A Gunaway design consultant presented potential enhancements to Haggard Park in Historic Downtown Plano, describing the park’s history, existing features and concept elements and inviting public feedback.

The presentation explained why the site matters: Haggard Park, just under 7 acres, is classified as a special-use facility in Plano’s 2018 Parks and Open Space Master Plan and serves as a central gathering place for festivals, cultural events and daily pedestrian use in downtown Plano.

The consultant summarized the park’s development over time, noting aerial photographs that show use of the Interurban Railway and the presence of historic structures around the site in 1956, and the addition of a pond, bridge and bandstand by 1979. Existing amenities highlighted in the presentation include the bandstand and pond (used for events and festivals), the Interurban Railway Museum (described as a free history museum operated by the Plano Conservancy For Historic Preservation and owned by the City of Plano), the historic CAR 360 exhibit, the Cycling House event venue at Avenue H and 16th Street, a playground near the northeast corner restroom and maintenance buildings, scattered public art, and pedestrian connections to the downtown DART station on the park’s east side.

The consultant said the design team catalogued utilities and infrastructure, reporting water, sanitary sewer, electricity and storm drainage around the park perimeter, and identified a specimen-quality heritage oak tree near the southwest corner as an asset to preserve. The team divided the park into character zones to inform design alternatives: a north “event” zone (around the historic house and playground), a south “heritage” zone (around the pond, Interurban Museum and CAR 360), a central spine corridor adjacent to the main gathering and arrival areas, and transition areas between parking and the park.

Possible program elements listed for concept alternatives included preservation of historic structures, playground upgrades, additional picnic stations, improved trails and accessibility, more public art and donor recognition, and upgraded site furnishings. The presentation closed with a request for public input via an online link and QR code; no formal motions, votes or next steps with deadlines were recorded in the transcript.

City ownership and stewardship details cited in the presentation were limited to statements that the Interurban Railway Museum is owned by the City of Plano and operated by the Plano Conservancy For Historic Preservation. The consultant did not present a funding package, construction timeline or required approvals; those details were not specified in the presentation.