Studies are currently underway in the city of Pflugerville to determine the best plan for using hundreds of acres of undeveloped parkland and increasing interconnectivity among existing trails.

Texas-based urban design firm RVi has identified 14 parks for development using land the city accumulated through donations and leftover acreage from housing developments. The company is working with the city and residents to find the best use for each area, and amenity ideas include playscapes and playgrounds, community gardens, fishing areas and remote-control car tracks.

RVi is also evaluating the city's trails system to identify where new trails are needed and existing trails can be connected.

"We looked to see what people want and what was missing," said Barbara Austin, vice president and director of park planning and design for RVi. "We spent a lot of time on the ground."

Halff Associates, a Texas-based architecture and planning firm, has also been hired to assist with developing amenities around Lake Pflugerville as well as an athletics complex.

"The first phase is to ... determine if there's a need for an athletic field complex," said Lenny Hughes, director of landscape architecture for Halff Associates. "[The city is also looking at] how we can enhance some of these natural qualities of the lake area."

The importance of parks and trails

In a 2012 survey of Pflugerville residents conducted by the ETC Institute, 27 percent of respondents said they wanted to see city staff emphasize the quality of the city's parks and recreation programs and facilities—second only to water utilities on the list of local priorities. Trail and neighborhood park development were specifically cited by respondents as priority projects.

"We're a very family-friendly community," said Lauri Gillam, Pflugerville assistant city manager and interim parks and recreation director. "Although we do have an extensive trails system ... there are some gaps in it that we want to improve. We also have a lot of parkland ... that we have not fully developed."

Trail plans

RVi is proposing additional trails to promote connectivity within Pflugerville and to other cities' trails, including linking to the city of Round Rock's trail system, the city of Hutto's Brushy Creek Trail and the Gilleland Creek and MoKan trails in the city of Austin.

To meet these goals, the company identified three types of trails to be built within the city: spine, loop and arm trails. Spine trails, such as the existing trail along Pflugerville Parkway, are defined as regional trails that help walkers get across the city. Loop trails, such as the one along Swenson Farm Boulevard, connect spine trails to neighborhoods and other outlets. Arm trails, including a trail along Black Locust Drive, connect trails to retail centers or parks.

"We're looking at where we need to make new trail connections, where we need to build new trails completely, and then we're developing trails standards," Austin said.

RVi is also studying how the trails should be built. The company is proposing establishing trailheads to mark where trails begin; directional, identifying and educational signage; and amenities including maps, restrooms, water sources and exercise equipment.

Park possibilities

RVi has identified 14 potential parks in 10 areas for development. Each park would have a singular usage, from a BMX field in Kelly Lane Park to natural preservation in Springbrook Park.

According to Pflugerville's 2030 Comprehensive Plan, community parks, including Picadilly, Swenson, Kuempel, Mansions at Stone Hill and Kelly Lane parks, along with Pfennig Fields, promote activities and interaction throughout the city. Their proposed uses include sports fields, playscapes, dog park areas and exploration.

Neighborhood parks, such as Pfluger Heights, Black Locust and Springbrook parks, promote interaction in surrounding communities, according to the plan.

Regional parks such as Murchison, Mallard Pond, Highland Park and Highland Park North are defined in the plan as larger parks with more opportunities for facilities and open spaces. RVi has proposed usages such as sports fields for this type of park.

Pecan Park, located near Pecan Street in downtown Pflugerville, is a proposed linear park, defined as a park used to attract visitors to an area for recreational travel. Dubbed by RVi as "The Art Park," proposed usages include outdoor art exhibits and places for residents to create their own art as they view the area's landscape.

"For each of the parks, we're trying to create a unique response," Austin said.

Athletics fields

The resident survey also found 15 percent of respondents ranked building a sports complex as a priority. Halff Associates also spoke with local sports leagues and identified a need for an athletic complex and more sports fields.

"There's a dire need for athletic fields in the city," Hughes said. "[Teams] are having to travel outside [Pflugerville's] city limits to play in some cases. It would be nice to have facilities that would be able to accommodate their needs in the city."

A study on a possible athletic complex for the city will be held in three phases, Hughes said. Currently, Halff Associates is in Phase 1, which consists of identifying the need for athletic fields and pinpointing the specific types of fields needed.

After presenting its findings to City Council near the end of 2013, Halff will move into Phase 2, which encompasses where to build the fields and what amenities are needed.

"Phase 2 will be [looking at] where we would locate this type of complex in the city and to determine what size, how much parking [and] how many fields for each sport," Hughes said. "It's more than a sports complex—it's more of a community hub for sports, having fields as well as large picnic-type pavilions for neighborhood events and that type of thing."

One potential site for the fields is the Randig Tract, located off Weiss Lane. Hughes said the area's natural qualities make it an attractive place for sports fields, but the acreage is located on a floodplain. Additional studying will have to be done before a decision is made on whether the tract is suitable for sportsfields, but Hughes said Halff is looking at other possible areas if the Randig Tract falls through.

"Part of Phase 2 is what [type] and where these facilities will be located," Hughes said. "The Randig Tract is just one site, and there are other sites in the city we would look at as well."

Phase 3 will include a master plan for the final site, and will determine if it is a feasible location for athletic fields or if it is better suited as a city park.

Lake Pflugerville

In the ETC survey, respondents ranked improvements to Lake Pflugerville as the third most important parks and recreation project for the city and installing bathrooms in the area as the No. 1 project of interest.

Halff Associates' second project will be to develop a master plan for Lake Pflugerville and study how the area can be better used for recreational purposes.

Hughes said Halff will present its findings and recommendations for Lake Pflugerville to City Council in October. Options the company is looking at include expanding the area's trails and walkway system, upgrading the lake's beach area and expanding parking and bathrooms.

"Water attracts people," Hughes said. "It's getting a lot of use and attention by the residents as well as people from adjacent cities. The city is wanting to look at how we can develop this lake to meet the recreational needs of the city and enhance some of the natural qualities of the lake area."