BUDA — Buda City Council approved adding two additional projects to Garison Park at its Feb. 4 meeting.
Ten Eyck Landscape Architects joined the project more than two years ago, said Capital Projects Manager Kenny Crawford, and has completed a design solution, with plans to begin the project in fall 2025.
“We’re bringing something to fruition that started eight years ago,” said Crawford.
Along with a budget of $9.8 million, the city also received a $750,000 grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which includes stipulations for a water access features and overlook. Despite this funding, the city would still be behind more than an estimated $2,500,000. So, Crawford requested that $2.7 million be reallocated from the Eastside Park funding to the Garison Park project.
Stephanie Saulmon, Ten Eyck principal landscape architect, gave an overview of several add alternates — construction plans that may be negotiated during the bidding process — for the project. The first was a canopy walk and overlook for $882,230 in the northern section of the park. The canopy experience would allow guests to be inside the tree tops and display signage about native birds that can be spotted in the area, while the overlook would be housed in the south portion of the land, where staff has identified opportunities for views of Onion Creek.
The water access points are an estimated $77,000 each, totaling $461,140. According to Saulmon, community members are already using these spots to fish, so Ten Eyck has design plans for each to respond to both the environment and the guests' usage. Additionally, they will be adding native plantings to clean the water and encourage visitors to stay in certain areas.
“One of the main [differences for enhanced planting] is adding additional canopy trees along the trails to provide shade as soon as possible when the park is constructed,” said Saulmon, explaining the third add alternate for $2 million. “Another one is creating … rain gardens.”
According to Crawford, the bidding process will begin in June.
“Our recommendation as a staff, and as the joint committee’s provided to y’all, is that you approve the movement of $2.7 million from the Eastside Park acquisition that is remaining over to Garison Park and then, to provide for the staff tonight to identify where [the advanced] plantings could go or whatever your other decision may be,” said Crawford.
Council member Matthew Smith explained that he felt uncomfortable reallocating so much to the project because there are still more plans at Eastside Park, but that a lower amount, such as $500,000, would be more reasonable, a sentiment that council member Evan Ture agreed with.
Mayor Lee Urbanovsky confirmed with Crawford that because the city is going to accept the grant, adding alternates one and two — the canopy and water access sites — are now base bids, as that is part of the requirements for the funding. Because of this, he suggests the enhanced plantings as the only alternate and wait to make decisions on relocation until they receive specific numbers from the bids.
Local resident James Fort spoke during public comment and opposed the additions, as “The best way to divide a community is to do that — take $2.7 million from their side.”
Urbanovsky motioned to approve the additions of the first two add alternates, with the third staying as an add alternate, but to reevaluate moving funds until the bid packages are received.
The motion was approved unanimously. Buda City Council will meet on Feb. 18.
