By Moses Leos III

The purchase of roughly 40 acres of dedicated parkland Friday will allow Buda to take a step toward completing one of the city’s bond projects, and also give residents a natural swimming hole. 

Buda City Council by a 6-0 vote approved the purchase of dedicated parkland located at the end of Garrison Road. 

Buda Mayor Todd Ruge said the city purchased the land from the McCaughan family for roughly $1.1 million. 

“This land had been in their family for generations,” Ruge said. “They found an opportunity to preserve that land as opposed to developing housing and condos.” 

Ruge said the city will make the purchase from the city’s parks fund. He said the city plans to reimburse itself with issuance from the 2014 bond initiative for parks improvements. 

In November 2014, Buda voters approved all five bond propositions totaling $55 million. Proposition Five called for $8 million in parks and trails improvements. 

The property will be deed restrictive, with the McCaughan family wanting to preserve the land. 

“They could have made a lot more money if they wanted to sell the land for commerical use,” Ruge said. “I’m pleased they saw the wisdom in taking a little less, but giving us the opportunity to preserve their family homestead in perpetuity.” 

With the purchase, the city gains a natural swimming hole which Ruge said is the “worst kept secret in town.” He said the swimming hole currently is a tourist attraction and is “now open to all citizens.” 

The swimming hole could serve as an alternative to building a city pool. 

“We don’t have a pool and there isn’t much of a desire to get one with all of the red tape,” Ruge said. 

One of the major reasons for the purchase, Ruge said, was to acquire additional open space in the city. 

“It really and truly is one of the most beautiful sections on Onion Creek,” Ruge said. 

Saving a part of the city’s heritage was also important for Ruge. He said the swimming hole was open to the public in the 1950s and 1960s. 

“It’s neat that we’re having a second chance to recapture history,” he said. 

For Ruge, moving forward with projects under the bond is the council’s prority and that they are taking an “aggressive stance” to get the bonds issued. 

Waiting on issuing bonds could mean the city losing its “bang for your buck.” 

“If we wait too long, the money available won’t cover what was planned for the bond. Inflation will hurt us,” Ruge said. “We have to get the bonds done. The sense I get is that we’re eager to move forward.”