What's Up With Hancock Golf Course? Good Question.

As reported here two weeks ago (see "Hancock Golf Course on the Block?," Oct. 28), the Austin Parks and Recreation Department has undertaken a "Community Engagement Process to determine the future of Hancock Golf Course." To that end, PARD staff quietly sent out a notice in the last week inviting representatives from some 11 area neighborhood associations to a meeting and presentation on the topic, scheduled for the evening of Tues­day, Nov. 15. As that news started getting leaked across neighborhood listservs this week, the concern was palpable. Why isn't the meeting public? Why is city staff not consulting the Parks and Recreation Board in the process? (At least one member only learned of the meeting when a concerned neighbor contacted them for info.) Most importantly, what are PARD's plans for the property?

Indeed, as "community engagement" goes, this whole process has gotten off to a rocky start, raising the hackles of the neighbors and the board, before it even gets started. But, contacted Wednesday afternoon, PARD's Kevin Gomillion stressed that the department is still very early in the process, gathering information on what neighbors' interests and concerns are, and that there will be opportunities for true public input soon after the Tuesday meeting. Concerning the most urgent public worry, he noted that the department has identified this area as having a shortage of parkland, and said that whatever happens to the golf course, PARD envisions no scenario that includes anything but parkland use for the tract.