Brittany Kelley
KYLE — Kyle City Council heard conceptual plans for both Steeplechase Park and Lake Kyle at a special meeting Thursday, Nov. 20.
“According to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, the greatest identified need for our parks by not just national standards, but by public input is the maintenance and upgrading of our existing parts,” said Parks and Recreation director David Lopez. “The first step in a strong rehabilitation endeavor is proper planning … So, earlier this year, you — the council — approved a contract with a great landscape architectural firm, Dunaway, to begin site planning.”
Dunaway principal executive Elizabeth Jarrell explained that Lopez and city staff have emphasized creating parks that are “uniquely Kyle,” while embracing “flexibility of the everyday” and the “extraordinary experiences of parks for events and daily use.” Additionally, the city aims to create a balance between human activity and restoration of natural spaces, with shading and cohesion between amenities.
Currently, Steeplechase Park has several amenities, including a dog park, a splash pad, restrooms, playground, picnic pavilion, barbecue grills and areas for disc golf, basketball, soccer and baseball. Lake Kyle has similar amenities, such as a playground and opportunities for fitness, but also includes a fishing dock, horseshoes, a trail to the lake and seating.
Council was presented with Concept A and Concept B for each park, beginning with Lake Kyle.
“To me, the Concept A is really about preserving and educating about the natural resources you have in Lake Kyle amidst the growth,” said Jarrell. “This is an upgrade, so, at the center, where it says ‘event lawn,’ there is a more intentional chain of spaces that start from the road, gateway in, [with] a cluster of recreational activities out to your event lawn and then, there is a transition edge at the water way. But this is also about expanding your recreation.”
Concept B instead focuses on creating architecture as a destination and expanding its event offerings and performance opportunities. It features the current amenities, with a large transition area, a bridge across the lake into the Four Seasons Farm neighborhood, a sculpture garden and two band shells — while Concept A has only one.
The presentation noted that the Parks and Recreation Board classified Concept A as the current state of the park and Concept B reflects the future. Furthermore, it stated that Concept B will create better event access by moving the driveway and likes the fact that it is providing direct neighborhood access, while creating a park for residents.
Regarding Steeplechase, Jarrell explained that in Concept A, there is a harsh division between conservation efforts and amenities with the Vybe Trail. Concept B incorporates conservation on either side of the trail, while including a complete loop around the park.
She also said that Concept A is, again, about focusing on the current amenities and upgrading them. It includes baseball/softball fields with shaded seating, basketball courts with lighting, added shade at the dog park and unpaved nature trails.
The second option focuses on upgrades, but also has multi-use fields and would be better as a neighborhood park. It has a central lawn, picnic pavilions and grilling stations, multi-use fields without lighting, the dog park, a skate space and paved nature paths.
“One of the criticisms that we have had about athletics in this park is that people are coming in and using this that are not [from the] neighborhood and it leaves the neighborhood kids out,” said council member Lauralee Harris. “We really need to figure out some way of assuring that we don’t have people coming in from other cities.”
Council member Michael Tobias questioned how to include lighting, considering it has been an issue for many years. In response, Lopez stated that he feels that, because technology is more advanced, the city could accomplish both lighting and accommodating for the dark sky initiative.
Both concepts have added restrooms, an upgraded splash pad, pickle ball courts with lighting, monumental signage, public art installation and a disc golf course, but Concept A reduces the 18 holes to nine.
“[Players are] not going like that very much. They’re really passionate about the course and we have to gently walk through any changes and so, I want to be transparent on that,” said Lopez. “There are trade-offs in these scenarios. [I] have a strong opinion; I’d prefer us to keep 18 holes for this.”
The parks board had a preference for Concept A, as “it feels like Concept B is too crowded with activities for the size of the space.” Additionally, the sports field lighting was stated to have strengths and drawbacks by introducing light and noise into the neighborhoods, but would aid youth sports during the winter months.
The board also asked whether emergency phone stations and 911 mile markers could be included throughout the trailers.
The presentation noted that community feedback will begin prior to presenting further ideas to the Parks and Recreation Board and council in January and February 2026.
To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/4oie46g.
