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Highland Village CDC recommends full-coverage shade at DoubleTree Ranch Park, votes 6–1
Summary
After hearing six design and demo options and debating a 'hybrid' approach with trees, the CDC recommended the single, full-coverage four-post shade structure for the DoubleTree Ranch Park chessboard area; the motion passed 6–1.
Parks staff presented six options to replace a repeatedly damaged shade structure at DoubleTree Ranch Park’s chessboard area, with costs ranging from roughly $12,761 (demo plus small trees) to $64,000 (multiple cantilever shades) depending on selected materials and whether the demo includes removing the base. Staff said a single, engineered 4-post shade would provide full coverage, come with a 20-year structural warranty and a 10-year fabric warranty, and include demo and turf repair as part of the quoted price.
Board members split over a fully constructed shade versus a natural solution of planting trees. Supporters of keeping structured shade pointed out that trees take years to provide equivalent coverage and that the chessboard area functions as a gathering and program space. Opponents said reverting to natural shade reduces maintenance and better matches open green space, but acknowledged it will take a long time to reach the same level of canopy.
Board member Speaker 5 moved to recommend option 1 — the single 4-post shade structure — and the motion was seconded by Speaker 2 (the second included a nonbinding suggestion to explore whether the space could be rented as a pavilion in the future). The motion passed 6–1; the board instructed staff to take the recommendation to the City Council and to coordinate funding avenues and possible future tree plantings from the annual tree budget.
