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PrettierIButIVandalismBy MARJ CARPENTERImproving city parks so that they are prettier and more useful is a major aim of the city during the past year and the coming year.Figuring out a way to keep vandals from tearing up theparks and destroying improvements as fast as they can be made is also being eyed by theCity Dads.The park improvements are noticable to any who frequent the facilities. Allcity parks are greener andcleaner than they have been in recent years.A major effort has been made at steady improvement during the past three years and the newparks and recreation superintendent is setting up high goals for continued improvements.At the same time, the police department, the policereserves and the city council are seeking ways to decrease vandalism of city property.Among the most talkedabout improvements lastyear were the cleaning up of the big spring itseu, forwhich thecity was named.The hike and bike trail isalso just complete and one of the newer attractions of the city. This week, the Horizons committee of the Bicentennial Celebration, with Mrs. Mary Joy Cowper aschairman, presented a special certificate to the city,commending them for creating this nature trail for hikers and bikers in Comanche Park.MADE TO ENJOYAs Mrs. Cowper stated in special ceremonies Fridayafternooa “This trail alongthe spring and through Big Spring s original tent city site is a link to the past that future generations can en-t IjoyJerry Foresythe, superintendent of parks for the city, said the only rules are “No cars, no horses, no motorcycles and no swimming. '* The city urges citizens to help keep this new trail a “beautiful nature trail** and to report anyone destroving property or throwing items into the bigspring.A $200 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction ofvandals has been posted by thecity. The information will also be held confidential.The hike and bike trailoriginated in 1973 and continued to be developed andnurtured through the effortsof Mrs. Polly Mays, mayorEtem and Daryl Hohertz, 1 architect.From the time, Hohertz originally walked off theWorryroute of the trail,hascontinued to be expanded and encouraged. At thepresent time, the three-quarter mile long trail extends from Highway 87 to the big spring. There are four bridges on the trail and future plans include plantingof additional trees, shrubs and flowers.RAISE THEIR OWNNowadays, the city has expanded its nursery facilities in a location in backof the municipal golf course and are raising more trees, plants and shrubs for the park.The nursery was begun by Johnny Johansen, as was the rose garden in the city park and many other improvements in his longservice to the citv. Hecontinues to help with parkprojects for the city.Johnny was honored recently by the local garden clubs with the planting of several trees in his honor atthe big spring area.Mrs. Mays was honored with a tree planted in Cottonwood Park down on Second Street where that park is being restored. Two trees were also planted in that area in memory of the late Mrs Pearl Monroney.The hike and bike trail in Comanche Park is being developed as a tourist attraction. Hohertz hasdesigned signs and markers for the park that will denote the location of the park and the big spring.Width of the trail ra from eight to ten feet ana isto be fenced to keep out small cars. Jimmy Foresythe, superintendnet ofthe city streets department, also helped with work inthe trail.topping PAVILLION PLANNEDA paviUion is also planned and will be located on theremaining foundation of the old Texas and Pacific pump house. The paviUion is to include plaques giving a brief history of the big spring and the surrounding area.Other improvements being made in the park, according to Jerry Foresyth, include the possible refurbishing of the old gold fish pond which has recently been cleaned out in the area across fromthe Amphitheatre.The swimming pool building is being painted and renovated at this time and the city also hopes to reshingle and paint thezol! cithecourseWatering the golf course is begin a month sooner thisyear, with additional fertilizer used in an attempt to improve the greens and fairways.National MarketingDirector Is NamedHarold L. Davis, president of Gamco Industries Inc.,One way traffic has been disginated in the area near the Totem pole in Comanche Park and plans are made to top the center there for parking and to also top the public tennis courts.“Since the Dora Roberts*»Foundation has been so kind about donating courts and items to the Figure Seven Tennis Center, we hope to be able to spend some funds to top the other tennis courts and also add some lighting, Harry Nagel, city manager, stated recently.Tentative future plans also include the possibility of archery isrgets in Birdwell Park, which has a natural enbankment for the targets.There is also some talk of volleyball facilities and other items at ComanchepoolTrails with the possibility ofchecking out nets and ballsfrom tne swimming building.KEEPING THEM UP Keeping all of these improvements intact is a major problem. The city council this week authorized the city to allow a policeman to livein the house in the park so there will be an officer insidethe park even after the gatesare locked. Some consideration is also being given to letting police officers live in trailers within the parkarea of near the back nine ofthe golf course.“We are sick of vandalism,” Nagel stated here this week. “Whenever weare paying out funds for a reward, the fines are going to be steep enough to include the cost of the reward,” he added.MForesythe said he hopesthey can plant more roses inJohnny’s rose garden” andadd additional trees and shrubs in other areas.MOSS CREEK TOOMoss Creek is not to be overlookedin park’s improvements. The possibility of additional restocking of the lake is being talked as well as the possibility of an overnight trailer facility such as is now in Comanche Trails Park Ed McCain, Moss Creekhas beenmanager,discussing with Foresythe the possibilities of several possible improvements at that facility.A bi-centennial aim of theCity of Big Spring is better parks. They need the citizen's cooperation to keep them that way.Two police reserves are to be hired during weekends and summer months toassist regular lawmen in the park. They also intend to steepen fines for fights orother violations in the parks.The city is trying for better parks. Citizens who help enforce litter laws, report vandalism and otherbreaking of laws in the park areas, will be the people that help keep the facilitiestop notch.iI
Newspaper Details
Big Spring Herald
Big Spring, Texas, US
Sun, Apr 27, 1975
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 05 Feb 2022
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