From 2018-2023, Georgetown officials added roughly 10 miles of hike and bike trails across the city, Parks & Recreation Director Kimberly Garrett said.

“Trails are always No. 1 in all of our surveys,” Garrett said. “It’s something for all ages, and it’s relatively inexpensive.”

Construction to improve pedestrian trails and add mountain bike trails at Garey Park will begin this year, and officials are working on master plans for San Gabriel Park and Blue Hole Park.

Georgetown has:
  • 1,148 acres of developed parkland
  • 19.63 miles of hike and bike trails
The overview

For 30 years, husband and wife Ellie and Bryan Krieger have called Georgetown home. The two brought their children to Blue Hole Park when they were younger for fishing derbies and swim days, Ellie Krieger said. Now, the couple regularly visits Blue Hole Park, accessing it by walking Pickett Trail, which follows the South San Gabriel River and leads to the park near downtown.


To Ellie Krieger, Blue Hole Park “defines Georgetown,” and in December, she and Bryan attended a city-organized open house to advocate for more trail access to the park.

“We just love to keep up with what is going on and what’s being offered in town, and what they’re doing to improve outdoor life here in Georgetown,” Ellie Krieger said.

While the city is in the early stages of creating Blue Hole Park’s first master plan, officials are also finalizing San Gabriel Park’s Phase 4 master plan and preparing to start Phase 2 of construction at Garey Park, Garrett said.

At Garey Park, officials are on a countdown to finish improvements after the park’s original land donor, businessman and philanthropist Jack Garey, died in 2022.


To date, San Gabriel Park has seen $14.2 million in renovations through three phases of improvements spanning six years. The 180-acre park’s fourth and final phase prioritizes parking and athletic facilities.

History, future of Georgetown parks projects
  • 2004: Jack and Cammy Garey donate 525 acres and $5 million to Georgetown for Garey Park
  • 2008: Voters pass a $35.5 million park bond
  • 2015: San Gabriel Park master plan completed
  • 2018: Garey Park opens to the public
  • 2018: Phase 1 of San Gabriel Park is completed, costing $2.5 million
  • 2019: Phase 2 of San Gabriel Park is completed, costing $4.2 million
  • 2024: Phase 3 of San Gabriel Park is completed, costing $7.5 million
  • 2024: Georgetown Parks & Recreation holds open houses for San Gabriel and Blue Hole Park
  • 2025: City to finalize San Gabriel Park Phase 4 and Blue Hole Park master plans
  • March 2027: Deadline to use Jack Garey’s $20 million for Garey Park renovations


The specifics

The city partnered with design firm Parkhill to create preliminary concepts for San Gabriel Park Phase 4. After months of planning, Parkhill’s latest concept adds one additional baseball field to the park’s current eight. Seven of them will be sized for the Georgetown Youth Baseball Association’s largest group of participants, Parkhill Landscape Architect Phillip Hammond said.


The plan calls for the current soccer fields to be transformed into two collegiate-sized fields and two half fields, which could be made out of synthetic turf if funds allow, Hammond said. Additionally, parking spaces, restrooms, playgrounds and concession stands will be added.



Public input

A December community survey for San Gabriel Park Phase 4 found more than 40% of the 380 respondents visit San Gabriel Park a few times each week.


Additionally, nearly 40% of respondents said they visit the park to use its baseball or soccer fields.

Most park users named parking, restrooms, trails and open space, and baseball and soccer fields as their top priorities.
Taking a step back

Halff, a construction firm, is working with the city to develop Blue Hole Park’s master plan, Garrett said. Officials must consider the park’s cliffs, topography and floodplain during redevelopment.

In Blue Hole’s community survey, which is not yet finalized, residents suggested incorporating picnic pavilions, and implementing water access for kayaks and paddle boards, Garrett said.


“I think for my grandkids, it would be fun to have an additional splash pad,” Ellie Krieger said.

Garey Park’s finalized Phase 2 improvements consist of over a dozen projects, including an expansion to Garey House, cabins, an amphitheater, a skate ranch and mountain bike trails.

Renovations will likely take 12 months and can move forward once a construction contract is approved by City Council, which Garrett said could be as early as February.

The city has until March 2027 to use a $20 million donation for park improvements left in Garey’s will.
Improvements at Garey Park include an expansion of Garey House, adding 75 more seats indoors. (Anna Maness/Community Impact)
Improvements at Garey Park include an expansion of Garey House, adding 75 more seats indoors. (Anna Maness/Community Impact)
Going to Garey Park
  • 182 events in 2024, including weddings, rehearsals, photo sessions, parties and funerals
  • 115,474 visitors in 2024
  • $35 million in funding for projects
Funding the project

Out of the three current parks projects, only Garey Park has funding, Garrett said.

City Council will be presented with Blue Hole Park’s survey findings Feb. 11 and San Gabriel’s final master plan March 11, Garrett said. Blue Hole Park’s master plan is set to be finalized by October.

Once staff has a cost estimate for San Gabriel Park, it could be put on a future general obligation bond for citizens to vote on, Garrett said. She said the next opportunity to pass a bond could be anywhere from 2026-2028.

Blue Hole Park could be funded in the city’s capital budget within the next couple of years, she said.