A blank slate with a house at the end of the road is what Grey Forest Councilman Jeff Waldrop calls the land that now takes the name of an esteemed former state senator from one of San Antonio's oldest families.
The council adopted Jan. 26 an ordinance to create a board of directors for the Senator Frank L. Madla Jr. Natural Area.
Some of the board's functions, Waldrop said, will include managing volunteers, establishing a volunteer organization for support of the park, and creating and running programs in conjunction with Texas Parks and Wildlife.
“I don't know what the park is going to need,” Waldrop said. “We may be talking prematurely.”
The appointees serve one- or two-year terms, decided by lottery, ending June 1. One-year board members are Susan Beavin, a retired science teacher and current member of the Grey Forest Historical Society; Wendy Leonard, who works with the San Antonio parks system and Michael Van Buskirk. Two-year term members are Grey Forest arborist Laurie Hawkins, Ron Green and Dr. Frank Madla.
“We didn't know what we could get in terms of candidates, but we found really good people,” Waldrop said.
Councilman Ron Reinhardt is the city representative on the board.
“It's an honor to be considered,” Madla said. “You know the history of my family and my work with other foundations in south San Antonio.”
Madla told the council the city wouldn't be able to stop at one board; that they would need a separate board for fundraising, adding that it would be beneficial to include a lawyer, an architect and someone associated with a local bank.
“I don't see an initial effort to raise money, but we can't drop the ball when it comes to funding,” Mayor Don Darst said.
The board will have access to city staff, including the attorney and engineer, he added. But, what if someone like Henry Cisneros wanted to be on the board? Madla asked.
“This is something we can change as we go along.” Darst said. “Our rules aren't so hard and fast that they would impede you from functioning.”
The ordinance, Waldrop said is no different than any other ordinance in that it can be amended.
“We want to thank everybody who has bellied up,” Waldrop said. “A lot of people have put in a lot of effort. It's important that the board knows it has the support of city council. We're entering into it with a lot of enthusiasm, and I don't think that's going to die.”
When she first brought the matter before the council, Councilwoman Jennifer Nottingham said, she was “scared to death” that it would be shot down.
“To have City Council support this is awesome,” Nottingham said. “There is much work to be done in walking and surveying. Maybe in the third year, we'll start putting things in.”
