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Farmers Branch gets Squire Park schematic, $1.1M construction target and summer design timeline
Summary
Parks director Robert Diaz presented a schematic master plan for Squire Park in Valwood Park, saying roughly $1.1 million remains for construction and listing playground, sport court and trail connectivity as priorities; council members asked staff to consider a soccer area in place of pickleball and said staff will return with 60% design this summer.
At the April 7 Farmers Branch City Council study session, Parks and Recreation Director Robert Diaz updated the council on the Squire Park schematic plan for the 1.43-acre site in the Valwood Park neighborhood and outlined budget priorities and next steps.
Diaz told the council the project was born from prior outreach and that the city has about $1.3 million in the park budget with roughly $1.1 million remaining for construction after design and survey costs. “We have 1.3 million in the budget. We spent some on design and survey. We have approximately 1.1 left,” Diaz said, and he compared playground costs to the recent Dutch Village project to frame expected pricing.
Why it matters: Squire Park sits near an elementary-school redevelopment and will serve neighborhood families during construction and after; the council must prioritize limited funds to deliver the most community value.
Staff said the three primary ticket items are a playground (with port-and-place surfacing), a sport court that could accommodate basketball and pickleball, and improved trail connectivity. Diaz proposed a base bid that fits current funding with alternates for lighting, picnic pavilions and on-street parking if bids allow.
Councilmembers recommended options to increase neighborhood use and lower long-term maintenance: several members favored a soccer-friendly open area instead of pickleball to better serve local children; another suggested volunteer participation for finishing tasks to reduce costs. Diaz said consolidating playground locations and using modern surfacing should reduce maintenance costs for at least five to ten years and that staff expects to return with a 60% design and firmer bid-ready numbers this summer.
What’s next: staff will refine design to a 60% package this summer, incorporate the council’s preference for a soccer option if feasible, and bring a bid-ready design and cost estimates prior to procurement.
