[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6666054,"mediaKeyId","2342848-be3282e34761f898e48095b6f6db4316","parentId",2342848,"title","Committee hears parks maintenance updates; orders pricing for Butterfly Park windbreak trial, approves Turtle Park bed expansion","audioSeconds",2758,"startMs",309000,"endMs",3067000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342848-be3282e34761f898e48095b6f6db4316&start=309&end=3067","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342848-be3282e34761f898e48095b6f6db4316/thumbnail_309000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6666054/Texas/Committee-hears-parks-maintenance-updates-orders-pricing-for-Butterfly-Park-windbreak-trial-approves-Turtle-Park-bed-expansion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6666054-c77424a8dd2362b50249c6a5cf7f2e02/orig.mp4?Expires=1771134864&Signature=WJNbUi4PW0sNf0ThjrYW2ELOjV3ZLeXhHOvjl9qwbP9kmXB7DdsA46q23j8CM-bpPsUShPMVMTHAZ1Ypv3EivTAqMKkVAOODq0eZN6PkF9rjucgejI30siIimARqQkoV5K4DzTxFY89BR2XBtGG4mrbxlcbWrGXr9otXJEA1QqFiqXrvF7lPmcI1gy4oicI7FYXLQRg8uNxCFZoyG-jgl0ZD2MoZQIckg67XaJ0em5npO72VWYzU7BmmP0YqrY5-p4FMFD9nhNy1dJeC4oS01gi4jvpBN~mjx2cv-UOkJ2eo95D7u9wkCKusWdXEtsFpRJA~PYOSq7ClC2W71owTQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Padre Island","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","Parks staff updated the committee on maintenance and training work, and the committee approved a planting expansion at Turtle Park while asking staff for cost estimates and a trial for permanent windbreaks at Butterfly Park.

Debbie, the Parks and Recreation Manager, told the committee crews have been trimming, cleaning and repairing equipment at sites across the system. She said crews recently trimmed oleanders near the track and exercise equipment at John L. Tompkins, removed rust and repainted basketball goals at the pavilion, and completed tree-trimming training for staff. Debbie also reported that council authorized carrying over funds to pay an electrician to install conduit and a new electrical box at the John L. Tompkins pavilion so the site can support lighting and occasional power needs for events.

On landscape and habitat work, naturalist Javier Gonzalez proposed installing low permanent windbreaks in Butterfly Park to protect tender native plantings from strong, funneled winds that damage the beds. Gonzalez said his experience at a birding center showed a modest north-side fence markedly improved plant health: “As soon as we did that the garden flourished.” He proposed a low structure—about 1.5 feet high, built of painted wood slats—that would block the funneling wind without enclosing the beds. Committee members suggested testing the approach by installing short trial windbreaks on one or two beds and asked Gonzalez to return with measurements and pricing. No final construction approval was given; the committee agreed to seek specific cost estimates and plant lists before taking action.

Separately, the committee voted to proceed with a plan to expand garden beds at Turtle Park and to install additional drip irrigation and new plantings intended to create native habitat for butterflies and migratory birds. A parks committee member moved to proceed with the plan as presented by Gonzalez and staff; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote. Gonzalez said most replacement and new plants would be available as one-gallon pots at roughly $8 or less each and suggested incorporating the expansion into the committee’s upcoming Arbor Day planting activities.

The committee also handled several routine items: it awarded “Yard Landscape of the Month” to 5904 Yucca Circle; it approved assigning one community garden plot at Butterfly Park to the single applicant who responded to the recent call for participants and directed staff to resend signup information to prior participants and post on social media to attract more applicants.

Committee members asked staff to return at the next meeting with specific cost estimates for a windbreak trial at Butterfly Park, a plant list and layout for Turtle Park bed expansion (to coordinate with Arbor Day), and any required materials costs so the committee can consider formal funding or bid actions.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","South Padre Island - PARKS & KEEP SPI BEAUTIFUL COMMITTEE - Feb 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Parks staff reported maintenance work, training and an electrical upgrade at John L. Tompkins; the committee asked staff to get pricing for a trial windbreak at Butterfly Park and approved expansion and irrigation work for Turtle Park planting beds.","taxTitle","South Padre , Cameron County, Texas","taxId",57359,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6666059,"Parks committee recommends city wait on Pickleball Park dog park, seek larger site",1189,607000,1796000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2342848-be3282e34761f898e48095b6f6db4316&start=607&end=1796","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2342848-be3282e34761f898e48095b6f6db4316/thumbnail_607000.jpg","/articles/6666059/Texas/Parks-committee-recommends-city-wait-on-Pickleball-Park-dog-park-seek-larger-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6666059-984eb6d5a8c1ea30bcc834354079cf53/orig.mp4?Expires=1771134864&Signature=YZfcroztEFIY~dvGYgC3DMqKuiU6vDLyCn8mo9O1nbAVmy1~kB22S7VhmEdZoAgx96Jn5zNwPtwwI6NyluyTAOqAj23Jvcv1EXSwtWWcWCJ7ZtgLGZ3nWCHXzfumx41YuLcRGVWTHpDY1hligbVI70HNmZPeWEHwueH~0oqokTQUulKyN1c7VwKCCExNyQLzTOJyBoa2qdYW0BJIC-wpWNsD3ieyUs6QsuHSifJiUsm04OH5mnbIwWR7D2t9IrGHaVjbQFmat2FsQz0VDypdIeLH71GsW9lAcydvhYAjsoedjIqi7TH5J8fvsxgfPSzoVztqXmf4XnRKBMA1FJvkyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Parks Committee voted to recommend that the City Council postpone building a dog park on the 40-by-90-foot parcel near Pickleball Park and continue searching for a larger site.

Committee members voted by voice to approve the recommendation after an extended discussion that included multiple residents urging a pause and more study. Susan moved the recommendation and Kathy seconded; the motion passed on an oral vote with no roll-call tally recorded.

Committee members and residents said the narrow parcel—described to the committee as a 40-by-90-foot area subdivided into a 40-by-55-foot “large dog” section and a 35-by-35-foot “small dog” section—would function more as a dog run than a full off-leash park and raised several concerns about safety and usability. A resident who identified herself as part of a Citizens Advocate group told the committee, “this parcel is far too small for an effective dog park. It could be a dog run.” She and other speakers said that dogs focused on balls or other distractions in such a confined area could trigger aggressive interactions.

Speakers also raised accessibility and amenities questions. The committee heard that there is currently no full restroom facility at the site; instead, a handicap-sized portable toilet was noted to remain in place. Residents said an off-leash facility designed to be ADA-accessible would need an internal pathway suitable for wheelchairs, and that the proposed layout appears not to provide that. The same resident reported that, during observations, pickleball players and visitors already encounter dogs and animal waste near the courts: “pickleball folks were telling us that they’ve run over there already now and stepped in dog poo.”

Committee members discussed disease transmission and vetting. Several speakers referenced veterinarian concerns about illnesses such as parvovirus and distemper and said those risks are one reason for a larger site with moving water and maintenance capacity. One resident, speaking from experience with Texas city parks, said her view was that responsible owners and basic vaccination requirements reduce but do not eliminate such risks.

Members also debated shared use with pickleball players. Multiple speakers said pickleball play regularly sends balls toward the proposed dog area, which could both stress dogs and create hazards for players and animals. Some committee members reported that pickleball players oppose locating a dog park adjacent to courts.

The committee’s formal recommendation to the council asks the council to continue seeking a larger parcel for a full dog park rather than accept the current Pickleball Park location as-is. The committee’s motion, as entered in the meeting, was to recommend that the city “wait on the dog park and continue looking for property.” No specific timeframe or alternate parcels were identified during the meeting, and the committee did not set binding conditions for the council beyond the recommendation.

The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration; members asked staff to notify them of any future proposals so the committee can continue to advise the council on site suitability and design.

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Committee hears parks maintenance updates; orders pricing for Butterfly Park windbreak trial, approves Turtle Park bed expansion

Parks committee recommends city wait on Pickleball Park dog park, seek larger site