The Friday Staff Report to City Council provides weekly updates between staff and Council. Denton will temporarily close Denia Recreation Center from Dec. 2-7 for maintenance and Emily Fowler Central Library at 1 p.m. Dec. 5 for the Holiday Lighting Festival, while staff also reported that a medical emergency and false gunshot report caused a crowd to disperse near DATCU Stadium, Congress Street Park improvements are moving ahead with track, utility and court work, no-parking striping is planned on Marietta Street by Nov. 17 to improve visibility, and an episodic fish kill at Cooper Creek was reported to the state as monitoring continues.
General Information
Denia recreation center closure – Denia Recreation Center will close temporarily from Dec. 2 through Dec. 7 for scheduled facility maintenance and will reopen Tuesday, Dec. 8. Members may use passes at any open recreation center during regular hours, and members age 50 and older may also use the Denton Senior Center and American Legion Hall Senior Center.
Library early closure for festival – Emily Fowler Central Library will close early at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, because its parking lot will be used as a staging area for the Annual Holiday Lighting Festival. The library will reopen Sunday, Dec. 6.
Council Member Requests
Emergency response near stadium – During the Nov. 8 UNT football game, Denton Fire responded to a medical emergency during a large gathering with a DJ in the grassy area on the hill near DATCU Stadium. Denton and UNT police also responded. A reported gunshot and person with a gun caused people to run, but police determined the report was false and that a balloon popping triggered the crowd to disperse quickly.
Congress street park progress – At the Track and Field Parcel, replacement of track material, grading work, and removal of goal posts, concrete slabs, and fencing along the parking lot are set to begin the week of Nov. 16, with water service and a drinking fountain planned by December 2026. At the Sport Courts Parcel, concrete patching and new handrails are planned in December, and court repairs and resurfacing are likely in February 2027 pending weather.
Marietta street parking changes – To address visibility concerns, no-parking striping will be installed on Marietta Street near the intersections with Oak Street and Scripture Street. Installation is scheduled to be completed by Nov. 17 to improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians.
Cooper creek fish kill review – After reports of dead and dying fish at the Cooper Creek pond in Avondale Park, Environmental Services and Water Utilities assessed the area on Nov. 9 following four 311 reports tied to two separate events. Lab analysis did not identify a specific source, and the fish kill was determined to be episodic in nature. The incident has been reported to the state, and staff will continue monitoring the area. Separately, blue coloring in the water was attributed to algaecide treatment of Kings Ridge Pond and was allowable under the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Street Closure Report: Upcoming Closures
There are no upcoming closures listed in this week's report.