The West U City Council will discuss acquiring more parkland during a public workshop tonight at 5:30 p.m.
A subcommittee of the city’s parks and recreation board is expected to make a presentation to city council about parkland acquisition.
The subcommittee is made up of Parks Chair John Wilkinson, Friends of West U Parks Chair Leah Ragiel and parks board member Burt Ballanfant.
The committee has been exploring the possibility of acquiring more parkland for several months.
Ragiel asked the Friends Board during its March 7 meeting if they would be receptive to considering long term funding for a new park or parkland development. All of the committee members said they would support it.
Ragiel said that the area east of Auden and west of Buffalo Speedway was the area being considered for parkland acquisition.
The city has not issued $2 million in bonds for parkland acquisition, which West U voters approved in 2006.
The parkland was included in the first bond program for the Recreation Center and Colonial Park Pool and was the only item to receive voter approval.
The bonds have to be used within 10 years or they expire.
What?? West U is buying more parking land? Sweet.
Very funny!
Just don’t junk it up like the “park” at Auden and Rice. Some green space would be nice.
won’t 2 mil only buy like two lots between Auden and Buffalo? There’s a reason no parks over there. property values are very high in the “heart” of west U.
Land value in the most expensive parts of town have held close to $100/square foot (some are a bit higher for premium parcels). Closer to main thoroughfares it is around $50. So, I think that $2 million should be enough to buy 20,000 square feet of land in the area described.
The hard part is figuring out how to locate that much contiguous land that hasn’t already been improved (empty lots plus homes with no value/teardowns).
Two to four blocks in from Buffalo Speedway and south of University Blvd would appear to be a prime spot for another park. The area closer to Edloe is already served well by the West U Elementary fields, and Belmont Park is easily accessible for those north of University and near Buffalo Speedway. How about a sports court combination of some sort for the middle school/pre-teen residents, along with a stationary grill or two and a few picnic tables with sunscreens to add the family component? I have faith in the Parks Board to do the right thing to benefit those who need it the most and to complement our other wonderful parks!
Yes, a sport court would be great. There are too few basketball courts in west u. Kids get so much excersize playing ball.