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Farmers Branch council hears $3 million estimate for Mercer Park; directs staff to start design for courts
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Summary
Parks staff told the council the southern portion of Mercer Park is complete and that full buildout of northern amenities is estimated at about $3 million. Council directed staff to begin design for the northern courts and to return with a detailed accounting of city funds spent and by phase.
City of Farmers Branch officials on Tuesday reviewed progress at Mercer Park and the adjacent Mercer Crossing subdivision and directed staff to begin design work for the park’s northern amenities.
Parks and Recreation Director Robert Diaz told the City Council at the July 1 study session that the southern portion of Mercer Park — where the developer installed the trail, benches and artwork — is complete and open to the public, and that remaining work on the northern portion (planned for courts, lighting and other amenities) currently carries a turnkey estimate near $3,000,000. “So at this point, that southern portion of the park is a completed park,” Diaz said. He added that the consultant estimate for all remaining amenities, including courts, lighting, playground and a pavilion, came in near the $3,000,000 mark, with a contingency the consultant set at about 20 percent.
The update recapped a developer agreement that delivered the property and some improvements; city staff said the developer had also funded trees (about $55,000) while the city paid for irrigation, turf and tree installation. Diaz said the city’s current project estimate for finishing the remaining amenities is “another about $2,000,000 to build everything turnkey,” noting that contingency and design fees account for a large part of the total consultant figure.
Why it matters: Mercer Park sits next to a new residential subdivision and was pledged specific amenities during the development process. Council members pressed staff for cost clarity and for assurance that items promised to residents will be delivered in full even if construction is phased.
Council members discussed phasing options. Several members said a phased approach — building the northern courts first and adding playground, pavilion and other items later — would let the city proceed with existing funds while seeking additional funding for later phases. Councilman Reed asked whether the $1,000,000 figure discussed earlier includes courts and related work; staff said the city has spent and committed funds on the southern portion and that roughly “we’re about, like, 950,000” has been expended to date. Staff told council that about “almost a million dollars” remains available in non‑bond CIP funds and that those funds could support a phase focused on the northern courts.
Councilman Roman urged the council to honor promises made to residents during the development process: “I wanna make sure that we deliver on those promises that were made to those residents,” he said, adding that if the council phases the work it should not cut items that had been promised. The mayor asked staff to return with a detailed outline of all city funds spent so far and a breakdown by phase. The mayor said: “please, in addition to what you bring us, provide a outline of all the city funds that have been spent on this? Because from what I’m gathering, our million dollar park is now north of $3,000,000 from what I’m listening. And I just wanna know what the city has spent so far. Please detail that out.”
Staff estimated schedule and next steps: Diaz said design for the northern piece would likely take about three to six months, with construction of the northern courts taking roughly six to nine months after design and bidding — putting a potential completion in summer 2026 if the council authorizes work promptly. Staff said the next formal step will be a contract or agreement for design services with TMP (Tignall and Perkolas) and that staff would put that agreement on the earliest feasible agenda.
Other concerns discussed: Council members raised operational issues the design must address, including parking and access near a mailbox station on Chartwell Crest. Staff said design and construction planning will include surveys and coordination with the developer/builder (identified in the meeting as First Texas Homes for nearby townhomes) to minimize disruption for residents and mail delivery during construction.
Outcome and follow-up: Council gave direction (no formal vote recorded) for staff to proceed with phase‑2 design work for the northern portion, to return quickly with a design agreement and to provide a detailed accounting of city funds spent and planned by phase. Staff said they will aim to place a design agreement on the earliest available agenda.
Ending: Council members expressed support for beginning work on the northern courts while keeping promised amenities intact, and asked staff to return with a design contract and an itemized summary of expenditures and remaining funding for council review.
