Yes, this year the annual Barton Hills Neighborhood Association July 4th Parade will go forward, rain or shine, with the exception of lightning (well, maybe hail, too)! Please join in this wonderful tribute to our country and our community by parading on foot, bicycle, trike, scooter, buggy, or other vehicle of your choice, along with your dog, goat, or other legal and tame animal.

Many thanks go to Wells Fargo on South Lamar, who has generously offered to sponsor our parade this year. We look forward to a long relationship with this community institution that has a great record of civic leadership and service.

We are also honored this year to have two co-Grand Marshals who have graciously agreed to lead the parade: the Honorable Elliott Naishtat, District 49 State Representative, and the Honorable Darryl Slusher, City Councilperson. Kay Wallingford, Barton Hills Teacher of the Year, is also an invited guest.

The parade will assemble as usual at another one of our community partners, Barton Hills Market, at 8:30 am on Sunday, July 4th. At 9:00 am the procession will begin to Barton Hills Elementary School, where the Grand Marshalls will deliver keynote addresses worthy of Lincoln. Pulitzer-prize winning historian, Bill Brands, will again inspire the day with a historical perspective on the Declaration of Independence.

Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and our own nationally known singer/songwriter Sara Hickman will sing the National Anthem.

Festivities will follow and include such time-honored favorites as a watermelon seed spitting contest, sack races, egg toss, face painting, pinatas, and the judges' awards to the best parade entries in various categories. In fact, three people with an eye for patriotic style and flair are needed to judge the parade participants. So don?t forget to decorate your stroller, wagon, scooter, bike, skates, dog, hat, humvee, airplane?

Refreshments will be served at the playground as well, and volunteers are needed to donate cookies, watermelon, and water. Lisa Farenkamp, 444-3211, has graciously agreed to be the cookie coordinator again, and Art Stone, 444-5757, will ice down 8-10 watermelons if you will deliver them to him the night of July 3. Other volunteers are needed to help set up at 7:30 at the Barton Hills Elementary Playground, and to help clean up afterwards. Please contact parade co-chairs Shannon Noble at 916-9513 or Valinda Bolton at 383-8909 to volunteer in any capacity. All patriots who volunteer for this star spangled celebration will be gratefully acknowledged by the emcee at the ceremony!

The 2004 results of our annual neighborhood association survey are now available on our web site. Issues considered most important to our neighborhood as reported by our respondents are included, as well as comments provided on the survey forms.

For information about how BHNA is addressing the concerns expressed by our members be sure to read the story in the June 2004 edition of our BHNA newsletter.

BHNA members:

It is very important to come to the next meeting to show our strength and resolve on important issues facing our neighborhood right now.

We have a long established excellent working relationship with the City of Austin leaders and staff and especially Parks and Recreation Department; we need to honor their commitment to us by listening and discussing issues and concerns with them at this meeting.

Please come to participate, enjoy, get involved, bring your children (babysitting provided!!), great food, celebrate our neighorhood!!

Barton Hills Neighborhood Association

General Meeting
Tues. June 22, 2004
St. Marks Episcopal Church

6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Meet & Greet Social
BBQ and Jambalaya
Green Mesquite
On the deck with fans!!

AGENDA
7:00 to 9:00
General Meeting

• Welcome


• Approval of Minutes


• 4th of July Parade and Celebration -- Shannon Noble and Valinda Bolton


• Oak Wilt Presentation - Eric Beckers, Texas Forestry Service


• Barton Creek Remediation Ponds Update - Les Tull, City of Austin (COA)


• Barton Springs South Lot Parking Fee Issue - Michael McDonell, Asst. City Manager, COA and Warren Struss, Acting Director Parks and Recreation Department (PARD)


• Bike Lanes and Parking Proposal - Scott Johnson


• Greenbelt Trails Project - Austin Action representative


• Utilities Work in Barton Hills -- Brad Castleberry


• Neighborhood Watch - Stephen Lyssey

Committee Reports:

• Neighborhood Planning - Don Long


• Greenbelt Guardian - Glee Ingram


• Sidewalks - Cindy Bogard

Adjourn

Don Long
President
Barton Hills Neighborhood Association

The letter below from Austin Parks and Recreation Department Acting Director Warren Struss regarding the parking situation affecting our neighborhood is published on our web site with his permission.

June 3, 2004

Don Long, President
Barton Hills Neighborhood Association
2205 Farnswoods Circle
Austin, Texas 78704

Dear Mr. Long:

Thank you for allowing the Parks and Recreation Department to attend your upcoming Neighborhood Association meeting on June 22, 2004 and discuss concerns that have been raised regarding the parking on the south side of Zilker Park.

This is the second summer the Parks and Recreation Department has been charging for parking at the south gate in Zilker Park. The parking on the south side of the Pool is limited to approximately 200 vehicles.

The south side parking area of Zilker Park has experienced considerable increased usage over the past several years. While charging for parking does generate significant revenue needed to maintain city programs, the revenues also offset the expenses associated with controlling parking and traffic. Parking control ensures emergency vehicle access to the pool as well as managing the significant increase of vehicle use on busy summer weekends.

We are sensitive to the neighborhood concerns regarding the impact of cars parked in and around the neighborhood and I have asked our Park Police to monitor the neighborhoods to ensure that parking violations are enforced. In addition, beginning this weekend, we will begin placing cones along the Barton Hills Drive to deter parking in the bike lane.

As for the economic issue, as in the previous years Barton Springs Pool does not start charging until 9am. The parking fee does not go into effect until 9am through the front gate (Barton Springs Road) or until 11am at the South gate (Robert E. Lee). Anybody who wishes to enjoy this park and pool free of charge may arrive before those charge times.

We will continue this public discussion soon and look forward to a continued positive relationship with the Barton Hills Neighborhood.

Sincerely,

Warren W. Struss, Acting Director
Parks and Recreation Department

Meeting Minutes from the May 25 BHNA Executive Committee are now online, and include information about the upcoming newsletter and plans for the General Meeting on June 22.