Parks board approves Plan A for Freedom Park expansion

The Angleton Parks and Recreation Board on Thursday voted to recommend Concept A for the Freedom Park expansion and asked staff to forward the recommendation to City Council for final approval and design work.

Board members voted after a brief staff presentation comparing two schematic concepts. Staff said Concept A would activate more of the site with extended sidewalks, provide improved ADA access from existing parking and playground, and fit better with existing topography and the master plan's future 200-foot fields, while noting it would require more concrete sidewalks and could raise costs.

Claudia Walker, a consultant referenced earlier in the meeting, and city staff displayed pros and cons for both options and said the orientation of fields and site constraints informed the designs. Multiple board members commented that Concept A better accommodates future expansion and eases sight lines for security and circulation.

A board member moved to approve Plan A; another board member seconded the motion. The board then voted and approved Concept A; the motion passed unanimously, and staff said the board's formal recommendation would be presented to City Council so staff can move into detailed design and construction documents if the council concurs.

Staff clarified that one parking element shown in the master plan will not be funded in the current budget allocation; it remains part of the master plan but is not included in the current expansion scope due to budget limits. Staff also said the expansion project will proceed faster than other park projects because the Freedom Park master plan has already been adopted.

The board did not adopt construction documents during the meeting; action was only approval of Concept A to forward to City Council.