The gist
The $7.5 million project broke ground in June 2023, Georgetown Parks and Recreation Director Kimberly Garrett said. San Gabriel Park is undergoing multiple phases of upgrades that stem from a 2015 master plan. Phase 3 included:
- A large multi-use pavilion
- A splash pad plaza
- A new restroom building
- A new skate park
- An event lawn
- Roadway and parking improvements
“It's incredibly rewarding to enhance our City's green spaces and offer new opportunities for the community to come together and enjoy the outdoors,” Garrett said in a news release.
Additional improvements to the park included a new barbecue pavilion at the Community Center and improvements to the Sunken Garden to assist with drainage, Garrett said.
Looking ahead
Phase 3 is the last phase to use funding from a 2008 voter-approved bond package, Garrett said.
The department went to an Aug. 27 Georgetown City Council meeting to get approval for the Phase 4 master plan, Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Eric Nuner said at the ribbon cutting.
According to city documents, a task order for the Phase 4 master plan includes $322,030 for a survey, subsurface utility engineering and creating the master plan.
Phase 4 will likely involve adding soccer and baseball fields along with playgrounds, pavilions, restrooms and parking, Nuner said on Aug. 29. Planning has just begun and the project will take several months to complete, he said.
What they’re saying
Garrett said input from the skate park community was utilized to create a design that can be used by all ages and skill levels.
The previous skate park was inside of a batting cage and had modular equipment for skaters to use.
Georgetown native Ruio Garza called the new park “state-of-the-art” and "pretty awesome.” He spent the morning of his birthday skating at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“Honestly it means the world ... it feels really nice to feel included in the community now,” Garza said.
Four-year Georgetown resident Larissa Ley said she appreciates the ability to get out of the house and do something active with her four children who are homeschooled.
“I just love that Georgetown is so committed to many options for families to come and gather,” Ley said.
