| Advisory Committee Presents the Results of our Surveys for the North Austin Recreation Center  |
(Click "Open" and be patient. It's a big file.)
On March 9, NACA members met with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) to present our survey results in a PowerPoint presentation. Kristin Harrison was the primary author, with help from Martha Dempsey and Keith Huntsman, using data gathered and compiled by those three plus Nathalie Cappione, Rosie Gusman, Joyce Hart, Tyler Hart, Charlotte Jackson, Susie Milam, Evelyn Monnich and Linda Moore.
 Committee members (l-r) Joyce Hart, Evelyn Monnich, Kristin Harrison, Linda Moore, Nathalie Cappione, Susie Milam, Martha Dempsey, with (not shown) Rosie Gusman, Tyler Hart, Charlotte Jackson and (behind the camera) Keith Huntsman |
The presentation consisted of charts and tables detailing the responses we received from nearly three hundred respondents as to what they wanted to see in the new Center, and how highly they preferred each choice. Representing PARD were John McGinnis, Project Sponsor; Bill Wells, Program Manager; Mark Shruben, Project Manager; and others.
“They were very impressed with our research and said that it was the BEST research/report they had EVER received from any neighborhood association in all the time they'd been doing their work,” Kristin reports.
“They clarified a few concepts as we went through it, and one of the guys confirmed that a senior nutrition program is slated for our center....
“The next step will be to gather [opinions from] other people from other organizations...like an Asian organization and the North Austin Coalition of Neighborhoods. Basically, we'll help the city inform them [of the plans] and lead them to be involved in the next phase of design.”
Meanwhile, the City is surveying the Center's designated site between Rundberg and Rutland east of Mearns Meadow to begin developing the site plan. In the future the City can be expected to hold Town Hall-style meetings to further gather the community's input, and will pass that information on to the planners and architects.
So, you can expect more in the coming weeks and months. Stay tuned, and feel free to e-mail your opinions to the project address, naca.design@gmail.com. We will continue to consider your ideas.
The design team would like to recognize the participation of our community partners in the development and administration of the neighborhood survey: Assistant Principal Michael Perkins at Lanier High School, the Little Walnut Creek Branch Library, The Park at Quail Creek, and Build a Sign.
Thank you all, and stay tuned.
~Keith Huntsman
