Parks board approves hydroseeding plan and accepts $950,000 donation for Raymond Community Park lighting

The Parks and Recreation Board of Directors on June 12 voted unanimously to move forward with hydroseeding at Raymond Community Park and to accept major private funding for athletic-field lighting.

Board members voted 7-0 to proceed with the hydroseeding plan after staff said the project’s original seeding schedule would likely push turf installation into late summer or fall, making fields unavailable for spring play. Dan Baker, parks staff, told the board that "the additional cost needed is almost $276,000" and that the department plans to cover that amount from existing contingency dollars.

The decision to approve hydroseeding followed a staff recommendation and prior review by the town’s CIP subcommittee. Baker told the board the CIP subcommittee supported using contingency funding so the change would not reduce funding for other projects. He said the town would bring formal documentation to town council later this month.

At the same meeting, the board accepted an offer from Prosper Area Soccer Organization to contribute $950,000 toward lighting for Raymond’s multipurpose fields. Staff estimated total lighting costs at roughly $2 million, including contingency, and told the board the town would identify the remaining funding from project savings and park fees. Board members and staff said the arrangement would not give the donor preferential scheduling or field access; the lights would be town-owned and maintained. Robert Patrick, identified as president of the Prosper Area Soccer Organization, was in the audience and available to answer questions.

Board members said the CIP subcommittee reviewed the request and recommended moving it forward to council. Daniel Knox, chair of the Parks board, said staff would present the agreements to town council on June 24. Matt Furr, parks operations, said the proposed lighting would be "the real deal," comparable to athletic lighting installed at other town parks.

Staff also discussed longer-term water planning for Raymond Community Park during the meeting. Matt Furr said the town is pursuing a well to reduce reliance on metered municipal water. He said the town previously set aside roughly $1.3 million for the well but that the estimate is several months old and would be updated. Furr said annual water cost savings from the well were roughly estimated at about $500,000 per year, but acknowledged the estimate could change once updated bids and permitting are complete.

Furr described negotiations over water rights for the park’s pond with the property owner identified in the meeting as Mr. Sexton. According to staff, Sexton has contractual water rights tied to the parcel but has told town officials he does not plan to exercise those rights and is willing to sign an agreement that would allow the town to proceed with the well and pond use. Staff said they had sent a revised agreement to Sexton’s attorney and expected to finalize the matter before seeking council approval.

Votes at the meeting

- Hydroseeding at Raymond Community Park: Motion to move forward with the community park hydro mulch/hydroseeding process. Mover: Bob Benson; second: Valerie Little. Vote: 7–0 to approve. Staff said the additional cost will be covered from contingency funds and that the CIP subcommittee had previously reviewed the change.

- Acceptance of Prosper Area Soccer Organization funding: Motion to accept Prosper Area Soccer Organization’s $950,000 offer toward Raymond Community Park lighting and to proceed with agreements and design. Mover: Valerie Little; second: Kyla Ferney. Vote: 7–0 to approve. Staff said the town will own and operate the lights and that the donor will not receive guaranteed preferential field access.

What happens next

Staff said both items will be presented to the town council for final authorization. Staff also said the town will update well and irrigation cost estimates before council consideration and finalize the agreement that addresses the pond’s water rights.

Board members emphasized that the goal is to get the multipurpose fields online in a way that preserves flexibility in scheduling and does not draw funds away from other park projects.