[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6482221,"mediaKeyId","5607384-f1232fc36caecf51e9cbed398e15d534","parentId",5607384,"title","Pharr committee hears departmental updates; Parks wins $1.18M greening grant and three procedural motions pass","audioSeconds",169,"startMs",2911000,"endMs",3080000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5607384-f1232fc36caecf51e9cbed398e15d534&start=2911&end=3080","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5607384-f1232fc36caecf51e9cbed398e15d534/thumbnail_2911000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6482221/Pharr/Hidalgo-County/Texas/Pharr-committee-hears-departmental-updates-Parks-wins-118M-greening-grant-and-three-procedural-motions-pass","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482221-8b97ea9f9ff3b52750f97a90dfc06486/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048238&Signature=MlUsP4R~iwXtuegHluT36AXr97SM57NE9uIiAm3zqZTLKUbVpTCCWqghm~2v4S3DPIB4ePJYXTWBhvdFSyDqLu8nXkJMNJHqEKDiWAYkFTMkGmEAvzXHUYzcI53mDd1iMjHWv5UoPpJY-OOFcPdl5~9jbdEszQPAn5Iqg4fc~MNXBr1NAibH6Cq372fJUZLgVTpnP5M9VP~sxVilfGbKmnGuSM0IasxVBmOenM-GLtheBnNVIpGmamBt4vUhsvl24OIYYSngGnRMJHVLsdHpl-FJzrB4nBU1H~lF0bIeqav3zt0dxtGtahaU-NuH3Pk-qXn314TZNQ9jZCu6QYdB1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Pharr, Texas","date","2025-08-20T16:29:39.903Z","article","At its Aug. 19, 2025 meeting, the Keep Pharr Beautiful Advisory Committee received standing reports from Building and Code Compliance, Parks and Recreation and Public Works, and approved routine procedural motions by voice vote.

Building and Code Compliance reported ongoing outreach and programs. Officer David Cantu (Code Enforcement) and staff said a block party is scheduled for Sept. 15 at Jones Box; the department continues to accept applications for the Property Maintenance Assistance Program and a plaque-assistance program. Staff reported approximately 950 code cases opened in June, including about 549 complaints for weeded lots and 43 health inspections.

Parks and Recreation announced an awarded Community Greening Transformation grant for $1.18 million that staff said will support roughly 6,000 native trees across giveaways, plantings and workshops. \"We got awarded the community greening transformation grant for $1.18 mil,\" Remy Vargas of Parks and Recreation said. Parks staff also described library collaborations, seed-library outreach and youth programming.

Public Works environmental supervisor Irma Diaz reported July recycling and bulky‑item figures: about 49.71 tons of recyclables collected, 1,429 tires retrieved and 32.3 tons of bulky items processed at the residential collection station. Diaz reminded residents that drop-off and curbside services exist for school recycling and that the department will hold a Trash Bash on Sept. 23 at the residential collection station (800 Maco/Ferguson) to accept building materials, tires, recyclables and bulky items.

Procedural business: the committee voted by voice to excuse absent members, approve the minutes of the July 15, 2025 regular meeting and adjourn the Aug. 19 meeting. Members moved and seconded each motion and the chair called the voice votes as \"aye\" with no opposition recorded.

Ending: Staff and committee members encouraged residents to watch city social channels for event details (Trash Bash Sept. 23; Rio Reforestation Oct. 18) and to contact the listed department emails and phone numbers for program participation and code questions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Keep Pharr Beautiful Board Meeting 08-19-25 | City of Pharr","oneSentenceSummary","Keep Pharr Beautiful received reports from code compliance, parks and rec and public works; Parks announced a $1.18 million Community Greening Transformation grant for tree planting, public works reported recycling and tire pickup figures and the committee approved routine motions to excuse members, accept minutes and adjourn by voice vote.","taxTitle","Pharr, Hidalgo County, Texas","taxId",2804,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6482225,"UT-Austin-led design proposes native ecology, sports fields and phased build for Jones Box Park in Pharr",1968,220000,2188000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5607384-f1232fc36caecf51e9cbed398e15d534&start=220&end=2188","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5607384-f1232fc36caecf51e9cbed398e15d534/thumbnail_220000.jpg","/articles/6482225/Pharr/Hidalgo-County/Texas/UT-Austin-led-design-proposes-native-ecology-sports-fields-and-phased-build-for-Jones-Box-Park-in-Pharr","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482225-dda69c7ff9be914e376c473284b97fc0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771048238&Signature=Kn2-t1jPqT8Nt4eB-yi-bZtoGOGzqc951-vr80si2Wbi4feyhA93PJ5X4fb2Vp77oxXtvwhXFP3~As1P5rMczn-rMZQWuOc~7oVUdIHwCQgmLUtHrP0nODz5PrkqYL~ZyMOg6iYyMPOK8r0kCkaaZooKSP0aQ1kp7KRUWzG65I~FurJFqbKS7KTxXbLTU35Bw8RI4DlC5g8uJiNlRMx8049s6joxeQRg2fzdftfI8B~KivalaE2JFlF3yYzJFfZiB1yR-fsetXviM2Dmoy-GFjgRnUhT8mQQ5jAoZjhLHvAFtH5HW7pMeFMv8fHfVAddoiNbAvOCLIQGzOT6eYQYZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Maggie Hanson, an assistant professor of landscape architecture at the University of Texas at Austin, presented a community-led master plan for Jones Box Park during the Keep Pharr Beautiful Advisory Committee meeting on Aug. 19, 2025. The plan calls for a mostly sports-focused east side and a heavily vegetated ecological west side joined by a hybrid central gathering space; Hanson said the park covers about 28 acres.

The plan, Hanson said, grew from five years of local engagement and a semester-long studio in which UT-Austin students worked directly with South Pharr youth and community groups. \"I bring those experiences to teaching my students to work with communities and to value the voice of residents in thinking about public space,\" Hanson said.

The proposed design preserves existing active recreation — soccer, baseball, basketball and the splash pad — while adding pedestrian connections, shade structures, an additional bridge over the irrigation canal and an on-site nursery. Hanson described the western portion as an \"ecological park\" with shaded trails, a boardwalk and an outdoor classroom; the eastern portion would hold consolidated sports fields, an additional basketball court and possible tennis courts. The center would include picnic areas, play features and restrooms.

A central element of the proposal is stormwater management treated as an amenity: paved edges and trails would be accompanied by vegetated swales, rain gardens and planted corridors designed to collect and infiltrate water on site rather than quickly move it away. Hanson said the plan was informed by youth input: about 25 young people, ages 15–17, participated in PhotoVoice and workshops that prioritized intergenerational spaces, shade, and protection of existing recreation areas.

Hanson told the committee the team had applied last year for an EPA grant of approximately $14.6 million that would have funded physical improvements to five schoolyards and Jones Box Park as well as workforce development and nature-based green infrastructure, but that the specific federal program they targeted is no longer operating and the city should not expect that funding. \"Under the current federal administration, that program no longer is operating, so we're not expecting to get that funding,\" she said.

Committee members asked about scale and phasing. Hanson recommended starting with a nursery to grow trees locally and then developing the ecological west first so recreation can continue while planting proceeds. Asked about timing, Hanson said an optimistic timetable could be three years but projects of this scale can take up to a decade. \"Rolling things out in phases can also be a really good thing,\" she said.

Cynthia Castro, assistant director of Pharr Parks and Recreation, introduced Hanson and described the plan as the product of coalition work that includes Arise Adelante, Texas Children and Nature Network and the Youth Eco Alliance. Board members and staff praised the proposal and discussed next steps: Hanson and her UT team plan to return for follow-up visits in November and March to continue engagement.

The presentation prompted committee discussion about finding funding and coordinating with city departments should the city pursue phased implementation. No formal action or funding commitment was taken at the meeting.

Ending: Committee members said the presentation gave the city a community-rooted blueprint to inform future budget and grant work; Hanson and Parks staff said they will continue engagement and return to Pharr for further discussions later in 2025 and in March 2026.","University of Texas at Austin designer Maggie Hanson presented a community-informed plan for 28-acre Jones Box Park that separates an eastern sports zone from a western ecological zone, emphasizes stormwater management and recommends phased construction and a local nursery to propagate native trees.","actionData","errors"]

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Pharr committee hears departmental updates; Parks wins $1.18M greening grant and three procedural motions pass

UT-Austin-led design proposes native ecology, sports fields and phased build for Jones Box Park in Pharr