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no commentsThe Farmers Branch Parks & Recreation team and former board members received three awards at the TRAPS (Texas Recreation and Park Society) North Region awards luncheon. The North Region Conference provides educational and networking opportunities for more than 500 TRAPS members and related professionals. This year the Farmers Branch Parks & Recreation was honored to receive recognition for the Barney Wood Bark Park design, and Excellence in Maintenance Award for the Ladonia House Renovation at the Historical Park.
The 2019 Advocate of the Year was awarded to Margaret Young for her extraordinary service as a leader and member of the community. Additional details about each award is provided below.
Advocate of the Year – Margaret Young
The purpose of this award is to recognize a group or individual who has made a significant contribution to parks and recreation in their community. For more than 37 years Margaret Young has been an active participant and vibrant leader for Parks and Recreation, and as a member of the Parks and Recreation Board, spending 13 of those years as Chair. Her desire to make Farmers Branch a better living place and determination to see dreams through to fruition have benefited the community many times over. She is a staunch advocate for those who might not otherwise speak for themselves, always remembering that recreation opportunities are for all abilities and income levels.
Park Design Award – Barney Wood Bark Park
The purpose of this award is to recognize a park development project which displays a high degree of professional design quality and recreation usage. Feedback from a recent citizen satisfaction survey made it clear that Farmers Branch residents were eager for a community dog park. Because Farmers Branch is “The City in a Park,” the staff knew the dog park needed to be a top-notch experience that was inviting to dogs of all sizes and their humans. The Barney Wood Bark Park is a one-of-a-kind dog park and event venue for the Farmers Branch community with plenty of lush green space, water features, shade, and seating, as well as a trendy concession area that rivals popular restaurant patios.
Excellence in Maintenance Award for the Ladonia House Renovation at the Historical Park (right)
The purpose of this award is to recognize superior maintenance standards and practices including creative approaches to problem solving and innovative means and methods of maintaining parks and recreation facilities. The Farmers Branch Historical Park’s Ladonia House restrooms underwent an interior and exterior renovation this spring. The interior was transformed from the 1980s era robin’s egg blue and cream to a vintage look complete with wood and metal walls. New fixtures, sinks, lighting, baby changing stations, partitions, and doors brought the finishing touches to the project. The exterior of the Ladonia House went from all white to a gray scheme making the restrooms standout and easier for visitors to locate.
