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Parks staff detail River Parks master plan, playground replacement needs and facility updates
Summary
Staff reported that SWA Group was awarded the River Parks master plan (a nine‑month process with three public meetings and a stakeholder steering committee) and raised concerns about failing playground infrastructure, notably Kids Kingdom, which may need replacement; staff outlined timeline and funding challenges and recommended future agenda discussion on playground reinvestment.
Parks and Recreation staff updated the board on several projects and operational issues, including the River Parks master plan, an engineering student capstone on a Civic League Park lagoon, maintenance work across park assets and the failing condition of Kids Kingdom playground.
Staff reported City Council awarded the River Parks master plan contract to SWA Group; the study will run about nine months and include a steering committee of council members, staff, Park and Art Commission representatives, downtown leadership and others. Three public meetings are planned; staff said they will schedule the first stakeholder meeting in late January and public meetings after that.
Board members raised concerns about homelessness in parks and asked for the master‑plan scope to include design considerations addressing how park design can affect encampments. A public commenter suggested the city "devote some design attention to making these parks a little bit less friendly to homeless people," and staff noted a separate city homeless coalition is addressing the broader issue.
On playgrounds, staff said Kids Kingdom (installed circa 2003) has passed its expected 20‑year life and requires either continued, labor‑intensive repairs or a full replacement. Staff said manufacturer audits (one in 2022) documented structural degradation. "We're getting to the point where repair is starting to be — these repairs aren't holding up because the structure itself and the foundation is not sound," said parks staff. Board members asked about timelines and cost: staff said master‑plan work would take months and full replacement could be 9–12 months design plus construction and potentially a $750,000 or higher project depending on features.
Other updates: parks maintenance activities (pre‑emergent and post‑emergent treatments, tree trimming and river cleanup); nearing completion of a storage building and upcoming shade structure at the Texas Bank Sports Complex; a potential secondary UV sanitation system for pools (vendor bids range from about $40,000 to $72,000); and recreation program updates such as nearly 90 youth basketball teams registered.
Board requested a future agenda item to consolidate playground‑reinvestment planning, including condition assessments, estimated replacement costs and funding options. Staff agreed to provide more detailed condition and funding information at a future meeting.
