2009 COWTOWN CLEANUP
AT CANDLERIDGE PARK
Thanks to the dozen volunteers who braved the cold on March 28th in cleaning up creek beds as part of the annual Cowtown Cleanup. We cleaned out trash from the two tributaries to French Lake all the way to Sycamore School Rd. and Hulen St., respectively. This will significantly reduce the amount of litter that ends up in the lake following big rains. We also worked on the creek bed along Weatherwood. A total of 20 30-gal bags of trash were collected. A special thanks goes to Jim Atkinson who regularly picks up quantities of trash during his walks around the greenbelt. Others are encouraged to follow his example.
A PROFUSION OF COLOR EXPECTED AT FRENCH LAKE
Flowerbed at French Lake flagpole
NEW PLANTS
CandleRidge Master Gardener Jane Bruckner assisted by Glen Estes recently refurbished the flower bed by the flagpole at French Lake. They purchased and planted new plants, applied mulch, and thoroughly watered them. Hardy, drought-tolerant perennial plants were selected to replace the dead ornamental grasses closest to the walking trail. Bright pink Salvia Greggi, purple “Homestead” verbena, orange old-fashioned daylilies, dwarf yaupon shrubs, and rosemary bushes were planted to provide beauty for walkers and hopefully attract butterflies as well.
NEW WATERING METHOD
The bed has not been maintained well the last couple of years due to the difficulty in dipping water out of the lake to water the plants. We have now obtained an electrical power source and a ½ HP submersible pump so water can now be pumped from the lake to water the plants. The plants will be watered at least weekly until they are well established and as needed during the hot summer months when we get little or no rain.
NEED MORE HELPERS
Could you help just one hour a month with maintaining this flower bed? It is simple, easy, and may even be fun. Any Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts out there? Retired people? After work people who want to “unwind”? Call Jane Bruckner, 817-292-9596. Your volunteer hours will be appreciated and recognized.
UPDATES ON CANDLERIDGE PARK PROJECTS
Painting benches and tables – Earlier this year we completed repainting the green wooden benches and tables at various sites around the park. The city provided the paint, and volunteers did the (messy) work. Thanks to all the paint volunteers!
Painting footbridge at French Lake – The city has provided paint and brushes, and in May, Boy Scout Troop 17 repainted the railings and resealed the deck planks. Thanks to Troop 17 and Ian Auld, the coordinator for his Eagle project.
New vertical sign posts around Candleridge Park
Vertical signs – The old vertical signs (14) along the walking trail in the park were battered, rotting, and faded. The CandleRidge Homeowner?s Association paid for purchasing the material for the new posts. The posts are made from a very strong and durable recycled plastic that resembles wood. City Parks and Community Services Dept cut and added caps, routed and painted lettering, then installed the new and removed the old posts. This project was completed in March.
Playground Equipment – Last summer we were notified of approval of a $25,000 matching grant from the City for improvements to the playground at French Lake. The Fort Worth Housing Authority, which manages the nearby Candletree Apartments, graciously donated the matching amount and assumed responsibility for implementing the project. CandleRidge Homeowner?s Association was instrumental in the application for the grant and was allowed to make selection of the equipment and locations (with City approval). Equipment will consist of upgrades to the 2-5 yr-old (west side) section as follows: Walker Four multi-apparatus with two roofs, one 4-seat buckabout (a modern version of the old see-saw), three spring riders, one backhoe shovel, and an age-appropriate sign. The Walker Four apparatus (climbing equipment with crawl tube and slides) will be located just to the west of the sidewalk on the west side of the playground; it will have a 30X30 ft area of new fill material underneath with a concrete border. In the 5-12 yr-old area, a climbing mountain will be added. In addition, six new park benches (green plastic coated metal mesh) will be strategically located under shade trees for caregivers to observe their children at play. Work began on this in early July and should be completed in a few weeks.
New PAR Course at French Lake
PAR course equipment – There once was a three-section PAR course around French Lake for adults to exercise. The equipment had deteriorated and was removed by the City due to safety concerns. The CandleRidge Homeowner?s Association purchased the equipment for a new exercise center (costing approximately $12,000). It consists of a variety of exercise facilities and instructions for fifteen different kinds of exercises. Most of them are varieties of stretching; but it also includes equipment for sit-ups, push ups, chin ups, bench curl, and body curl. In late June the Parks Dept installed the equipment, plus provided drainage, a border, and fill material. It is located just south of the playground area at French Lake. Come check it out.
Footbridge at French Lake repainted
by the Boy Scouts
Creek bed clean up – Last fall, the Parks Dept. accomplished major cutting of tall weeds in and along the creek beds in the Candleridge Park greenbelt. Late this spring, the Parks Dept. sprayed herbicides along the creek beds to help control the weeds.
Thanks to the dozen volunteers who braved the cold on March 28 in cleaning up creek beds as part of the annual Cowtown Cleanup! We cleaned out trash from the two tributaries to French Lake all the way to Sycamore School Road and Hulen Street, respectively. This will significantly reduce the amount of litter that ends up in the lake following big rains. We also worked on the creek bed along Weatherwood. A total of twenty 30-gal bags of trash were collected. A special thanks goes to Jim Atkinson, who regularly picks up quantities of trash during his walks around the greenbelt. Others are encouraged to follow his example.
Flagpole area – The American flag at French Lake gets replaced as required, once or twice a year. Volunteers (mainly Glen and Margaret Estes, and more recently Jane Bruckner) weed, mulch, and plant shrubs and flowers in the bed underneath the flag. The CandleRidge Homeowner?s Association has recently purchased a portable electric water pump to water this bed using lake water, and the city installed an electrical outlet at the floodlight which illuminates the flag at night.
Fountain in French Lake – The aerator water fountain on the north end of the lake broke last winter. This fountain not only has aesthetic appeal, but also helps to control the algae in the lake and add air back into the water for fish. The CandleRidge Homeowner?s Association has purchased a new pump motor (about $1200), and the Parks Dept. will install it soon.
Recent Maintenance Accomplishments – At our notifications, the Parks Dept. has accomplished the following over the last year: 1) removed multiple truckloads of debris (mostly weed cuttings) from the lake after a heavy rain, 2) replaced deteriorated wood on the footbridge and various benches, 3) repainted the crawl-through tube (that had been covered over with non-matching graffiti-abatement paint) of the 2-5 yr-old apparatus in the playground, 4) replaced the missing trash barrel near the bench at the flagpole at French Lake, 5) repaired the water drinking fountain at French Lake, 6) treated fire ant mounds, particularly around French Lake.
Future Projects
a. Horizontal signs ? There are several horizontal Candleridge Park signs at main entrances to the Candleridge Park. These are faded and need repainting. We will work with the Parks Dept. to accomplish this, probably in 2010.
b. Road bridge railings ? The metal railings (bridges over creek beds) need repainting. The city has been notified of the need, and we hope to have accomplished in 2010.
Suggestions, Observations? If you observe any needed cleanup or repair in the park or greenbelt area, please notify us immediately. If you have any suggestions for improvement of the park or greenbelt, we would like to hear that too. And if you would like to volunteer for any improvement projects, we would welcome your participation. Contact us at Parks@CandleRidgeHomeowners.com or click on the appropriate icon on this website and leave a message. These messages are immediately forwarded to our Park and Greenbelt Preservation Committee Chairman.
