20200624-004a: John Trevino Park Master Plan — original pdf

Recommendation

BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Hispanic Quality of Life Commission Recommendation Number: 20200624-004a John Treviño Park Master Plan WHEREAS, the Final Draft Master Plan for John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park, dated February 2020, from the Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) states, “The success of John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park will come from connecting the site’s rich layers of ecology and heritage to the legacy of John Treviño Jr. This place seeks to grow the relationship between surrounding communities and this land by supporting opportunities that could only happen here and that resonate with residents;” and WHEREAS, the PARD states community event and small group presentations in June 2019 “helped shape the park’s development of values,” and the “What We’ve Heard” community meeting in July 2019 “focused on whether the preliminary approach, vision, and values for the park were accurately representative of community members’ own goals and hopes for Treviño Park;” and WHEREAS, skate park received 3 recommendations in the summarized list of meeting and survey responses to the question, “What would you like to see or do at John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park?” and was one out of over 1,000 elements and ideas mentioned; and WHEREAS, at Community Meeting #3 and small group presentations in August 2019, the “design team presented four preliminary concepts that explored different strategies for character, distribution, and movement through the park,” and the PARD states “The majority of general comments voiced advocacy for a BMX/mountain bike track and skate park for all skills and ages,” which was not strongly advocated for in the past meetings; and WHEREAS, the PARD goes on, “Other comments included support for ADA access throughout the site, nature preservation/wildlife, bird watching, open space, disc golf, running trails, a cultural center, agriculture, public boat access, sand volleyball, and roller skating,” which were recommended in previous meetings; and WHEREAS, results of Community Meeting #4 survey reflected “the input of 428 community stakeholders and event participants who completed the survey to guide the master planning team in developing priorities for future park development,” and “the Field and the River were identified as the highest park zone priorities in the community survey, and the top five priorities for specific programming within the park were hiking/walking trails, fishing pier, boardwalk, agriculture + food garden, and nature play;” and WHEREAS, these same results indicate skate park in the ravine and BMX pump track in the field as the lowest priority items other than “Other;” and WHEREAS, an organized west 9th street BMX Bike/Skateboarding group calling themselves “Trevino Riders” created a website using the Treviño family’s name and Mr. Treviño Jr.’s image without consulting the family; and WHEREAS, this group and local skate/bike shops (shops located west of I-35 and not near Treviño Park) promoted an event December 7, 2019, at the park to show support for “our proposed BMX and MTB trails, pump track, and Texas sized skatepark in East Austin by attending the final park walkthrough;” and WHEREAS, their flyer stated, “The city is requesting that all designers, builders, and riders attend. They want to know what we want;” and WHEREAS, they promoted a “Free raffle for the first 50 attendees who mention this flyer. Raffle items include Sean Sexton’s personal frame as well as other goods and gift certificates from Empire BMX and Bike Farm;” and WHEREAS, these skate/bike park supporters are not rooted in the community, yet have been successful in obtaining 330 acres for a skate/bike park; and WHEREAS, the PARD verbally shared they added the BMX Bike/Skateboarding section to both Mueller and Walter E. Long master plans, and these parks sit within the same target zip codes (78721,78724,78725) as John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park; and WHEREAS, the Treviño family and residents have asked for the PARD to make equitable decisions and remove the skate/bike sections since these are not community priorities, and the PARD has failed to remove it from the proposed master plan. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Hispanic Quality of Life Commission recommends the Austin City Council to remove the following from the John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park Master Plan before the Council votes: 1. Skate Park in the Ravine Section 2. BMX Pump Track in the Field Section of the Park NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Hispanic Quality of Life Commission recommends for PARD to replace the BMX Pump Track in the Field Section of the Park and the Skate Park in the Ravine Section with a soccer field similar to the soccer field at the North Austin Soccer Alliance field. Date of Approval: ____June 24, 2020_________________________ Record of the vote: 10-0 Attest: Staff Liaison