More on the Barbara Hitzelberger, I Mean, the Hitzelberger Fountain
As I passed by the Barbara Hitzelberger park this morning I couldn’t help but notice 4 or 5 people surrounding the lettering on the fountain. It was hard to tell what they were doing so I checked in with Steve Mace, the communications guru for the city of University Park.
Thursday at 4:30 the City will hold a formal dedication ceremony for the park. Of course, Barbara Hitzelberger-Wooten will be on hand and will receive a proclamation from Mayor Holmes highlighting her community involvement. In conjunction with that brief ceremony, the workers are changing the name of the park to Hitzelberger Park. Barbara is in support of the change. Most City parks carry last name only.
Hmmm. How much is that gonna cost? What’s up with the changing the name thing? And why are we just now having a ceremony since the fountain has been there for something like 2+ years?
Council brought up the topic of “last name only” some weeks ago. As I mentioned, Barbara was supportive. No new letters were purchased. The existing ones will be re-spaced on the wall. Moving the lettering will cost $1,600.
The cost for the ceremony is $25 for cookies and drinks, plus a few more dollars for the framed proclamation. We try to hold such ceremonies in good weather and with good floral color.
But honestly, what’s another $1600 when we’ve already blown more than $90,000 with the re-do?
Are you kidding me? 1600 to move the letters???? What, is she going to mount the B.A.R.B. A.R.A on her back fence? Thats just a shameful waste. Why didnt we just move the word PARK to be in line with the name?
Heck, I need to get bids in to the city, I could move those letters and make a nice profit… who’s getting paid for this?
I think “bubble ” park would be more appropriate, literally and figuratively.
Soapy Fountain Park
My kid would move the letters for gas money, $25 tops.
I echo the above sentiments.
But what about the holes?
Way to go Merritt, I know the staff at UP are so happy you cover their every move, their every breathe. Keep up the good work.
@Give me a B-
Steve Mace told me that Casteel and Associates in Dallas (original installation firm) are the ones getting the $1600.
Gadfly is right, who are we going to get to fill in the old holes? Who in their right mind is going to want to do a job like that when the probable no-bid contract of $10K (*probably too low) is only a 7000% profit. Better start a committee to figure this one out.
Also, there is no clear answer as to why this ceremony is 2 years late? Floral color? You mean the gray and clear colors of the fountain stone and the water? Or the half brown/half green grass? Maybe there are flowers in front of the fountain, can’t tell from the picture and can’t remember. If so, it would make a little more sense.
I’ll do it for $1,550.
Do we know who made this decision? This is my/our money their spending, and yet it continues to happen. $60K here, $1,600 there, slide for the pool, etc. I hope I don’t get any pushback when I contest my house tax assessment, because they seem to have more money than they know what to do with around here.
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