Manvel staff: detention needs will shape City Hall Park design; options due in January

City staff and the design team updated the Manvel Parks and Recreation Board on Nov. 21 about the City Hall Park concept, saying stormwater detention requirements will be a key constraint on the park’s layout and budget. "Detention would be required for the property," said Joseph, a city staff member, summarizing the consultant's engineering findings and the reason the team is still calculating required detention volume.

The staff presentation said detention requirements — not a reluctance to preserve trees — are the dominant factor in where features can sit on the site. "We should be able to preserve the trees that are worth preserving," Joseph said, but added that detention area and volume could reduce usable park space for a dog park, gazebo or pavilion.

Designers and staff described a short list of desired amenities carried forward from earlier discussions: a gazebo, pavilion, dog park, playground and hard- and soft-surface circulation for events such as a farmers market. They also listed practical needs such as on-street parking and vendor electrical outlets. "The location of the detention...makes sense to be on that side," a design representative said of the area near Masters Road, and staff said they plan to present more than one layout that balances green space, parking and detention.

Board members pressed on the project’s cost and sequencing. Joseph said the park was added to a larger City Hall expansion project, creating a combined budget constraint: "The project initially was to have the city hall expansion. But then...it made more sense to also add a park. So that's what led to the budget constraint that I'm talking about." He told the board the team is researching "creative ways" to minimize detention impact and material costs so more features can be retained.

Staff flagged parking as a trade-off: deeper angled stalls can help vendor operations but increase impervious area, which could increase detention needs. "It's either green area or the deeper space," Joseph said; engineers will quantify options so the board can weigh trade-offs at the next meeting.

Next steps: staff said engineers will calculate detention volume and return with several layout options and cost implications at the board’s January meeting, when the city’s strategic plan is also expected to be further along. The board advised staff to include electrical outlets for vendors and to prioritize tree preservation where feasible.

The update contained no formal vote; staff requested additional board input and said it will follow up with refined options and engineering data before the board takes action.