Kyle Parks & Recreation
by KERRY URBANOWICZ

The Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS) is a non-profit 501(c)3 professional and educational organization founded in 1937. TRAPS is committed to advancing the field of parks, recreation and leisure services in Texas, while advocating for enhanced recreation opportunities and the increase of public green space for Texans.

TRAPS serves as a clearinghouse of information on parks and recreation, fosters networking and promotes the sharing of information, and is the foremost state association for professionals in the parks, recreation and tourism industry. All Recreation and Parks/Grounds full-time employees of your Kyle PARD are members of TRAPS.

The State of Texas is broken into nine regions within the TRAPS organization. The City of Kyle lies within the Central Region. This region includes all the areas from Waco to New Braunfels and College Station to Marble Falls. For most Regional events and programs, the Central Region joins with the Rio Grande Region which includes San Antonio, Seguin, Schertz and Eagle Pass.

Recently, the Central Region and the Rio Grande Region held a workshop and Equipment Rodeo. During the workshop, attendees participated in breakout sessions on topics ranging from “Doing more with less” and “10 things they didn’t teach you in school”. Parks maintenance workers, the backbone of the department, had a competition testing skills in backing a trailer, handling a backhoe, driving nails, working a backpack blower, assembling irrigation components, handling a riding mower and more.

There are a total of 43 parks departments and organizations within these two regions. The top 15 equipment challenge winners are invited to participate against the other regional qualifiers at the TRAPS State Equipment Rodeo in Frisco. Out of those 43 cities and areas, and the 15 qualifiers, the City of Kyle sent three to the State Rodeo. While you read this article, Nathan Wehrman (Backhoe), Joe Cantu (Backpack Blower) and Amado Gomez (Nail Driving) will have already competed in their events.

Your Kyle Parks Department is well represented on TRAPS’ state committees. Recreation Manager Deidre Flores is Chair of the Student Development Committee and Director Kerry Urbanowicz is Vice-Chair of the Finance Committee.