Council hears final Blue Hole Park master plan; consultant cites $10.15 million estimate and calls for bank stabilization and durable materials

Kimberly Garrett, the city27s Parks and Recreation director, and Erin Cooper, the project consultant with HAF, presented a final master plan for Blue Hole Park and asked council for feedback on design and funding direction.

Cooper summarized a year of engagement (three rounds, each drawing several hundred responses) and said the prevailing community preference was restoration and protection of the park27s natural environment and improving existing facilities rather than adding extensive new built elements. She noted site constraints including steep slopes and updated floodplain mapping from a Williamson County study; the floodway update is pending FEMA review.

The July 4 flood highlighted vulnerabilities, Cooper said, reinforcing the need for bank stabilization, more durable furnishings and paving materials that can withstand debris and heavy equipment during recovery. The updated concept includes nature-play features made of boulders and logs rather than manufacturer playground equipment, vandal-resistant single-user restrooms located near the street, improved emergency-vehicle access and two maintenance ramps to support recovery operations.

Cooper presented an opinion of probable construction cost of roughly $10,150,000 (about $7.5 million for construction plus design fees and contingencies). Kimberly Garrett said the current CIP shows about $1,000,000 budgeted for design in FY26 and $6,000,000 estimated for FY27, leaving approximately $7,000,000 earmarked under present debt forecasts.

Council discussion focused on funding phasing and park usability. Several council members said they preferred funding design and the park improvements first and postponing or scaling parking and road rework to a later phase; others asked staff to re-evaluate the CIP to see whether the project could be funded in a single phase. Public safety access drew several questions; staff and police/fire representatives confirmed emergency access will be provided and that park patrols/ATVs are used for enforcement and response when crowds are large.

Alex Weber, owner of El Monumento/Encantada, spoke during public comment and asked that the proposed public restroom be moved roughly 100 yards west of the roundabout to reduce exposure to flood debris and to lessen visual impacts on the adjacent restaurant patio.

Ending: Staff said they will incorporate council feedback into final design work, advance design if directed, and return with more specific phasing and funding options as engineering reduces cost uncertainty.