City parks report more than $1M in storm damage

An April 23 memo from Parks and Recreation Department Director Kimberly McNeeley explains that the city is still working to repair the 20-odd parks buildings that sustained “significant damage” during Winter Storm Uri. Delays in making repairs have been caused by supply chain issues, understaffing and the implementation of the city’s asbestos and lead control procedures. Damage at Turner-Roberts Recreation Center and the Oswaldo A.B. Cantu Pan-American Recreation Center is extensive enough that programming will be disrupted as repairs are made. According to the memo, the parks department is hoping to recover storm-related costs through the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Corporate Risk Management. Until then, repair costs are being covered by the General Fund, city bonds and the Capital Rehabilitation Fund.