WELCOME TO
Mary Moore Searight Park
President: Claire Sorenson
Vice President: Bill Meacham
Park Manager: John Estrada
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PARK NEWS
FIRE BUILDING AND SMOKING BAN STILL IN EFFECT IN AUSTIN PARKS Due to the dangerous fire hazard conditions that currently exists in the Central Texas area, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is temporarily prohibiting the building of fires and smoking in the City of Austin Parks and Recreation system. This includes the use of wood or charcoal BBQ pits/grilles/smokers. Propane stoves are allowed in designated picnic areas only. The Parks and Recreation Department is working with the Austin Police Department’s Park Police and Parks and Recreation Park Rangers in the enforcement of the fire building ban and smoking ban in the City’s parks and greenbelts in order to provide for the public’s safety. The temporary ban is necessary to ensure the safety of park patrons, and in an effort to minimize the risk of a wildfire in the department’s parks and greenbelts. The department will continue to evaluate the fire hazard conditions and will lift the ban as soon as conditions will allow. A media advisory will be distributed when a date to end the ban is determined. For more information contact 974-6700.
OFF LEASH AREA DOG POOP BUCKETS are MAINTAINED by VOLUNTEERS Austin Parks and Recreation has provided a garbage can at the entrance of the new Off Leash Area, but there are not enough material and staff resources to provide more trash cans and trash removal along the trail. Therefore, Friends of Mary Moore Searight has installed poop buckets along the trail along with trash can liners. We relly on OLA users to volunteer to help maintain the buckets. Mark and I do this as often as possible during our morning walk, and we could use some help. If you see a full bucket along the trail, please help us maintain it: remove the full bag, insert a new bag if there is one attached to the bucket handle, and carry the full bag to the OLA entrance where PARD staff will dispose of it. It is a nasty job, but the alternative is to have a lot more poop left on the trail. We purposely used small bags so they aren't so heavy when full. One thing that helps carry the full bags, if there are two people, we put a long stick through the tie loops of the bag and carry the bag together, which reduces the need to touch the bag and get yourself dirty. Sometimes there is liquid in the bag, so you need to poke a few holes to drain it. We understand if you don't want to help with this. Even just a few people doing this during their regular walk would be a big help. Donations of kitchen size trash bags would also be most welcome. You can tie them to the bucket handles so we have replacements when someone empties them. I may also see if we can get a wagon for the park and chain it to a tree, or some such thing that would help carry the full bags to the entrance. Thanks to those who are already helping with this nasty park maintenance chore. SUPPORT NEW DOG PARKS IN AUSTIN
Two new off-leash dog parks are in the works for Austin, and Austin Parks and Recreation needs to hear support coming from Austin dog park advocates. The two "new" locations selected for off-leash consideration - Yett Creek (walking trail – North Austin) and Mabel Davis (fenced South East Austin). These two locations represent a stepped up effort by PARD to expand on the number of off-leashed parks. As park advocates for off-leash environments, it's important we get the word out and have a strong show of support for these new locations at the community stakeholder meetings. You can email your support by visiting these links Yett Creek Park and Mabel Davis
KIOSKS DONATED TO OFF LEASH AREAS Austin Parks Foundation has approved a grant of $40,000 for informational kiosks to be installed at off leash dog areas citywide. This effort was lead in part by Austin's Off Leash Area Advisory Committee. MARY MOORE SEARIGHT DISC GOLF COURSE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Beginning September of 2009 - installation of concrete tee pads, new baskets and creek crossing and drainage repairs.
July 2, 2011 - Disc Golf Volunteers, Friends of Mary Moore Searight Park, and Park Manager John Estrada and his crew work together to repair erosion damage on hole 15. Click this link to see before and after pics of the amazing improvements.
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