Fulshear parks board prioritizes bleachers and shade as Primrose and Eagle Landing move toward completion

Fulshear Parks and Recreation Commissioners met to review progress at Eagle Landing and Primrose Park and to recommend priorities for items not included in Primrose Phase 2.

The commission said portable bleachers and a covered spectator pavilion should be the first priorities for Primrose Park, followed by batting cages and a monument entrance sign, and recommended limiting electrical and scoreboards to the park’s primary fields.

Commissioners said those upgrades would make the newly built fields usable and safer for players and spectators while preserving bond funds for core construction.

Tiffany, a parks staff member, told the commission that power has been established to Eagle Landing but crews are “waiting on the power to be connected via metering” before contractors can test irrigation and complete hydroseeding and final building work. She said light piers have been installed and “were being tested,” but the electrical hookup for lights was not yet finished.

The commission discussed a construction-completion target for Eagle Landing in July, contingent on power and weather. Tiffany said hydro mulch germination can take about 45 days and that for the contractor to warranty an established turf the site would generally need six to eight months of growth, though overseeding with rye could shorten the time before playability.

On Primrose Park Phase 2, Tiffany reported grading and compaction for the baseball areas are complete, detention-pond excavation and sloping are finished, storm sewer and water lines are installed and backfilled, and compaction/density testing for parking areas has begun.

Commissioners debated a prioritization list of items not included in the Phase 2 construction contract. The four items discussed most were portable bleachers; a spectator pavilion (shade over bleachers); batting cages; and a monument sign at the entrance. Several commissioners said a recognizable park sign was important for wayfinding.

Ramona, a commission member, said signs at all Fulshear parks had been part of a prior design standard and noted the monument-sign cost could be substantial; staff said signage might already be included in a later phase. Commissioners asked staff to prioritize and to indicate which items could be funded sooner versus those that might be part of a Phase 3 package.

On scoreboards, staff said Field 1 already has electrical run and a quote had been obtained for scoreboard equipment. A staff member reported a recent vendor quote of about $33,000 for two small scoreboards (described in the packet as approximately 4-by-8 feet). Commissioners generally favored installing a scoreboard on the main championship field (Field 1) and possibly the flex field (Field 4) while leaving Fields 2 and 3 without electrical runs or scoreboards to save cost.

Commissioners also discussed safety and player warm-up needs. Several members recommended limiting the number of bullpens (four total across the complex was suggested as adequate) and prioritizing shared batting cages placed between fields for warming up. The commission asked staff to obtain quotes for batting cages so the board can include them in a prioritized funding recommendation.

The commission reviewed amphitheater renderings proposed for Primrose Phase 3. Commissioners expressed a preference split between designs — several favored design 3 for functionality while others preferred design 4 for a more distinctive, arts-forward look. No formal vote was taken; staff recorded individual preferences to guide future recommendations.

Under items of community interest, commissioners noted two separate cell-tower proposals affecting Eagle Landing and Primrose Park that were appearing on an upcoming city-council agenda with public hearings. Commissioners said the tower proposals were not part of park construction and are being processed separately by planning staff; several members requested a staff update at the next meeting.

Commissioners also asked for a future update on AED placement across city parks and for the city grant writer to target grants for trees and equipment where feasible.

The meeting concluded without recorded formal votes on the funding priorities; commissioners asked staff to compile a ranked list based on the discussion for submission to city council.

Less critical details: commissioners discussed sponsorship and revenue opportunities (windscreen ads, sponsors for bollards, scoreboard sponsorship), the potential for phased procurement of items that could be purchased before Phase 2 finishes, and signage placement related to Phase 3 entrances.