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Rockwall council weighs two park concepts, asks staff to refine plans after hours of debate
Summary
After a lengthy presentation and public input, Rockwall council endorsed further refinement (not final approval) of two proposed parks — Alma Williams and Klutz — asking staff to address restroom placement, parking, shade, cemetery access and phased funding.
Rockwall — The Rockwall City Council spent more than an hour Wednesday reviewing two master‑plan concepts for future parks on recently acquired land, praising staff’s work while urging major revisions before any final approvals.
Parks staff and consultants presented two options for each site — a sports‑focused “home field” option and a more balanced or nature‑oriented alternative. For Alma Williams Park, concept A stacked diamond baseball fields and tournament parking; concept B emphasized a mix of rectangular and diamond fields with more open space and access to the site’s pond. For the 50‑acre Klutz property, staff proposed “plateau” and “soft loop” alternatives that prioritized trails, boardwalks and educational features anchored by the site’s historic Lawhorn Cemetery.
“Restrooms were the top of the list,” Travis (parks staff) told the council after summarizing public engagement. Council members agreed: Councilwoman Jeffers said, “we definitely need more bathrooms on that side,” and multiple members pressed for additional shade, pavilion space and clearer pedestrian circulation so families with young children can use the parks comfortably.
Several council members expressed support for more flexible, multiuse rectangular fields rather than a pure baseball complex. “I’m more inclined to go with [the] balanced option,” Council member Lewis said, noting demand for soccer and other rectangular‑field sports. Council member Hageman urged keeping future maintenance and long‑term funding in mind, while Mayor Tim McCall emphasized the need to get the design right before asking voters for bond funding or committing city resources.
Concerns also included access and parking. Residents and council members asked staff to explore additional entrances from major thoroughfares, avoid routing park traffic through small neighborhoods, and identify phased deliverables so the city can show voters what bond proceeds would buy. Several speakers asked that the design preserve the Klutz site’s natural character and connect to the Lawhorn Cemetery with educational signage rather than heavy programming directly on top of the gravesites.
Staff heard the direction: return with revised concepts, additional public outreach and a clearer phasing plan and cost estimate. The council did not authorize construction; members instead asked for a follow‑up workshop and more robust outreach before any formal funding request or final design approval.
