Improvements at Buda City Park are on the table as Buda city leaders unanimously approved the schematic design for a portion of the 2014 bond project.
The improvements constituted a portion of projects from Proposition 5, which was approved by Buda voters for $8 million.
Claire Hempel, a representative with Design Workshop, said the total cost estimate for the City Park schematic design was close to $6 million, which included a 20 percent contingency.
The budget for city park improvements, however, is $4 million.
Drew Wells, Buda Parks and Recreation Director, said city staff would work with Design Workshop to hone in on the budget.
See plans for Buda City Park from Design Workshop's presentation here.
Hempel said the park is meant to be the signature park of Buda.
Improvements within the schematic design included plans to build new restroom facilities, as well as an upgraded pavilion, new amphitheater and more parking options for park visitors.
Hempel said the park grounds would be large enough to accommodate festivals and music concerts, but would also support leisurely activities such as picnicking or flying a kite.
“It’s (the activity lawn/amphitheater) a great location for your existing events and opens up opportunities for larger events,” Hempel said.
Hempel described the amphitheater as being spacious enough to accommodate a large amount of people that will be either seated or standing.
Hempel said city staff recommended lawn seating as opposed to bleachers to reduce cost and achieve easier maintenance requirements.
A playground and water feature in the design would center on the “ecology” of the area.
She also said the playground would be separated into sections for older and younger children.
The playground for younger children would offer equipment like seesaws and small spinning carousels, while the side for older children would have large slides and a ropes course.
The proposed water feature would be placed between the two playgrounds at the park.
“We wanted to bring elements seen in Texas into the water feature,” Hempel said.
Hempel added plant life in the schematic design was a great opportunity to “maximize plant diversity.”
“We can illustrate dynamic spaces by using prairie grasses and wildflowers in open spaces,” Hempel said.
Hempel said materials such as stone, concrete and asphalt would be “built to last, low maintenance and built to withstand flooding.”
She also said the design included lighting displays on the architectural elements like the pavilion and the amphitheater. Hempel also mentioned the importance of lights along the trails, in the parking lot and on the volleyball court.
“This is just a snapshot in time,” Hempel said. “We’re taking scissors to it (the design schematic).”
Buda City Park by the numbers
Site Preparation $753,826
Utilities $466,000
Site Amenities & Furnishings $255,900
Signage & Entry $40,000 Trails $33,000
Landscape $677,144
Roads & Parking $622,961
Architecture $1,000,000
Subtotal $4,762,428
+ Soft Costs $1,121,843
Approximate Total for City Park $5,884,271
+ Garlic Creek Trail $303,660
+ East Side Park Improvements $359,000
