Parks board denies Mirabella park-donation plan, says developer should do more

The Prosper Parks and Recreation Board voted unanimously April 9 to deny a proposed park-dedication agreement with the Mirabella development after members raised concerns about floodplain acreage, pond and dam maintenance liabilities, and limited developer funding for park construction.

Parks Director Dan Baker described the Mirabella offer as 19.4 acres of land dedication, of which only about 2.3 acres are non-floodplain and therefore readily usable. He said the developer proposed a $225,000 credit for trail construction and would pay tree-mitigation fees that “really can't necessarily be used to build a park.” Baker estimated the town would still need roughly $660,000 to fund the park improvements shown in staff plans.

Board members pressed staff on the pond and dam responsibilities and on how much of the acreage would be usable. "My only concern is the pond itself," said board member Kyle Laferne, asking who would handle dredging, algae or trash. Baker said the Soil Conservation Service district maintains the dam and pond but acknowledged that dredging and long-term maintenance could present significant costs.

Several board members said the plan lacked sufficient developer match and neighborhood connectivity. One member said the town should seek a larger developer contribution or stronger connectivity before accepting the land. After discussion, the board voted 5–0 to deny the proposal and asked staff to relay the board’s concerns to council and continue negotiations.

The motion to deny was moved by Kyle Laferne and seconded by Deb Horan; the board recorded a unanimous vote.