Burleson board recommends Land Design Inc. for $320,000 community park design

The Community Service Development Corporation (Type B) voted unanimously to recommend that the city council consider a $320,000 contract with Land Design Inc., plus a $32,000 contingency, to design phase 1 of a proposed community park at the intersection of Hulan and Alsbury.

Jen Basham, director of Parks and Recreation, presented the schematic and background. She said the city owns roughly 55 acres at the site and that staff held public engagement in 2024, including three open houses — “over 120 people” attended, by her count — plus meetings with about 30 staff and outreach to roughly 14 business stakeholders. “This is a really fun word cloud that shows really what the community, stakeholders, and council park board thought this space should look like,” Basham said, describing community interest in walking paths, inclusive and nature play areas, food‑truck gatherings and more.

Basham described the full schematic as including a trail system, dog parks, a pond, an amphitheater/bandstand that can double as a festival space and a fishing boardwalk, and three softball fields. She said phase 1 would focus on the main road, initial parking, permanent placement of irrigated clay softball fields (at a pick‑up play level), temporary walking trails and stormwater/detention infrastructure. "For phase 1 only, it includes construction documents, an irrigation tap, that main road, parking, and then stormwater infrastructure," Basham said. She added that phase 1 would not include electrical, main water or sewer utilities; there would be no permanent lights or a permanent restroom in phase 1 and porta‑lets would be used instead.

On funding, Basham said the $320,000 design cost includes a 10% contingency ($32,000) and, as presented to the board, would be split between 4A and 4B funds (about $176,000 from each). She also referenced a $500,000 line item for West Side infrastructure. If the funds and council approve, Basham said design would begin in May, construction would start this winter and the park is anticipated to open to the community in spring of next year.

During questions, a board member asked whether lighting quotes had been obtained and whether lighting costs could be split between funds; Basham said lighting estimates will come with construction design and that lights for the softball fields would be funded from 4B. The board also confirmed the planned fields are not in the floodplain, and Basham said artificial turf is not part of phase 1 and would be a future, higher‑cost consideration.

The Chair asked about the parkland status and whether converting parkland later would require an election. A staff member explained that portions of the property are owned across the general fund, 4A and 4B, that areas will be rezoned as uses are set, and that formally undedicating parkland would require an election.

A motion to recommend the resolution to the council was made (the transcript identifies the mover as Victoria and the seconder as Phil) and passed by unanimous voice vote. The board adjourned at 04:11 PM.

The recommendation now moves to the full city council; no council action was recorded in this meeting.