Colony Park Association, Inc.

P.O. Box 12891 Austin, Texas 78711-2891 USA

January 15, 2013 Sara Hensley Parks & Recreation Ms. Hensley, I was out of town when the recent article was written about the Turner Robert Recreation Facility. I received several calls which called my attention to the statement that was given by Ms. McNeeley as reported by the article the statement reads as follows That facility was planned for the long term, but was built sooner to have space while the rec center is closed, said Kimberly McNeeley, an assistant director with Austins parks department." Ms. Hensley let me refresh your memory. We meaning the Colony Park Neighborhood Association never asked for nor heard about a Multi-Purpose building until we met with you, and several city officials including Councilman Mike Martinez, Councilwoman Laura Morrison and Councilwoman Kathie Tovo as well as Mr. Volma Overton Jr. who had contacted and assembled the afore mentioned group because he as well as the community felt the Parks and Recreation department was not doing everything that should be done to begin the process of repairing the recreation center. On that day you told us you had found 3 million dollars and thought a Multi-Purpose building could be built to take the place of the gym and would resolve the issue of the students that attended the Volma Overton Elementary School having to use a portable building for gym classes and that the community would be able to have meetings and neighborhood functions in the building. You asked if that would be agreeable to us, naturally we said yes because this would give the neighborhood children somewhere to assemble and play. Initially the building was going to be four walls and not much else; we might also note that there are no meeting rooms in this facility. After working with your department we now have a state of the art kitchen, wall padding and flooring which will protect the children from injuries while using the facility. The neighborhood never asked for nor expected a multi-purpose building, I am attaching the list of requests that we have sent to you as well as all city council members and Mayors that have held office since 2008. You will not see a request for a Multi-Purpose building on this documentation for one reason and one reason only - we never requested it nor had we been informed such a building was in the works. You might also want to make note that none of the items on our list of requests for Phase II or III have been initiated or completed. It is statements such as Ms. McNeeleys that continue to cause mistrust between the Colony Park Neighborhood and the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. Ms. Hensley where there is no honesty there can be no trust. Where you, Ms. McNeeley and several members of your department may see her statement as a way to make the Parks Department appear to be working with the community and providing what the community needs and wants, the community sees a Parks department that is skilled in public rhetoric and dishonesty. When we see the completion of the repairs on our recreation center which is coincidently named for three persons in the Austin community who were instrumental in fighting for the equality of all citizens, the reversal of the poor personnel and programming decisions implemented by the

Colony Park Association, Inc.

P.O. Box 12891 Austin, Texas 78711-2891 USA
North Zone Program Manager which has resulted in the methodical dismantling of our children and teen programs, and the implementation of Phase II and III which will develop the Colony Park Community Park which the residents of this neighborhood need and deserve, then and only then will it be possible for your credibility as well as your departments credibility with our residents begin to be repaired and restored.

Barbara Scott President Colony Park Neighborhood Association