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Tuesday, November 14, 2006

White Rock Hills Area Benefits From Bond Package

Rec Center narrowly saved before election

By Mike Orren

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WHITE ROCK HILLS — At tonight's meeting of the Ferguson Road Initiative steering committee, the organization's leaders discussed the portions of the $1.35 billion bond package passed last week that would directly benefit the White Rock Hills area covered by FRI:

Proposition 1 / Street and Transportation / Street Resurfacing: Dilido Road between John West Road and Senate Street; Senate Street between St. Francis Avenue and Dilido Road. -- $440,196

Proposition 2 / Flood Protection and Storm Drainage / Flood Management: Ash Creek -South Fork Bridges @ Lakeland: Raise low portion of Lakeland Road for 700 feet to avoid flooding and purchase one home prone to frequent flooding, relieving flooding of four structures -- $4,309,482

Proposition 2 / Flood Protection and Storm Drainage / Erosion Control: Bank Stabilization for six projects threatened by creek erosion for the following: 9203 Springwater; 8165 Hunnicut; 2832 Ripplewood; 8220 Coolgreene; 2804 Ripplewood (with partial wrap behind 2810 and 2816); and 8022 Claremont -- $847,464

Proposition 3 / Park & Recreation Facilities / Recreation Facilities and Site Development: White Rock Hills Recreation Center - New construction and design: $5,000,000

Proposition 3 / Park & Recreation Facilities / Recreation Facilities and Site Development: Lakeland Hills Park - Parking lot and connecting walkways and new medium pavilion: $525,831

Proposition 4 / Library Facilities: White Rock Branch Library - Design and construction (including books) of 18,000 square foot new branch library: $8,035,998

Total for area: $19,158,971

See the FRI bond proposal presented to the city, with detail on these projects

Bobbi Bilnoski of FRI stated that the organization's bond committee had to "rescue" the recreation center, as Dallas Park and Recreation Director Paul Dyer had removed the $5 million allocated without telling the group. FRI learned that the rec center was removed on September 11, the day before the ballot was finalized, but managed to get it back on. Other communities with rec centers that were planned in earlier drafts of the bond package were not so lucky.

Bilnoski said that FRI hoped to see the rec center grow to the $15-$20 million range with gap financing and private investment. That growth could include an aquatic facility, as well as a larger overall center and a skating rink.

White Rock Hills

Ferguson Road Initiative

White Rock Hills

She also said that the City had recently changed its story on the location, a point that was echoed by FRI Executive Director Vikki Martin. Martin said the City had changed planned locations for the library and rec center a number of times over the years, but that FRI was trying to work with them. She citied the difficulties in raising additional funds when the location was in flux.

Committee member Susan Walker said that the YMCA was willing to provide staffing support for the rec center and that a noted national nonprofit whom she couldn't name due to ongoing negotiations was seriously contemplating an additional investment.

FRI President Bill Coleman cautioned that the earliest portions of the bond monies released by the City would be for the smaller street repairs, underscoring the need to get additional financing to move ahead with plans for the rec center and library.

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Mike is a resident of the White Rock Hills area and recently volunteered to co-chair Crimewatch 1177.

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