Issue 16 | September 2026
Celebrating g rowth, teamw ork, and all the good stuff in between.
A Grapevine Parks & Recreation Employee Newsletter
In This Issue… 4
14
20
Welcome 2
CHRIS SMITH’S RETIREMENT
4
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
5
BRIGHT MOMENTS & HIGHLIGHTS
12 DIVISION FEATURE 14 MILESTONES THAT MATTER 20 TEAMWORK & TRIUMPHS
It’s been a full third quarter of the year here at Grapevine Parks & Recreation, and there’s plenty to catch up on! Across the department, teams have been tackling new projects, learning new things, showing up for the community and finding plenty of reasons to celebrate along the way. In this issue, we’re taking a closer look at what our Capital Improvement & Planning Division has been up to, celebrating Chris’ retirement, sharing department happenings and highlighting some of the great work happening across our teams. From projects and professional development to Parks & Rec Month, community service and the everyday that keep things moving, here’s a look back at what made this quarter successful!
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LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY AND LEGACY
After 29 years of dedicated service to the City of Grapevine, Parks & Recreation Director, Chris Smith retired in August, marking the end of a remarkable career dedicated to serving the Grapevine community. Since joining the City in 1997, Chris played an important role in the growth and development of Parks & Recreation, providing steady leadership through changes, new opportunities and positions, and an expanding range of services for residents. During his tenure, he helped guide the department through major projects and accomplishments, including the development of The REC of Grapevine, while 2 Branching Out | Fall 2026
Leadership, Integrity and Legacy continuing to champion the parks, trails, recreation opportunities and community programs that make Grapevine a special place to live and work. His retirement celebration reflected three qualities that defined his career: leadership, integrity and legacy. Chris demonstrated a deep commitment to serving the community, led with purpose and compassion, and consistently approached his work with honesty and integrity. His impact extended well beyond projects and facilities, it was reflected in the people he mentored, the teams he -Dwight D. Eisenhower supported and the culture of service he helped build within Parks & Rec. After nearly three decades of dedication, Chris leaves behind a lasting legacy with the department and throughout the Grapevine community. We are grateful for his 29 years of service and leadership and celebrate all he accomplished during his career. We wish Chris a happy, fulfilling, adventurous, and well-deserved retirement! Since retiring, Chris and Amy have also begun a new and exciting chapter as grandparents, welcoming their first grandson, Henry Kirk Barry, born August 20!
“The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably Integrity.”
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Employee Spotlight Jonas Fordham
Irrigation Tech II Meet Jonas, our Irrigation Technician for the Park Maintenance team! Jonas brings years of hands-on experience to his role, including starting his own business in 2000 providing residential irrigation repair and Christmas light services throughout DFW. He grew up in several places across Texas before landing in Dallas, where he graduated from Arts Magnet High School (now Booker T. Washington High School) for the Performing and Visual Arts. At Grapevine Parks & Rec, Jonas enjoys problem-solving, continuing to sharpen his skills, and the professionalism and camaraderie of his Parks team.
Fun Fact:
In his spare time, Jonas play guitar and is an amateur beekeeper!
Lindsay thompson
Recreation Coordinator Meet, Lindsay, our Recreation Coordinator! Lindsay brings a unique background in hospitality, having worked at hotels and restaurants across DFW, from Live! by Loews in Arlington to Omni PGA Resort in Frisco. Originally from Southwest Houston, Lindsay moved to Denton for college and eventually found her way to Grapevine, a city she’s loved since moving here. She says one of her favorite things about working for Parks & Recreation is the staff and the way everyone treats each other like family. Outside of work, she loves baking, painting her nails in crazy colors, enjoying the outdoors, or cheering on the Dallas Stars.
Fun Fact:
Lindsay was a former craft barista with serious talent for latte art! 4 Branching Out | Fall 2026
BRIGHT MOMENTS & HIGHLIGHTS
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The third quarter was full of activity across Grapevine Parks & Recreation, with programs, events, projects and plenty of opportunities for our teams to connect with the community and one another. July was especially busy as we celebrated Parks & Recreation Month with something happening every day, from a relaxing Sound Bath at Pleasant Glade Pool and a thrilling MJ Experience with Mariah and Joseph to movie and game nights, Fire and Ice at Parr Park and other community events. The fun continued with Christmas in July Pop N Play, Happy to Help Lake Cleanup, Back-to-School Pop N Play, Paws & Pastries and a casino-themed Employee Health Fair where staff could “Bet on Your Health” and even take a few opportunities to slime a city director! Behind the scenes, our teams were just as busy. Summer camps at The REC wrapped up another successful season, serving 825 kids, training more than 40 counselors and providing 30 specialty camps for 320 kids. A big thank-you to Susan and Lindsay for all their work behind the scenes to make it a great summer! Great job to the Lake Parks and REC team for the success of this year’s Teen Camp, which reached full enrollment, while Taylor and Katelyn did an amazing job taking care of Dove Creek Day Camp and kept campers busy with banana boat rides, Whoa Zone days and plenty of summer fun. Athletics and Hospitality hosted 22 sporting events throughout the spring and summer before jumping into the fall tournament season with more than 550 participants in the GBS program. During Parks & Recreation Month, Hayden, Kristen and the Hospitality Team supported countless events across the city, helping make the month such a success. Park Maintenance stayed busy keeping Grapevine looking its best, from landscaping throughout the city and new plantings at City Hall to irrigation work around the historic cabins. The team also continued construction of the building at Rockledge and provided maintenance support at facilities throughout the city, including the library. Staff from across the department then came together for Maintenance Week at The REC, The Vine and Bessie Mitchell House. The teamwork was so strong that this year’s Maintenance Week was called the best we’ve ever had!
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What stands out most, though, are the everyday moments when staff simply see what needs to be done and step up. When Stephen and Brooke arrived at Heritage Park and noticed it needed some attention, they grabbed trash grabbers and rallied Reese, Hayden and Jared to help clean up the park, including tackling all that microtrash and those pesky cigarette butts. Hayden and the Hospitality Team prepared a meal for first responders during Club All-Access Summer Strides, while a program guardian shared that they always feel the campers are in a safe environment with staff who are fully engaged. One Senior Rec member also shared how much they enjoyed a Holocaust Museum field trip and specifically praised Ray for being “amazing,” personable and fun to be around. There were plenty of accomplishments behind the scenes, too. Dan worked tirelessly to keep multiple facilities up and running throughout the summer, including completing a major circulation motor repair at Dove Waterpark without having to close the facility. Athena was recognized for her outstanding photography work, including capturing photos for the Rentals Team and Chris Smith’s retirement. Staff also continued to invest in themselves and each other through quarterly lunches, a managers’ leadership retreat and professional development opportunities. At the NRPA Conference, Arianna was a presenter, sharing her knowledge and experience with parks and recreation professionals from across the country. From major community events to summer camps, facility improvements, professional development and the small moments of teamwork that happen every day, this quarter gave us plenty of reasons to celebrate. Congratulations to everyone who stepped up, pitched in and helped make it all happen. The work may look different from division to division, but it all adds up to one great GPARD team!
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Bright Moments & Highlights
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Division Feature
What is
Planning
Up to?
A big part of keeping Grapevine Parks & Recreation moving forward is having people who are always thinking about what’s next. That’s where our planners, Kathy and Justin, come in! They help connect the dots between community needs, development, design and future growth, making sure our parks, trails, open spaces and facilities are planned with both today and tomorrow in mind. From evaluating potential projects to working with other City departments, developers, consultants and community partners, Kathy and Justin help turn ideas into thoughtful, successful projects that benefit our community for years to come. We’re fortunate to have their expertise and forward-thinking approach as we continue to grow and improve GPARD! Right now, the Planning Division has a lot in motion, including Settlers Park Phase II, the REC Expansion, Parr Park redesign, improvements to The Vineyards Campground and Cabins, Meadowmere Soccer Parking Expansion and Horseshoe Trailhead improvements. The team is also working on the Grapevine G.R.O.W. Initiative and continuing to build out the department’s new Enterprise Asset Management system. The new asset management software is already helping change the way GPARD organizes, plans, tracks and maintains its parks and facility assets.
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Looking ahead, the division’s focus is on optimizing our existing parks and facilities while continuing to add that “WOW” factor that makes Grapevine special. There’s plenty happening behind the scenes, and Kathy and Justin are helping make sure we’re not just planning for today, we’re planning for the future of Grapevine Parks & Recreation.
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Congratulations to Joe, who was promoted to Recreation Coordinator with Active Adults for The REC team in August!
Congratulations to Abi and her husband Will, who got married August 15!
Congratulations to Trent, who was promoted in August to Director of Parks & Recreation and celebrated his 25th anniversary with Grapevine Parks & Rec September 10!
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Congratulations to Randy, who was promoted to Deputy Director of Grapevine Parks & Rec in August!
Celebrating milestones and life events.
Welcome Germon, who started his position as an Equipment Operator with Park Maintenance team, Athletics division in July!
Congratulations to Jen, who was featured on The Daily Parks & Rec Show podcast!
Congratulations to Matthew and his fiance June, on their recent engagement! 15 Branching Out | Fall 2026
Congratulations to James Duvall and his family who moved into their new home!
Congratulations to Luke! Luke became an uncle again to Zoey born in July and Benjamin born in August!
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Congratulations to Megan, who shared her expertise as a panel speaker for the 5th Annual North Texas Leadership Symposium!
Great job to our Events team for being present and showing up for our community! We love seeing our Parks & Rec team step up to support events across Grapevine, help make connections and create opportunities for our community. Thank you for representing Grapevine Parks & Rec so well and always being willing to lend a hand! Staff from Parks & Rec joined GHS Wrestling for the 9/11 Stair Challenge, climbing more than 11,000 steps in remembrance of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. It was a meaningful way to come together with our community and honor those lost and never forget.
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Celebrating Years of Service
Congratulations to Kathy, Mariah, Jeff, and Michael who took FIRST place in Golf Cart Polo at this year’s Six Pack event.
Trent Kelley - 25 years Kurt Hardin - 21 years Myke Waller - 18 years Jeff Donaldson - 14 years Justin Jordan - 12 years James Duvall - 6 years Megan Varner - 4 years Jonas Fordham - 3 years Brooke Hubbard - 3 years Mariah Wallace - 2 years Megan Holladay - 1 year Katelyn Ashley - 1 year Kristen Steinborn - 1 year
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Teamwork & Triumph
Grapevine Parks & Rec brought home second place overall at this year’s DFW Directors 6-Pack, hosted by Fort Worth Parks & Recreation at Gateway Park. The annual event brings parks and recreation professionals from across the DFW area together for a day of friendly competition, networking, spirit and lots of fun! This year, more than 1,000 professionals representing 32 cities came together for the event. After taking home first place four years in a row, our team finished second overall this year, another great showing against some of the best parks and rec teams in the region! We also had some individual event wins! Kathy, Mariah, Michael and
Jeff took first place in Golf Cart Polo, while Andrea and Joe earned third place in the Obstacle Course! A big thank-you to everyone who represented GPARD and brought their team spirit and energy to the event. Fort Worth Parks & Rec was an amazing host this year. The event also supports professional development scholarships for young professionals in the region, making the day about more than just the competition!
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