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 charged a parkland development fee currently stated in the podcast as $550 per dwelling unit; those fees are nominally spent in the quadrant where the development occurs. Benson also noted combinations of state, county and private funding are backing projects: hosts said about $1 million from state and county sources has been directed to an all‑inclusive park and that a local Baptist association contributed $500,000 toward the Birdwell tennis center and trail improvements.

Benson outlined a planned revamp for the city’s hike‑and‑bike trail that includes a two‑inch overlay of pavement, shoulder repairs, retention and erosion controls, retaining walls where terrain has dropped away, and native seed hydroseeding on canal banks. He said staff are coordinating connections with Hidalgo County trails; the podcast refers to a county‑built trail beginning at Los Ebanos Road and extending about 4.6 miles east to Taylor Road on a 10‑foot concrete section that will tie into Mission’s system.

The hosts said trail infrastructure under major roads (Conway, Brian, Sherry Road) will be lit and made accessible, and that trail links will ultimately connect into nearby municipalities. The podcast contains inconsistent references to total trail length (described both as roughly "five miles along the canal" and as a larger "10‑mile" system); city staff were clear that work aims to improve and better connect existing segments.

Speakers described several park‑specific projects: a lake repair and shoreline evaluation at Benson Park to stop water loss and reconsider pier/dock layouts; plans to replace and add tennis courts at Birdwell Park (a subcommittee is studying adding four courts, replacing three cracked courts and adding parking and possibly a pro shop); and a study/design process for Lions Park phase two.

Mayor Pro Tem Plata said the city has opened discussions with a private developer identified in the podcast as "the Kllins" regarding the approximately 50‑acre site commonly called Pepsi Park. Plata described an arrangement the city would pursue in which the developer retains ownership while the city maintains and obtains exclusive use of the grounds for sports fields and programming; he said talks are early and staff will pursue grants and partnership agreements. "I would like to work with you on that," Plata said to the mayor, describing intent to continue outreach.

Hosts encouraged residents to use Mission’s parks, noting patrols, lighting and an active summer program starting June 9 that will include track and field, tennis, swimming and archery. Speakers also highlighted inclusive programming: Benson cited a local blind‑tennis tournament and mentioned a young blind player who recently won first place in competition in England and competes internationally.

The city did not present formal votes or adopt ordinances during the podcast; most items discussed were studies, designs, partnership talks and planned capital work. City leaders said they will continue design work, pursue grant funding, and advance partnership conversations with the developer and county officials.

Next steps: staff will complete the Lions Park phase‑two study, begin the Benson Park lake repair study, continue Birdwell Park planning via the subcommittee, advance trail overlays and shoulder work, and pursue formal agreements and grant applications related to the Pepsi Park discussions.