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Parks Board unanimously approves MOU with Junior League to rebuild Fort Imagination; utility costs to be studied
Summary
The Parks Board voted unanimously to enter a memorandum of understanding with the Junior League of Abilene to lead fundraising and volunteer coordination for rebuilding the Fort Imagination playground; the board asked staff to estimate costs of relocating underground utilities before selecting a final site.
The Parks Board voted unanimously to authorize city staff to enter a memorandum of understanding with the Junior League of Abilene to lead fundraising and volunteer coordination for rebuilding the Fort Imagination playground and related site amenities.
Leslie (speaker 5) told the board the MOU would let the Junior League act as the 501(c)(3) lead for fundraising, organize volunteers to help build the playground and include security cameras in the fundraising scope. "If parks board approves this, this morning, the hope is to be able to have a press conference and announce it this afternoon and start run fundraising today in hopes of building it and having it open in '26," Leslie said.
Tiffany Nichols, president of the Junior League of Abilene (speaker 8), told the board members the League was "devastated by the fires" and that many members have historical ties to the playground; she said the League was ready to lead the fundraising and volunteer effort.
Board members discussed two possible construction locations: the original Fort Imagination site and an alternate spot on the other side of Nelson's splash pad. Leslie and staff noted that the alternate location sits above a drainage area and that a sewer line and a city fiber‑optic cable run under that green‑dot site. Staff reported the fiber line is roughly three to four feet deep, which could require relocating utilities and add cost. The board asked staff to obtain cost estimates for moving fiber and, if necessary, sewer infrastructure, and to include those figures in fundraising planning.
Jesse Pottebaum, the zoo director (speaker 7), said he was comfortable with the playground on either side of the splash pad but asked the board to consider that the alternate location would provide an easier footprint for any future zoo parking expansion.
A board member moved to recommend that Parks participate in the MOU while requiring documentation of cost figures and potential locations; after a public comment from Tiffany Nichols, the board voted to approve the motion unanimously. Leslie invited board members to a 1:30 p.m. press conference at Ford Imagination to announce the agreement and the start of fundraising.
Next steps: staff will return to the Parks Board with cost estimates and a recommended footprint; the board retains final approval of the selected location and the playground footprint.
