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Board pushes splash pad out of near-term plans, adopts phased approach for Festival Park engineering
Summary
During a lengthy CIP review, the board agreed to move several playground projects, push a proposed splash pad to 2034 with a new $1.5 million rough estimate, and favor a phased Festival Park plan (engineering FY2029; a modest interim Phase 1 build in 2030; larger Phase 2 later). The board also tentatively scheduled a disc-golf course for FY2031 with a $50,000 placeholder.
The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board reviewed and revised its multi‑year capital-improvement plan, reprioritizing projects to reflect current funding constraints and permitting realities.
Board members and staff agreed to move the Memorial Park baseball expansion and some playground replacements out several years after inspections and permitting considerations. A certified playground safety review pushed Robert’s Mill and Flickinger playground replacements to FY2028, and the board raised several playground cost estimates (for example, the flagship Memorial Park playground was increased to $300,000 in the plan).
On the splash pad — a recurring public request — the board debated whether keeping it on the near-term list created false hope. The consensus was to keep the splash pad on the long-range radar but move it far out (the board settled on FY2034 in the draft) and update the cost from prior estimates to a more realistic figure (several members suggested up to $1.5 million for a compliant splash pad with infrastructure and treatment systems).
The board endorsed a phased strategy for Festival Park. Staff recommended moving engineering for that site to FY2029 and adopting a two‑phase implementation: a lower-cost interim Phase 1 (gravel parking, basic T‑ball/clinic fields and porta‑toilets) estimated at roughly $300,000 in 2030 and a fuller Phase 2 build later (estimated conservatively at $2 million) after site engineering and when infrastructure (water, sewer, electricity) becomes available.
Members also discussed a proposed 18‑hole disc-golf course at Ballinger Park and agreed to include a $50,000 placeholder in FY2031 (professional installation) while noting that a lower-cost in‑house installation is possible. Board members flagged permitting constraints (disturbances over 5,000 sq ft require grading permits and more engineering), the importance of phasing to avoid repeated rework and the need to coordinate with potential private development that could supply future utility connections.
The board emphasized that the CIP is aspirational and intended to show priorities rather than represent guaranteed funding; many large items will depend on growth, grants or park-impact fee revenue from new development.
