Pflugerville planning commission approves Old Town Park master plan

The Pflugerville Planning and Zoning Commission on a unanimous vote approved the Old Town Park master plan, a design that reorganizes the one-acre site around the city’s historic water tower and a water-themed narrative.

The plan, presented by Jeff Shea, assistant parks and recreation director, lays out an elevated walkway adjacent to the water tower, an interactive (but “more passive”) water feature, play elements and passive native plant gardens. Shea said the design team structured the park “to tell the story of water in our community” and to separate active and passive uses so both can coexist.

Commissioners and members of the steering committee described a months-long engagement process. Shea said the outreach included a mini water tower display, a presence at Deutschenfest and on-site door-hanger engagement in the immediate neighborhood; staff reported more than 1,200 public touch points for the master plan. Survey responses indicated 29% of respondents live within a half-mile of the park and 44% within a mile.

The design responds to several recurring themes from the public: places to gather, natural play elements, shade and better trail connections. Shea said residents who live adjacent to the park generally supported closing the portion of Hoops Avenue that bisects the two parcels and incorporating that right-of-way into the park; staff noted a few homes would retain driveway access and the street would not be fully closed to those properties.

Concept drawings shown to the commission include: an elevated observation deck and multi-generational net/play element inspired by Austin’s Peace Park, loop swings and seating under the elevated deck, a pavilion for neighborhood gatherings, an interactive water feature that is intended to be recirculating and usable year-round, and rain gardens and native plant buffers along park edges to reduce sight-line impacts for adjacent homeowners. The team also proposed a road diet for Second Street to add parallel parking without reducing park acreage and new sidewalks to integrate the park with downtown historic Pflugerville and nearby trails.

Commission discussion touched on nighttime lighting (designers included low trail lights and downlights designed to reduce light spill into homes), buffer plantings and the potential for interpretive signage or QR-based content to tell the water-tower story. Shea noted the final design details—interpretive signage, specific plant lists, and exact lighting fixtures—will be refined during the design phase.

After the presentation and public discussion, the commission moved, seconded and approved the master plan.

Next steps identified by staff include final design and permitting; the park project will be phased as funding allows and will return to council/commission for implementation steps as required.