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Council reviews Mayor Vera Calvin Plaza policy changes, weighs restroom hours and inclusive play options
Summary
Staff presented proposed updates to the Mayor Vera Calvin Plaza policy including hours, restroom locking times, private-event rules and playground equipment options; council asked staff to prepare alternate stationary and inclusive-play proposals and explore adjusted restroom hours and security measures.
Alex Phillips, Burleson's economic development director, presented a high-level overview of the Mayor Vera Calvin Plaza policy and asked council for direction on restroom hours, playground equipment and other operational details.
Phillips said the plaza is currently open to the public from 5 a.m. to midnight, with restroom facilities typically opening around 7:30 a.m. and being locked in the evening; staff recommended locking restrooms at 10 p.m. daily as a compromise between access and vandalism mitigation. "During the last 18 months, total of 20 incidents have been reported in totaling almost 4,000 in labor and material costs for the plaza," Phillips said, citing vandalism and replacement costs for features such as the giant chess set and foam play pieces.
Council members offered mixed perspectives. Several members favored keeping restrooms open later for events but supported changes to lock hardware and signage to reduce overnight misuse; others pushed for stationary, inclusive play equipment rather than removable foam blocks that frequently go missing. One council member noted, "We've done the blocks for a little while. It might be nice to change it up," while another urged consultation with parks staff and playground vendors to provide costed options.
Staff said they will return with a revised plaza policy and costed recommendations for playground equipment, restroom-hours options and potential signage or camera-notification deterrents.
Next steps listed by staff include coordination between Economic Development and Parks & Recreation to develop cost estimates and draft policy language for committee review prior to full-council consideration.
