PALS chooses newcomer for basketball, volleyball services

Several Parks, Arts and Library Services (PALS) Board members called Thursday’s decision over which company to use for its basketball and volleyball programs one of the toughest they’ve ever had to make.

In the end, they decided to go with the company that gave the town two options for service in those sports.

The board voted, 6-1, to provide youth programming for the two sports through Elevate Youth Sports (EYS) with a five-year agreement. The Greater Lewisville Family YMCA, which is located next to town hall in Flower Mound, was also seeking rights to serve the town in basketball and volleyball.

Representatives from both organizations gave 10-minute presentations and detailed why their group would be the best fit for Flower Mound.

When the organizations met with the PALS board last month, one of the advantages EYS representatives they said they offered was a higher level of competition than the YMCA. Thursday, YMCA sports director Bryce Merrill countered the claim by announcing a competitive arm of the YMCA for basketball and volleyball known as Cross Timbers Sports that’s about to be launched.

PALS members were impressed but voted for EYS, saying it would then give the town two choices.

“I think that this is about providing our kids, as a whole, with opportunities,” said board member Angie Cox. “We have Lifetime Fitness, we have the CAC, we have YMCA. And it’s amazing that each of those facilities has people working out and using those facilities, but we have options for the people in our town. And, I think it’s important to have options for our children.”

While EYS is in its first year, it boasts its high experience level of coaches. It also said having a board of directors and operating committee, which include local coaches, solely focused on basketball and volleyball is a plus, as is having a coaches certification program in place.

PALS members had a hard time deciding on which program to go with as the YMCA had convincing points as well. It has the history the EYS doesn’t have, it’s currently using Lewisville ISD facilities for its programs and it is already established as a non-profit organization.

The PALS Board also voted to approve a proposal from Keep Flower Mound Beautiful (KFMB) to make improvements to Spring Lake Park in memory of Bridlewood resident Marianne Kilpatrick as part of the Adopt-A-Spot program.

The program includes several initiatives to improve the park: gazebo plantings, a fountain, education stations, a fitness trail, an amphitheater, a butterfly garden, a wildflower field and sign plantings.

Kelly McDonald of KFMB detailed each aspect of the project and discussed the various fundraising efforts that have been made and are in the works to help raise money for the project, which could top out at $40,000. But, McDonald said each component is designed separately, in case there isn’t enough money raised and the project is scaled down.

To make a donation for the project, go to www.nextdonations.com. For information on the project, e-mail info@kfmb.org.

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