Weatherford Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Meeting – April 23, 2026

The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board of Weatherford, Texas, held its regular session on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 5:29 p.m. at the Cherry Park Building. Chair Kathe McDonald presided. The board approved the previous meeting’s minutes, unanimously appointed a new Vice Chair, and received an extensive staff report covering quarterly operations, upcoming projects at Love Street Splash Pad, McGratton Park (including a new skate park), and the planned Holland Lake Playground. No public comments were made. The meeting adjourned at 5:53 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board regular session held on January 22, 2026, by unanimous consent.
• Unanimously appointed board member Doreen Dromgoole as Vice Chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Staff Reports

• Quarterly Update (January–March 2026): Director Jaycob Kirkpatrick reported on a wide range of activities:
  • Two trout stockings at Hall Lake and one catfish stocking (the Kidfish event was rained out).
  • A new mowing contractor began work, covering approximately 83 sites across the city.
  • Two staff members obtained Certified Playground Safety Inspector certifications, bringing the total to three.
  • At Love Street Park, ten largemouth bass were stocked; cattail cleaning is scheduled in two weeks.
  • The Barnyard Pickoff event attracted 70 teams, including participants from Australia and Brazil.
  • Facility rentals: Cherry Park Building (41 times), Mount Pleasant Building (29 times), and 46 park pavilion reservations.
  • Blast Ball (T‑ball) had 90 participants, the highest ever.
  • Adult spring softball had 29 teams; three tournaments were held (fields were closed January–February for maintenance).
  • Special events: Spring play event at Chandor Gardens drew 1,500 visitors and 70 vendors; the Food Truck Park Night on March 24 had approximately 300 attendees.
  • First Monday Trade Days: 423 vendor spots reserved in January, February cancelled due to weather, and 486 in March.
  • Facilities work included a new fire station exhaust system, window repairs at City Hall, a major leak repair, and a new server.
  • Discussion about tracking visitor origin (local vs. out‑of‑town); staff will explore using existing security cameras at Sparkin’ Park.
• Love Street Splash Pad: Construction is 98% complete; the splash pad is scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend (May 30, 2026). Remaining work includes fencing and benches.
• McGratton Park / Skate Park: Design is ongoing. The proposed layout extends the parking lot, relocates the playground to the south side, adds a restroom, a pavilion, basketball courts, and an accessible skate park suitable for skateboards, scooters, roller skates, and bicycles. Design wrap‑up is expected by the end of May, with construction documents to follow and a ground‑breaking targeted for September 2026 (opening spring 2027). The existing green space will be preserved.
• Holland Lake Playground: An early conceptual design was presented for a large, inclusive playground featuring a climbing structure, track‑style zip line, various swings, and elements for all ages and abilities. The goal is to relieve overcrowding at Cherry Park. Staff requested board feedback.
• Department Office Move: Staff are temporarily located at the Santa Fe business center while a new office building is being designed on Columbus Street. Construction is expected to start in August 2026, with completion by year’s end, reuniting all divisions.

Key Outcomes

• Approved January 22, 2026, meeting minutes (unanimous).
• Appointed Doreen Dromgoole as Vice Chair (unanimous).
• Staff will investigate methods for tracking event attendance by visitor origin.
• Board members were invited to provide feedback on the McGratton Skate Park and Holland Lake Playground designs via email within the next few weeks.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Chandor Garden Office (711 W Lee Avenue).