Mission mayor, mayor pro tem and parks director outline parks upgrades, trail expansion and talks over Pepsi Park

Mission Mayor Nori Gonzalez Gara, Mayor Pro Tem Ruben Plata and Parks & Recreation Director Brett Benson used a city podcast to lay out a slate of park improvements, trail work and funding plans that city leaders say will expand recreational options for residents.

"Parks help so much with the quality of life in our community," Mayor Pro Tem Ruben Plata said, framing the upgrades as investments in health and family life. Parks staff described a mix of near‑term repairs, larger design studies and partnership talks to add fields, courts and trail mileage.

Brett Benson, the city’s parks and recreation director, described the city’s park classifications and recent work: regional parks (larger sites required to provide multiple amenities), community parks and neighborhood parks, plus linear/trail parks such as the canal‑side hike‑and‑bike trail that connects to Benson Park. He said the city recently added restrooms at two community parks and is conducting a design study for a roughly 6.8‑acre phase‑two expansion east of Lions Park after the initial phase exceeded expectations.

On funding, Benson said new development is…