The draft master plan blends two concepts presented to city officials during a February meeting, and incorporates resident feedback gathered through two online surveys, at the State of the City address and from the Red Poppy Festival.
The gist
Georgetown officials partnered with design firm Halff Associates in 2024 to create design concepts for Blue Hole Park, which Georgetown acquired in 1977, a city official said in an email to Community Impact.
Halff project manager Aaron Cooper suggested a number of renovations to the decades-old park during the June 10 meeting, including:
- Picnic tables
- Restroom relocations
- Additional parking spots
- Terraced lawns by San Gabriel River
- Bank reinforcement along the river
- Extending the San Gabriel Trail
- A nature preservation area
- A canoe and kayak launch site
What they’re saying
District 1 council member Amanda Parr asked Georgetown Parks & Recreation Director Kimberly Garrett how the city is addressing the San Gabriel River’s water quality and dredging— or a process that removes sediment from the bottom of a river to reduce the exposure of fish, wildlife and people to contaminants—according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Garrett said the city does not clean water in the San Gabriel River, but officials are attempting to get a bigger permit from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to remove sand, gravel and marl from the river.
“We don't have a permit to actually get in the river and clean that out, because there's endangered species, there's mussels, and we're not allowed to do that,” Garrett said.
Cooper said the permitting could help bring back swimming activity seen before the river’s low water crossing was built. In February, Garrett told council members the city does not test the water quality or publish results from outside parties who do, and the Parks & Recreation Department does not promote swimming in Blue Hole.
What else?
Cooper said most people consider parking at Blue Hole to be inadequate. District 6 council member Jake French said he prefers the majority of investments in the plan to benefit the park itself, not parking.
“I feel the same way, but I don't want to give the city a wonderful park with no way to park their car and get into it,” District 2 council member Shawn Hood said. “I think that's a double-edged sword that we have to sharpen.”
Mayor Josh Schroeder said he would prefer it if the city doesn’t build surface parking anywhere near Blue Hole Park.
“I think we're going to end up with a garage somewhere in this area, and I'd love to see that those dollars go into a structured parking deal,” Schroeder said.
Mayor Pro-Tem Kevin Pitts said his biggest concern is public safety, specifically giving first responders better accessibility to the park. A few council members shared concerns about placing picnic tables in the floodplain, or geographic areas subject to flooding.
What to expect
A Blue Hole open house, a third online survey and park pop-ups are planned for July, Cooper said. Halff will refine the draft master plan concept in August and present a final update and cost estimate to City Council Sept. 9, according to city documents. The online survey is scheduled to close July 31.
Garrett previously told Community Impact Blue Hole Park improvements could be funded in the city’s capital budget within the next couple of years.
“The cost is probably going to be fairly steep, but I think it's going to be a great addition to what we currently see at Blue Hole Park,” District 4 council member Ron Garland said.
