The community workshop is a part of the final stages in the master-planning process for the Leander Municipal Athletic Complex, according to Mark Tummons, Leander Parks and Recreation director.
So far, city staff have completed a series of meetings with council and the parks and recreation advisory board along with a community survey—which closed March 1 and received over 2,000 responses. Based on community survey results, the top five priorities for the complex are restrooms, trails, access to nature, a community playground and a splash pad.
On April 20, city staff will take the final master plan for the Leander Municipal Athletic Complex project to council and seek its approval. If the final master plan is approved, the project will move into the design and engineering phase, Tummons said, which will take roughly a year.
Located along the north bank of the South San Gabriel River northeast of the Toll 183A bridge, the 77-acre complex is anticipated to have six fields for girls softball; multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse, cricket and rugby; nature areas; picnic pavilions; and substantial parking, Tummons said. The goal of the March 30 workshop was to receive a final response from the community on any additional amenities or desires for the complex.
“This is new and fresh, in some regards, because it’s a complex all in one,” Tummons said. “The site location is really cool; it’s [along] the San Gabriel River, and as you come down the hill on 183A, you’re going to be able to see this beautiful park as you’re going towards Liberty Hill—which is going to be incredible.”
Tummons said the Leander Municipal Athletic Complex is like a combination of the two smaller Leander complexes, Benbrook Ranch Park and Robin Bledsoe Park, and is “taking the best” of what each park has to offer.
The roughly $10 million project is anticipated to positively affect the city’s economic development.
"With six girls softball fields like that, we can host regional, even state tournaments,” Tummons said. “We want to attract people to come into Leander. We only have the one hotel, but we know there’s more coming, so we can draw people from all over the state and maybe even all of the region.”
Construction on the Leander Municipal Athletic Complex at South San Gabriel River Park is projected to begin after the design phase is completed and the project goes out to bid.
Phase 1 of the project—which includes infrastructure, utilities, roadways and some amenities—is anticipated for an early to mid-2025 opening.
