Council members asked staff to add a parks master plan study to the city's near-term work plan and to defer large-scale capital construction until the plan clarifies priorities for ballfields, parking and playground upgrades.
Why it matters: Councilors said several park projects are visible to residents and need coherent sequencing to prevent piecemeal construction followed by rework. Staff and the parks board have previously collected site surveys and some engineering data for the 18-acre site behind the fire station; council asked for a consolidated plan that shows cost and phasing options.
Immediate park items discussed:
- Playground surfaces: staff recommended replacing engineered wood chips with poured/rubber fall-surface at two high-use playground locations; council asked for $500,000 to fund two playground replacements (staff to refine exact cost estimates).
- Parking and access: council discussed a $175,000 engineer estimate to provide asphalt parking at Nance Field (the city would partner with Tarrant County under an interlocal agreement for asphalt work); members asked that paving not proceed prior to master-plan confirmation where reconfiguration could be needed.
- Master-plan scope: council asked staff to prepare a focused master plan that covers ballfield layout, parking configuration and pedestrian access for the fire-station site and adjacent parkland, and to include adjacent user groups (youth sports organizers) in scoping discussions.
Next steps: staff will return with a scope and fee estimate for the parks master plan and with refined cost estimates for playground surfacing so the council can decide which capital items to fund in the 2025-26 budget.
Ending: No construction appropriation was approved Aug. 2; council asked staff to coordinate the parks board, youth sports groups and EDC on funding and phasing options.