Bellaire council accepts donations, OKs design contract and toddler play structure for Evergreen and Lafayette parks

Bellaire City Council on July 7 accepted private funding and approved city contracts tied to Evergreen Park and Lafayette Park improvements.

The council approved a $50,000 donation from Patrons for Bellaire Parks to support a master plan for Evergreen Park and voted to authorize a professional-services contract for up to $50,000 with Broussard Group Inc. for design services for Evergreen Park. Council also authorized the city manager to purchase a play structure for children ages 2 to 5 from FunAbounds, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $55,935.90 for Lafayette Park; the purchase and associated budget amendment were approved on the consent agenda.

The Evergreen Park Committee, led in council presentations by Council Member Cindy Taylor, outlined fundraising progress, community engagement and next steps for a conceptual design and donor package. "We have had a lot of success in a short time," Taylor said, noting $70,000 raised through a partner event and community survey results that the committee used to guide design priorities. Ryan Smith, director of parks and recreation, said the city conducted an RFQ and received multiple submittals before recommending the selected design consultant.

City staff said the design contract is intended to produce site inventory/analysis, a program assessment, conceptual pricing and a donor packet so the volunteer-led campaign can solicit larger gifts. The council approved the contract and the related budget amendment on motions that passed with no recorded opposing votes.

Separately, the council adopted an ordinance authorizing the city to accept the Patrons’ donation and to amend fiscal-year 2025 budget accounts to reflect the revenue and associated special-revenue appropriations for the play-structure purchase.

The approvals follow public presentations by the Evergreen Park Committee earlier in the meeting, which highlighted proposed fundraising events (a Selfie Saturday July 19, a Mom’s night in August, a Duck Derby in August and other fall activities) and the committee’s work to set up a 501(c)(3) partner and online donation portal. Committee members emphasized community outreach and the need for a completed master plan and pricing so major donors can be solicited.

Council members praised the volunteer effort and Patrons for Bellaire Parks’s role in funding the early design steps. "We are so fortunate as a city to have patrons who step up and fund these initiatives," Mayor Pappas said during final votes.

The city clerk recorded the motions and the ordinance and purchase authorizations as passed by the council. Work on the master plan is expected to proceed immediately under the approved professional-services agreement; procurement documents list the design contract as not to exceed $50,000 and the play structure as not to exceed $55,935.90.

The council did not set a construction start date in the session; committee and staff said the design phase and donor outreach must be completed before major construction begins.