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AreaC~de -- ' ~um'b'er - - Extension
TELEPHONED
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CALLED TO SEE YOU WILL CALL AGAIN
WANTS TO SEE YOU URGENT
AMPAD 23-021 - 200 SETS
EFFICIENCY, 23-421 - 400 SETS CARBONLES$
Kent M. Moore
400 Southwestern Boulevard
Coppell, Texas 75019
972-462-9590
March 17, 1997
Fritz Barmvsky
President
Coppell Youth Soccer Association
P.O. Box 354
Coppell, Texas
03-17-97 P04:25 IN
03-17-O0-A15-359NV
Re: U5 practice fields
Dear Mr. Barowsky:
An unsafe condition is posed, in my opinion, by the steep Denton Creek cliff which
lies just yards to the north of the U5 practice fields. A narrow screen of wooded area
conceals the creek, but in some places there are trails which quickly end at the crest of a
steep cliff.
Last year I brought this unsafe feature of Andy Brown Park to the attention of the
Parks Department by way of the City Manager. At that time I suggested that a break-away
fence be constructed that would impede any small child who sought to quickly retrieve a
soccer ball. I received a response from the Parks Department which cited three reasons why
no action would be taken.
The first reason addressed the issue of FEMA's (Flood Emergency Management
Association) restrictions on the installation of fences in a floodway. The second discounted
the presence of a hazard by stating that no child had yet fallen into the creek, and third, that
no other parent had ever complained about the unsafe condition.
The issue seemed to go away when the parks representative, quoting a CYSA
representative, reported that the fields would no longer be used. That condition did not in
fact exist however, but the season was coming to an end and I decided not to pursue the
matter. The problem was addressed by closer supervision of the children.
With the beginning of the new soccer season, it is now evident that the practice
fields are still being used by U5 children, so it seems necessary to renew my attempts to
bring this situation to the attention of those parties who are able to create a solution that will
increase the safety of the park.
I have contacted Gary Sieb, Gary Simms, FEMA, NFIP (National Flood Insurance
Program) and Mike Martin in the City Engineering Department. I am forwarding this letter
to other parties within the City so that together we may expedite a solution.
It is my opinion that this issue should be addressed by the C)t.y, but I wanted to
inform you of my activities as a courtesy. Increased parental supervision together with a
fence seems to be the optimum solution. The City could best address the issues of the
design of the fence and the appropriate variances required by FEMA, but since the fields
are used by U5 teams, many of xvhich comprise new members of CYSA, it would seem
that the responsibility of informing the parents of newly formed teams about the presence
of a potentially hazardous condition would remain with the CYSA.
Since I have spent some time thinking about possible solutions, I will point out that
the term "fence" does not accurately convey the multitude of acceptable solutions which are
available to us. Any device which succeeds in im.pe.ding the flow of pedestrian traffic into
the wooded area might reduce the hazard. At a m~mmum, a white nylon rope, draped
between short wooden stakes, would create a visible boundary (but not a physical barrier)
between the running path and the wooded area. Originally I had considered a series of four
foot high, break-away, wired-slat board fences that would extend no further than the end of
each of the soccer fields. These fences would allow traffic around each end which would
permit access (by a supervising adult) to the wooded area in the event that a ball bounced
over the fence. In my view, an adult would have more time to delay any child who was
trying to retrieve a ball outside the boundary of the field.
By this letter I hope to encourage some discussion among those who are better
qualified to provide alternative solutions. I appreciate the effort and suggestions I have
received from the Parks Department and remain certain that together we can create a
solution that will increase the safety of the park area. In the event that the condition cannot
be improved, I would ask that the CYSA inform the parents of all new U5 teams at the
beginning of each season of the existence of the hazard.
As a follow-up I will continue my discussions with City personnel. If you have any
questions please call me at the telephone number listed above.
Sincerely,
Kent M. Moore
City Manager Jim Witt
Mayor Tom Morton and the Coppell City Council
Gary Simms
Gary .qie_b~
(Mike ..Ma~fi n~
- De nn i'~;~'l'fi~on
Craig Warner (Team Coach)
719 Meadowlark
Coppell, Texas 75019