Guest Services Manager to handle concessions and ticket booth operations. In the 2015
budget, a fourth full time employee will be added, moving the Aquatics Manager, Mike
Flinn, from the Recreation Division to Aquatics.
Beginning in January, the Aquatics staff hired and trained over 350 local employees in
various positions from lifeguards, concession operators, ticket takers and custodial
duties. This year, approximately 30% of lifeguards, and 20% of guest services staff
returned from the 2013 season providing some continuity on the staff. Twelve employees
returned for their fifth year at the park. The lifeguards are all certified through the Red
Cross in Waterpark Lifeguarding, First Aid, CPR, Oxygen Administration, and AED
usage. Staff are trained on the large slides and rides including the FlowRider. The
aquatics staff is cross-trained to work at both Pirates Bay and Calypso Cove.
During the 2013 summer season, the Aquatics Division expended $1,213,272 in
personnel costs to 350 high school and college students that worked at Pirates Bay and
Calypso Cove. The City’s aquatics facilities have become an excellent opportunity for
summer employment for our youth.
42
43
Staff continued to come up with new and innovative ways to advertise the water park.
The Parks and Recreation Department ran a commercial across the greater Houston area
on Comcast Cable. The City also utilized Houston and Beaumont area radio stations,
scoreboard advertisements, website ads, advertising at the Premiere Cinema Theater,
along with traditional print ads in local and Houston area newspapers and magazines, as
well as state-wide publications. The Department also utilizes Facebook and Twitter along
with the City of Baytown’s websites: www.baytown.org/piratesbay and
www.baytown.org/calypsocove.
Pirates Bay Water Park – The Pirates Bay Water Park continued its popularity from the
first four seasons drawing visitors from all over southeast Texas and beyond. The
expansion added much needed capacity that reduced the long lines waiting to get in;
however, the popular waterpark is at or near capacity from Thursdays through the
weekend.
Staff continued several successful programs
including Swimming Lessons, FlowRider
lessons, Dive–in Movies, and the Itty Bitty
Beach Party. The Itty Bitty Beach Party is
open to little pirates up to age 5 and their
parents once a week from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.
The
US
Flowboarding
Association
Championship was held at Pirates Bay
Water Park on Saturday, August 2nd. Two
Hundred and twenty-six of the best
flowboarders from all over the nation flocked
to Pirates Bay on Saturday, August 2nd, to compete in the United States Flowboarding
Association Tour.
The Youth division (under 12) had riders from as young as 10 years old competing for a
spot on the podium. Rising to the top of the pack was Joe Chapa, who had been
competing in both the Youth and Junior divisions all season. Joe took first place in the
Youth BB (Body Board) division while the youngest of the Moore family, Keaton
Moore, took first place in the Youth Flowboard division.
The Open division was the most exciting as any rider may compete in this vast division.
Michael Pappalardo (Vermont) and Maeva Groulx (Laval, Canada) tied in a tight
competition in the Stand Up rider competition. Jason Cowen (Florida) did not go down
without a fight and ended up second after a great performance. The next two spots were
filled with the Pirates Bay riders Edna Taylor and Collin Caraway who proved that they
can compete with the older more experienced riders. In the Body Board division, Joe
Chapa (Utah) won the title with Justin Crow (Florida) and Charlie Tran (California)
rounding out the top 3.
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This brings us to the Pro’s. Once again the Pro riders delivered these divisions were as
competitive as ever. 17 year old Kody Wisler (Florida) won the USFA Body Board
Championship Belt and flight and hotel accommodations to the next USFA event to
defend his title. With some really technical riding and clean runs, Nathaniel Gauthier rose
to the occasion and came in a close second.
This was the first time for Pirates Bay to host an USFA event and it proved to be an
extremely exciting event. The competitors enjoyed the park and commented that Pirates
Bay’s Flowrider is one of the more challenging
FlowRider due to the speed of the water and the
steep angle of the ride.
Pirates Bay Expansion Phase I – This past year, the
Department was focused on the Phase I construction
at Pirates Bay. With the unexpected resignation of
the Engineering Department’s project manager, the
Parks and Recreation Department assigned the
Department’s Park Planner, Dustin Schubert, to
oversee the project.
The project which began in June 2013, while the
waterpark was still open, creating traffic issues, dust
and noise for the open park, however, the park’s
guests were very understanding and excited for the
expansion.
The expansion contractor, Cox Commercial Construction, a Baytown construction
company, completed the project in mid-May, despite a terribly wet and cold winter. The
consulting team of Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. and Counsilman-Hunsaker
Associates, kept a close eye on the construction. Dustin Schubert and the city’s
inspection team were at the site daily to make sure the project was on track and built to
the consultant’s specifications. Although the project is in use, the contractor still has
several punch list items to address. The project is expected to be officially closed out in
the fall of 2014.
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Pirates Bay Admission Increase for 2014 Season – In preparation for the expansion of
Pirates Bay, staff recommended and received a fee increase for the 2014 season. The fee
increase will be used to cover the anticipated increase in operating costs and the debt
services that came with the waterparks expansion.
Fee Description
Pirates Bay over 48” Admission
Pirates Bay under 48” Admission
After 4PM over 48” Admission
After 4PM under 48” Admission
Season Pass
Season Pass Family
Season Pass – Non Resident
Season Pass – Non Resident
Family
2013 Current Fee
$17
$12
$7
$5
$85
$85 each for 2, then
$65 for up to 3 more
$125
$125 each for 2, then
$105 for up to 3 more
2014 Approved Fee
$20
$15
$10
$5
$95
$95 each for 2, then $75
for up to 3 more
$135
$135 each for 2, then
$115 for up to 3 more
The phase I expansion added additional capacity and reduced the long lines waiting to get
in; however, the park is still at capacity on weekends. As a result of the capacity issues,
staff recommended to Council, and Council approved, the elimination of the reduced
rates after 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. The move was designed
to alleviate some of the problems due to overcrowding on weekends and holidays.
Specifically, Pirates Bay experiences a daily wave of guests at 4:00 p.m. due to reduced
price tickets furthering the overcrowding problems at the park on weekends and holidays.
Additionally, if a guest who paid full price was not admitted until after 4:00 p.m., the
City refunded the difference between the full price ticket and the reduced price ticket
causing administrative issues. The issue was not new; however, it was hoped that the
expansion of the park would eliminate the long lines. However, with the expansion,
Pirates Bay attracts even larger crowds.
Calypso Cove – Calypso Cove is a smaller Caribbean themed water park and is located
at N.C. Foote Park on West Main. Attendance for last summer also exceeded
expectations with 18,059 visitors. The pool has a capacity of 125 people and averaged
212 visitors per day in 2013. Calypso Cove attendance in 2014 is projected to be the best
year yet with 12,887 guests by July 31st.
Spray Parks and Splash Decks - The popular facilities are open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00
p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m. on Sundays. The
facilities will be open daily until November 2nd. All five spray parks will reopen for the
2015 season on Saturday, March 7, 2015, at 10:00 a.m.
McElroy Park Spray Park – The McElroy Park Spray Park opened for its third season
on March 8th. The large 4,511 square foot spray park features three large picnic shelters,
sixteen picnic tables, large family size grills, connecting trails, and a 20 space parking lot.
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Pelly Park Splash Deck – The Pelly Park Splash Deck opened for its third season on
March 8th. The very popular splash deck served the Pelly area neighborhoods during the
long hot summer.
Bergeron Park Splash Deck – The Bergeron Park Splash Deck opened for its fourth
season on March 8th. The very popular splash deck served the West Baytown
neighborhood during last summer’s extremely hot weather cooling off kids of all ages.
Roseland Spray Park – This city’s first spray park opened for its 12th season this spring.
The Railroad themed Spray Park is open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through
Saturday, and from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m. on Sundays.
Central Heights Park Splash Deck –
The long awaited project’s grand
opening was held on October 17, 2013,
much to the delight of a large crowd of
neighborhood residents and especially
the children. The project was funded
by the Community Development Block
Grant.
The project funding was
secured by the hard work of the
neighborhood and has been a nice
addition to the popular neighborhood
park. The park opened for its first full
season on March 8th.
Environmental Programs
Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education and Recreation Center
A.
The Wetlands Center conducted the
“ExxonMobil Wetlands Ecology Program”
(15th year) and “Bayer Making Science
Make Sense Program” (14th year) for over
1,700
Goose
Creek
Consolidated
Independent School District (GCCISD) 5th
grade students. Students participated in
educational activities at both the Wetlands
Center and Baytown Nature Center. Texas
Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) aligned activities center around wetland
ecosystem awareness, marine debris and
biodegradation timelines, estuary modeling,
animal adaptations, scientific methods and
use of microscopes, life cycles and metamorphosis, and live animal biology.
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B. The “The Rotary Club of Baytown Liquid Science Program” for GCCISD 7th
graders was conducted for the 6th year. Approximately 1,650 GCCISD 7th graders
participated in the program, which focus on water sampling and analysis,
watersheds and pollutant awareness, abiotic and biotic parameters affecting an
ecosystem, and the aquatic ecosystem requirements and biology of blue crabs.
The Rotary Club of Baytown continues to sponsor the program.
C. Wetlands Center staff once again
conducted ten weeks of Wade Into
Wetlands Summer Science Camps,
this year offering camps for 1st
through 10th graders.
Camp
offerings this year included “Wild
For Survival,” “MOVE”, “Wings
Over
Wetlands,”
“Geology
Rocks”, “Our Weird Wonderful
World,”
“Water,
Water
Everywhere”, “Wetland Wonders”
and “Forces of Nature” along with
favorites “Hooked!,” and “Oceanic
Expedition”. Each camp was full,
accommodating between 15 and 25
students. The Friends of the Eddie
V. Gray Wetlands Education and
Recreation Center awarded $6,000
in low income and academic
scholarships.
Private donors
sponsored eight campers from
Harbour House. Chevron Phillips
once again served as the major
corporate sponsor.
D. Wetlands Center staff conducted the 5th Annual “Spring into Nature” Spring
Break Camp for 4th - 6th grade students. Twelve students enjoyed the week long
camp, which included trips to Sheldon State Park, Crocodile Encounter, Anahuac
National Wildlife Refuge, High Island Rookery, Galveston Island State Park,
Brazos Bend State Park, and Baytown Nature Center.
E. Wetlands Center staff conducted educational programs for pre-schools, churches,
Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, home-schoolers, public schools within and outside of
GCCISD (elementary through high school), private schools, both within and
outside GCCISD, Lee College, daycares and senior citizen groups. School
districts attending Wetlands Center now include Galena Park ISD, Humble ISD,
Barbers Hill ISD, Channelview ISD, Clear Lake ISD, Spring Branch ISD, Devers
ISD, Beaumont ISD, Amarillo ISD, Crosby ISD, Dayton ISD, Liberty ISD, Katy
ISD, Houston ISD, Bryan ISD and Sheldon ISD.
48
F. Wetlands Center staff conducted the 4th
Annual “Winter Wonderland” Holiday Camp.
The three-day camp was split across two
weeks because of how the holidays fell this
year, so attendance was small. Eight campers
had a great time visiting the Museum of
Natural Science, Houston Zoo and the ice
skating rink at Discovery Green Park.
G. The Wetlands Center was once again named a
beneficiary of TPC Group’s Annual Golf
Tournament.
These funds allow the
“Wetlands Wagon Outreach Program” to
travel across Texas promoting nature
education and the City of Baytown to schools,
festivals, and other group events.
The
“Wetlands Wagon” is much more visible now
thanks to a beautiful trailer “wrap” depicting
freshwater wetlands on one side and saltmarsh
wetlands on the other. Thank you to the TPC
Group for this donation.
H. The Wetlands Center continues to host
monthly meetings for community groups.
Baytown Citizens Advisory Committee,
Houston Galveston Area Council, Hill of
Rest Cemetery Board, Rotary Club of
Baytown, Sportsman’s Pursuit, and Beta
Sigma Phi have all gathered at the
Wetlands Center.
I. The Wetlands Center continues to host
Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunter
Education workshops. Jose Flores, with
TPWD, teaches the workshops in both
English and Spanish.
J. The Wetlands Center and Baytown Nature Center were chosen as an Offsite
Workshop offering for the National Recreation and Parks Association Annual
(NRPA) Conference which was held in Houston in October 2013. Fifteen
participants from around the country visited both facilities where they participated
in activities from the Wetlands Ecology Program, Liquid Science Program, and
Back to the Bay Program. Wetlands Center and BNC will also be represented at
the 2014 NRPA Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina with a workshop entitled
“Repurposed Property: How Baytown Turned Eyesores into Eco-Tourism and
Education”.
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K. Wetlands Center staff and volunteers participated in many outreach events,
including:
 NatureFest at Jesse Jones Park in Humble
 Galveston Bay Foundation’s Bay Day at the Kemah Boardwalk
 Sam Houston Council’s Scout Fair at Reliant Arena
 San Jacinto Council Girl Scout Fair at George R. Brown Convention Center
 U.S. Forest Service’s Woodland and Wildlife Festival
 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Take Me Outdoors Houston Festival
at Discovery Green Park
 Houston Livestock Show
 Fort Worth Mayfest
 San Antonio Stock Show
 Texas Toyota Bass Classic
 Battleship Texas Centennial Celebration
 Rotary Club of Baytown’s Catfish Festival at Royal Purple Raceway
 West Baytown Civic Association Festival
 Lee College Spring Fling
 Crocodile Encounter Croctoberfest in Angleton, TX
 Harris County Earth Day at Deussen Park in Humble, TX
 Red Cross Day of the Child Celebration
 Harris County WaterWeek in Humble, TX
 Anahuac Wildlife Expo
 Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching at George R. Brown
Convention Center
Outreach activities also included onsite student classes at Crosby Library, Crosby
Community Center, Winnie Community Center, Mont Belvieu Community
Center, Winnie Community Center, Anahuac Library, Texas Master Naturalist
class, Pasadena Public Library, Cossaboom YMCA, and many visits to GCCISD
schools and preschools in Baytown.
L. The Center participated in
the City of Baytown’s 4th of
July Celebration. Despite
the rainy weather, visitors
enjoyed the touch tanks,
microscope lab, live animal
exhibits and new catfish
fishing pond. Attendance at
the event was lighter than
usual due to the rain, but it
seemed like most visitors
came through the Wetlands
Center and the Baytown
Nature Center booth.
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M. The Wetlands Center also participated in the City of Baytown’s Grito Fest. Rain
cut short our time at the festival, but visitors enjoyed the touch tank, live animal
exhibits, and marine debris display.
N. Gator Tales, the preschool program at the Wetlands Center, continues to meet in
the summer and winter. Kids have story time, then meet live animals and
participate in an activity or do a craft. Weekly sessions included hands-on nature
activities to introduce reptiles, insects, spiders, fish, and many other nature-based
topics. Parents/grandparents attend with their children. Gator Tales serves as a
good complementary program to Tyke Hike, which is held at the Baytown Nature
Center during the spring and fall.
O. Birthday parties continue to be a popular Saturday event at the Wetlands Center.
Promotional flyers advertise “Wildest Birthday Party in Town,” which includes
two hours of room use, tours of the Wetlands Center exhibits, an activity based on
the party theme, and a chance to touch and handle wild critters.
P. The Friends of the Wetlands Center hosted their annual fund-raising gala at the
home of Frank and Ginger McKay. Approximately 200 people attended and the
event raised close to $23,000. These proceeds help fund extra staff hours and
summer science camp scholarships at the Wetlands Center.
Q. The “Land of Milk and Honey”
beehive continues to thrive, with
volunteer Clarence Shepherd, a local
beekeeper, helping to maintain the
hive’s health. Additional hives at the
Baytown Nature Center supply honey
which is being bottled as thank-you
gifts for volunteers. Summer Science
Camp
campers
participate
in
extracting and bottling the honey.
R. The Friends of the Wetlands Center
and Lee College continued their
partnership to provide educational
interns for the Liquid Science
Program. Selected students teach
and/or assist with education stations
during the Liquid Science Program
and receive a scholarship funded by the ExxonMobil Lee College fund for their
next semester. Starting in the fall semester of 2014, Lee College will also be
providing interns for the Back to the Bay Program, thanks to partnerships with
both the Friends of the Wetlands Center and the Friends of the Baytown Nature
Center.
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S. Four issues of the Wetlands Center’s newsletter, “Marsh Matters,” were written
and published. Most subscribers are now receiving the newsletter by email.
Current issues are also linked to the www.baytown.org website for public
enjoyment. Both the Wetlands Center and Baytown Nature Center are on
Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest and receiving positive comments from the
general public.
T. Wetlands
Staff
presented
a
workshop on teaching the “It’s All
Downstream from Here” activity on
watersheds and non-point source
pollution during Lee College’s
STEM
(Science,
Technology,
Engineering, and Math) Conference.
U. Staff attended the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department, “Becoming an
Outdoor Woman” Conferences in
Brownwood and Burton, Texas,
where they taught workshops on
Nature’s Art, Wildlife 101 and
Wonderful Wetlands.
These
workshops are a great outreach
opportunity for Wetlands Center
and Baytown Nature Center. Staff
not teaching took classes in
Camping, Outdoor Cooking, Fly
Fishing and Plant I.D. as training for
future workshops.
V. BNC Naturalist and Wetlands staff hosted scout workshops for Webelos,
Brownies, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cadets and Girl Scouts at the Wetlands
Center. Scouts are also eligible for badges and advancements during Summer
Science Camps.
W. Discussions continue concerning combining the Wetlands Center and the
Baytown Nature Center as the “Sustainable Earth Center” campus at the Baytown
Nature Center. Eddie Gray has been promoting the idea to local organizations, as
well as potential partners such as Texas A&M University in Galveston’s Institute
of Sustainable Coastal Communities, Texas A&M University at College Station,
Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and Texas Sea Grant Program. Lee College is
also interested in a potential partnership providing Lee College with satellite
learning opportunities. Both the Friends of the Wetlands Center and the Friends
of BNC are in support of the move. Vision and Mission statements have been
created for the Sustainable Earth Campus Board.
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X. Construction continues on new exhibits in the Exhibit Hall highlighting wetlands
products and global wetlands. Components of the wall will include aquariums
highlighting Texas crawfish, a faux storefront with wetlands products “for sale”,
and an exhibit on the economic importance of waterfowl and wetlands. The wall
has been sponsored by Cargill Inc., and is expected to be completed this year.
Y. Jingle the Elf, based on
the popular Elf on the
Shelf series, made her
debut as the Wetlands
Center’s
mischievous
mascot. Every day in
December, Jingle was
featured on the Wetlands
Center’s social media
sites
exploring
the
Wetlands Center and
BNC. The end of the
month was celebrated
with a “Pictures with
Jingle” day, where the
public was invited to
take pictures with Jingle.
Jingle has already been
spotted at several events
in 2014, and promises to
return to Baytown in December.
Baytown Nature Center
A. “Tyke Hike,” Baytown Nature Center’s (BNC)
preschool program and part of ExxonMobil’s
“Discovering Nature’s Secrets” program,
continued during the spring and fall. Weekly
sessions include hands-on nature activities
introducing reptiles, insects, spiders, fish, and
many
other
nature-based
topics.
Parents/grandparents attend with their children.
Average attendance is 20 kids per week. During
one Tyke Hike session, kids planted trees at the
Children’s Nature Discovery Area. The project
was funded by Calpine Energy through the
Friends of the Baytown Nature Center.
B. The Naturalist and BNC staff continue to host
educational field trips for scout groups, bird
53
watching clubs, seniors groups, church groups, universities (College of the
Mainland, Lee College, Lamar University, Texas A&M University at Galveston),
schools (both Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District (GCCISD)
and other districts), and tourists to promote the environmental wealth of the
Nature Center. BNC staff also spoke in the community, with talks at ExxonMobil,
Rotary and other local groups. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department filmed a
segment on environmental partnerships at BNC this year and the PBS show “Day
Tripper” featured both the Wetlands Center and BNC. This kind of exposure
continues to promote BNC as an educational / historical venue.
C. “Nurture Nature Series”
continues at BNC on the first
Saturday of each month.
Topics this year included
Rainforests, Kayaking, Bats,
Natural Holidays, Outdoor
Survival, Biking, Birding,
Geocaching, and Angler
Education. Guest speakers
and Baytown Nature Center
(BNC)/Wetlands Center staff
present the topics.
The
highest attended session was
Kayaking, so two sessions
are being planned for next
year.
D. A new “Night Hike” program is showing promise as a successful monthly event.
An average of 25 people are attending and walking the trails to see what BNC has
to offer after dark. So far, coyotes, raccoons, bats, snakes, fireflies, and opossums
are the most common nocturnal creatures spotted, but a pair of flying squirrels has
also been observed.
E. The BNC presented the 3rd year of “Back to the Bay” high school biology
program. This program complements the Wetlands Ecology Program and the
Liquid Science Program from the Wetlands Center. Select 9th and 10th grade
biology students from GCCISD travel to the BNC to participate in water analysis,
seining and cast netting for species identification, introduction to invasive and
exotic species, and a historical perspective on human impact on the local
environment. The program is funded by ExxonMobil through the school district.
F. Scout interest in workshops and camping at BNC continues to increase. The BNC
Naturalist host workshops for Webelos, Brownies, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl
Scouts, Royal Rangers, and Daisy Groups. Several troops have camped overnight
at BNC.
54
G. The 4th Annual Nurture Nature
Festival was held the first
Saturday in November. Despite
the rainy weather during the week
preceding the event, attendance
was high, with close to 2,500
people braving the wet ground to
attend. Stage presentations by
Crocodile Encounter, The Big
Buzz Theory and Texas Snakes
were a big hit.
Plans for
improving parking and adding
additional food vendors are
underway for the 2014 festival.
H. BNC hosted the Cub Scout Fisharee, welcoming over 100 cub scouts and their
families for a full day of TPWD Angler Education and fishing. Wetlands Center
and BNC staff, along with TPWD volunteers, taught the scouts casting safety,
fishing ethics, basic tackle, knot tying and fish habitat.
I. The new TPWD Birding Trail which runs from the existing Golden Bloom Trail
to the Myra C. Brown Bird Sanctuary is near completion. When finished, the
mile-long trail will grant access to areas of the Nature Center not previously
accessible. The lake at the end of the trail will offer a wildlife observation deck
overlooking “Lake Myra”.
J. BNC hosted several community service groups, including ExxonMobil college
co-op interns, St. John’s Catholic Church Youth Group, and Student Conservation
Association. The Center also hosted 48 students from the Minnesota chapter of
Students Today Leaders Forever, who chose BNC as their Texas service project
site for the third year in a row. Volunteers clean shoreline, clear brush and trees
from trails, spread granite on trails, weed the butterfly garden and other beds, and
do minor construction and repairs.
K. The BNC Volunteer Guild continues to become more active. Volunteers tend the
beehives, work in the butterfly garden, lead birding tours, assist with the
education programs, and participate in outreach activities. Several volunteers are
Texas Master Naturalists, and are promoting BNC as a site for earning service
hours.
L. Monthly bird counts continue on the third Thursday of every month at BNC.
These are led by volunteer and wildlife photographer, David Hanson. Results
from the bird counts are published on TexBirds website and Houston Audubon’s
website, with pictures taken by the Hansons. This is great exposure for BNC in
the local birding community. Sightings of rare birds (i.e. groove-billed ani)
guarantee an increase in attendance at BNC.
55
M. Plans are underway for a kayak
launch and a designation by
TPWD as an official Texas
Paddling Trail.
N. BNC was once again the site of
the Annual Audubon Christmas
Bird Count, with 73 species and
817 total birds documented.
These results are posted on the
Audubon website and promote
BNC as a worthwhile birding
destination.
O. The Raven Chapter of the “Order
of the Arrow” district again chose
the Baytown Nature Center as the
site of their “Ordeal”. The 50
Arrow candidates spent a Friday
night at BNC, then worked in
silence all day on Saturday
cleaning trails and shorelines.
Raven Chapter also chose BNC as
the site for their “TapOut”
campout, which is the planning
meeting for the Ordeal.
P. The CoLoNeh chapter of the “Order of the Arrow” district also chose the
Baytown Nature Center as the site of their annual “Ordeal”. They had over 70
candidates to participate in service projects, which included clearing brush from
the new birding trail, rebuilding a raised planter box in the butterfly garden,
spreading decomposed granite along the new butterfly garden trail, and building a
boardwalk at the loop end of the birding trail.
Q. ExxonMobil’s Mont Belvieu Plastics Plant employees and Engineering Services
Group chose the Baytown Nature Center as their project site during United Way’s
Day of Caring. With the help of Parks crews, volunteers repaired fencing, spread
mulch, installed park benches and concrete animals, filled potholes, weeded the
butterfly garden, and installed bat and bird houses. Several of the Friends of BNC
also helped out.
R. BNC continues to attract Eagle Scout candidates. Current or completed projects
include footbridge repair, trail clearing, overlook construction, granite trail
completion, boardwalk construction, birdhouse construction, and bench
installation.
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S. Attendance at the Baytown Nature Center continued to increase during the past
few years and is projected to cover all expenses in the operations budget for the
fifth year in a row. Next fiscal year will see combined budgets for all BNC
Operations, BNC Education programs, Crystal Bay Butterfly Garden and
Children’s Nature Discovery Area. A slight rate increase will be implemented for
the first time in the BNC’s 12 year history.
Baytown Nature Center
Proposed Fee Increase
Description
Current Fee
Daily Permits (13 years and over)
$3
Daily Permit for Children (5-12)
Free
Daily Permit for Seniors (65+)
$3
Annual Individual Passes
$20
Annual Family Passes (up to 6)
$50
Proposed Fee
$4
$1
$1
$30
$65
Proposed Fee Increase effective October 1, 2014
Five Year Comparison of Annual Attendance and Revenue
April 1, 2009 – March 31, 2014
Day Permits Sold
Revenue
Annual Individual Passes Sold
Revenue
Annual Family Passes Sold
Revenue
Total Annual Revenue
April 1, 2009 –
March 31, 2010
21,787
$65,361
317
$6,340
122
$6,100
$77,801
April 1, 2010 –
March 31, 2011
24,307
$72,921
343
$6,860
127
$6,350
$86,131
57
April 1, 2011 –
March 31, 2012
21,867
$65,628
309
$6,180
148
$7,400
$79,208
April 1, 2012 –
March 31, 2013
22,055
$66,165
302
$6,040
152
$7,600
$79,805
April 1, 2013 –
March 31, 2014
24,556
$73,668
312
$6,240
151
$7,550
$87,458
2015 Recommendations
1.
Continue to incorporate the recommendations of the Playbook 2020, The
Strategic Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the City of Baytown, Texas,
including the development of a Parkland Dedication Ordinance.
2.
Implement the City Council’s Visioning plan in our park system which include:
Development and Redevelopment, Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement,
and Creating a Community we can all be proud of.
3.
Continue to demonstrate sensitivity to the community’s needs through the
involvement of citizens in the planning and development of facilities, programs
and policies.
4.
Continue support for “Quality of Life” initiatives, community appearance and
economic development projects.
5.
Continue to acquire CDBG funds for the development/renovation of target area
parks.
6.
Continue to provide adequate annual funding for quality maintenance and
operation of the Department.
7.
Enhance the promotional and marketing efforts for all special events and
programs, as well as Pirates Bay, Calypso Cove and the Baytown Nature Center.
8.
Expand athletic program offerings and “partner” with area facilities to broaden
our participation base.
9.
Continue to submit tournament bids for future, TAAF and USSSA softball and
flag football tournaments on the regional, state and national level.
10.
Continue to implement the recommendations of the Aquatic Facilities Master Plan
as well as the Pirates Bay Expansion Master Plan.
11.
Work to secure future parkland that will correspond to the future growth of the
City especially north of I-10 and east of Cedar Bayou.
12.
Expand the recreation and educational programs offered to attract all age groups.
13.
Continue to improve and expand the environmental, recreational and educational
programs of the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Education and Recreation Center and
the Baytown Nature Center.
14.
Continue to improve the City’s image and tourism through the City’s
environmental and recreational opportunities, by hosting and promoting special
events that increase the exposure of our facilities in an effort to attract visitors to
Baytown.
15.
Enhance the Parks and Recreation Department’s section of the City’s website, as
well as improve the appearance and the interactive usability of the Pirates Bay,
Calypso Cove and Baytown Nature Center sites.
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16.
Continue to expand the City’s sidewalk and trail master plan to make Baytown a
walkable community.
17.
Continue progressive park planning and recreational programming by offering the
newest activities and amenities throughout the city parks.
Respectfully Submitted,
Scott Johnson, Director
Parks and Recreation Department
Wayne Gray, Chairman
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Attachments: Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Members
Parks Division Staff
Recreation and Administrative Staff
Environmental Programs Staff
Aquatics Staff
Facility Rentals & Attendance Figures
Activities Comparison - Budget Year 2009/2010 to 2013/2014
2010 – 2013 Final Aquatics Attendance Summary
2014 Aquatics Attendance Summary
59
2013 – 2014
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Members
(Left to Right) Agustin Loredo, Chairman Wayne Gray, Michelle Bitterly,
Howard Hunt, Carmen Torres, Kevin Jones, and Billy Barnett
Parks Division Staff
60
Recreation and Administrative Staff
Environmental Programs Staff
61
Aquatics Staff
Photo by Lana Berkowitz
62
City of Baytown
Parks & Recreation Department
Facility Rentals & Attendance Figures
August 1, 2013 – July 31, 2014
Facility
Number of
Rentals
Attendance
Average Attendance
Per Rental
Community Center
927
116,365
126
Jenkins Pavilion
403
19,596
49
Roseland Pavilion
308
33,217
108
Wayne Gray Sports Complex
26
14,509
558
Bicentennial Park
8
39,450
4,931
Total Figures
1,672
223,137
133
Activities Comparison
Budget Year 2009/2010 to 2013/2014
Activities Offered /
Hosted
Budget
Year
2009/2010
Budget
Year
2010/2011
Budget
Year
2011/2012
Budget
Year
2012/2013
Budget
Year
2013/2014
Special Events
56
62
64
39
39
Leisure Programs
91
176
128
133
141
Athletic League Teams
381
285
232
253
315
Softball Tournaments
4
6
4
77
79
*Softball Tournaments have been removed from “special events” and placed in
their own category for 2012/2013
63
64
2014 Aquatics Attendance Summary
May 3 – July 31, 2014
Pirates Bay
Water Park
Daily Attendance Summary
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Total
Average Per Day – 66 / 60 Days
Goal Per Day
Average Above/Below Goal
Projected Attendance - 98 /87 Days
Daily Attendance
14,531
11,609
12,864
11,908
12,040
26,803
26,009
115,805
1,755
1,632
123
171,953
65
Calypso Cove
Daily Attendance
1,619
1,427
1,528
1,508
1,437
2,893
2,471
12,887
215
194
21
18,686