The Ellis County Press: Citizens give input on survey; Public hearing to be conducted

Citizens give input on survey; Public hearing to be conducted
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Megan Gray on 01/06/2011 19:32:00


FERRIS – After conducting a survey with 1,100 parents of students attending
the Ferris Independent School District, the Ferris Park Board saw a demand for a
public swimming pool.
The survey, part of a master plan to help better develop the needs and wants of
its residents, had 22 options to be ranked in priority including the library,
baseball field and swimming pool.
Out of 1,100 passed out, 370 surveys were returned.
The top five priorities returned were: 1. Swimming pool, 2. Basketball Court,
3.Aerobic/Fitness Center, 4.Recreation Center and 5. Soccer Fields.
“We needed to create a master plan to get an overview of what we had,” said
Economic and Main Street Director Chuck Dart.
“The master plan enables us to apply for larger funding from the Texas Parks
and Wildlife.”
With help of GrantWorks Consultant Martha Drake at the Wednesday, Dec. 15 parks
board meeting, the city and board’s master plan, including current parks and
available land for use, will be submitted to the TPWD by May 31.
A town hall meeting to discuss the residents’ priorities will be set at a
later date.
“We understand not every resident has a child going to school and we want to
make sure everyone has a chance for their voice to be heard,” said Dart.
The 2011 Ferris Park Board consist of: Rawley Sanchez, Darlene White, Cliff
Hook, Bruce Fowler and Phillip Davis with Youth Advisors Gabriella Buba and
Kassandra Huetra.