Converse moves ahead on 10‑year parks master plan; Greenway Trail Phase 2 slated for construction late 2025

Converse is updating its parks, recreation and open‑space master plan to guide investments for the next decade, Assistant City Manager Nayda Nixa Mendez told the Parks and Recreation Commission on May 12.

Mendez said the city approved a plan in 2016 and wants a refreshed document to reflect population growth and to meet Texas Parks and Wildlife Department criteria that can improve chances for grant funding. “One of the primary reasons we'd like to update it is, it's almost been 10 years since that previous plan and so there have been some conditions ... that have changed here in Converse,” Mendez said.

The update will inventory existing facilities, assess needs using National Recreation and Park Association metrics and produce concepts and priorities. Mendez reported the city has already inventoried park assets and collected usage estimates using a cell‑phone‑based analytics service used by the Converse Economic Development Corporation. She said Converse City Park — described in the presentation as a 162‑acre regional park — showed about 107,900 visits annually by 32,800 distinct visitors, with an average visit of about 77 minutes; North Park (about 42.3 acres) showed roughly 125,700 visits by 37,200 visitors and an average visit of 68 minutes.

Mendez outlined near‑term project work. Greenway Trail Phase 2, a 10‑foot‑wide multiuse link from Meadow Forge at North Park up to Kitty Hawk Road, has an estimated total cost of about $1,500,000, with the city providing a local match of just over $300,000. She said the project was funded through a Metropolitan Planning Organization grant, with the city aiming to advertise (let) the work in October 2025, begin construction as early as November 2025 and finish in spring 2026.

Staff also flagged other planning items: East Park (a city‑owned parcel identified by ordinance), potential linkage to neighboring Live Oak’s Woodcrest Park, and coordination with the San Antonio River Authority over an adjoining parcel for programming opportunities. The consultant and outreach work included a Parks and Recreation Commission workshop in March and engagement at the Converse Goes Green event in April; a draft plan section will be presented in a live Facebook broadcast planned for Aug. 11, with commission review and a community open house to follow before City Council consideration in the fall.

Why it matters: the update will shape where the city seeks grant funding and what capital projects are prioritized as Converse continues rapid growth. Mendez said 2020 U.S. Census population for Converse was 27,466 and staff estimate the city now exceeds 30,000; she cited Texas Water Development Board projections that could add roughly 10,000 residents by 2050 as part of the planning context.

Commissioners and staff asked for clarifications on inventory details, boundary lines shown on maps and the location of HOA amenities; staff said they will follow up with corrected maps and a detailed spreadsheet of HOA park inventories. The commission will use the NRPA standards and public input to draft goals and priorities this summer.

The commission did not take a formal action on the master plan at the meeting; next steps are concept development June–August, a public review broadcast in August, and fall commission review before sending a recommended plan to City Council.