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Weslaco staff seek go-ahead to solicit bids for upgrades at Pablo Pena and Isaac Rodriguez parks
Summary
City staff presented construction documents and cost estimates at a May 7 workshop and asked the City Commission to authorize soliciting bids for improvements that include new combination restroom/concession buildings, irrigation, lighting and road resurfacing. No formal vote was taken at the workshop.
City staff told the Weslaco City Commission at a May 7 workshop they have construction documents and cost estimates and are requesting authorization to solicit bids for improvements at Mayor Pablo Pena Park and Isaac Rodriguez Park.
The request matters because the projects would cover core park infrastructure — a new combination restroom and concession building, central plazas, expanded irrigation, LED sports lighting and resurfacing of Utah Street — and are intended to support year-round youth sports, tournaments and general park use. Staff presented an estimated budget of about $1,700,000 for Mayor Pablo Pena Park and an estimated $1,987,000 for Isaac Rodriguez Park and described several items that would be issued as bid alternates.
Maribel Lopez, with the Hefner design team, summarized the Pablo Pena scope: "That will be demolished to make room for a new concession and restroom combination building," and said designers plan a central plaza, improved walkways and dugout/backstop upgrades. A staff presenter identified a project-level budget of about $1,700,000 for Pablo Pena including dugout and backstop replacement, new fence fabric and resurfacing of Utah Street. The party presenting the Isaac Rodriguez plan said the design would remove a drive that currently splits the park to create a single central green with a combined restroom/concession building, a central plaza, tree preservation measures and new or replacement lighting and irrigation.
Staff described a number of large-ticket items and alternates. The presentation identified a $750,000 allocation for rebuilding Utah Street/parking areas and about $600,000 for Musco LED field lighting. The Gold Star Memorial received a $15,000 line item to connect irrigation and improve landscaping; city staff noted private donations are also expected for monument repairs. The Isaac Rodriguez estimated construction cost was presented at $1,987,000 against a project budget figure of $1,950,000.
Commissioners raised several practical concerns. Commissioner Farias asked about sewer, water and protecting existing trees; staff said construction documents include tree protection fencing and that the civil engineer will review utility locations. On restroom capacity, a staff member said the current floor plan shows, "In the men's we have 1 water closet and 1 urinal and then the ladies we have 2 stalls," and that a larger stall count would approximately double the restroom cost. Staff also said restroom and concession construction runs about $350 per square foot and that a replacement restroom similar to other recent work cost about $227,000.
Designers and staff noted some items could be handled by in-house maintenance or funded from regular park operations rather than the capital contract; examples included replacing movable equipment (bleachers, picnic furniture) and renovating one restroom near the playground that was judged to have "good bones." The project team also said one north-side softball field irrigation is included as a bid alternate and that bleachers, pickleball courts and shade structures are alternates to help balance the budget.
On grants and outside funding, staff discussed competitiveness and timing for Texas Parks and Wildlife grants. A staff speaker said, "The next round is due in August," and explained that items already fully designed and ready to bid would not be eligible for that grant cycle; instead, separate scope items would have to be separated out and submitted in a future application. Commissioners discussed possible Economic Development Corporation support for turf fields as a way to attract tournaments and generate economic activity.
No formal action was taken during the workshop. Staff asked the commission for authorization to proceed to solicit bids and said the project is "ready" to put on the street; staff noted any formal authorization or budget approvals would be handled through a regular meeting agenda. The presentation included requests to preserve trees, confirm utility locations before demolition, and consider speed humps and drainage as the street reconstruction proceeds.
If the commission authorizes solicitation of bids at a future regular meeting, staff said they would return with formal bid documents, recommended alternates and any updated funding plan. Until a formal vote is taken, the project remains at the design/solicit-bids stage.
