Beautification Committee Update
The Beautification Committee has been hard at work addressing the multitude of issues facing Panther Creek Estates (PCE). The primary goal of the committee is to ensure the spirit in which the neighborhood was built is maintained and improved upon as it matures. By it’s very design, PCE celebrates nature and specifically plants and trees indigenous to the State of Texas.
Now a few months old, the Beautification Committee has been familiarizing itself with the landscaping providers, contracts and current projects. In addition, the committee is working to establish programs and guidelines to help ensure PCE stays an aesthetically pleasing place to live. To accomplish it’s goals, the committee has split into 3 sub-committee which will focus on the yard of the month, landscaping and enforcement.
The committee has met with the landscaping company currently responsible for maintaining the common areas within PCE. The company is in the process of submitting bids for various work around the neighborhood to ensure we maintain what we have as well as improve where needed. Some specific areas that are being looked at include the entrance at Whitesboro and Eldorado, the small park by the pool, the creek and bike trails. The addition of trees, shrubs and even grass are the primary focus for these areas. Many of these projects seem easy enough, however, the drought is dictating much of what we can and cannot do. The good news is that due to the native Texas theme that was used to develop the look of the neighborhood, we already have many drought resistant plants and trees in place. The bad news is that we are very limited as to what we can plant going forward. Additionally, the functionality of the fountains continues to be a consistent topic of conversation.
Some quick wins for the committee helped to improve the hike and bike trails in the neighborhood. The committee has been successful in working with the city to extend the bike trails at the corner of Angelo and Seguin. This will allow our hikers and bikers the ability to stay on the trail without leaving the neighborhood via the newly constructed tunnel. In addition, the committee was successful in getting the sidewalks and bike trails near the school completed so our children do not have to go into the street on their way to Sem Elementary.
Finally, the committee has two events near completion that everyone needs to know about. First is the kick-off for the Yard of the Month contest. Details will be out soon regarding the structure, requirements and most importantly, the prizes associated with the contest! Secondly, in conjunction with the Communication Committee, is the PCE Clean-Up day which will focus on the trash and debris that tends to pile up with the strong winds and construction. While we continue to work with the builders and city to clean up the neighborhood, a good scrubbing by those of us that live here everyday should get the spring started off right!
Please feel free to submit ideas via our email address: beautification@panthercreekestates.org
