The first steps to bringing additional parkland to the downtown Round Rock area may soon be taken by city officials.

A contract for the design of the Lawn at Brushy Creek, a parks project located just north of Round Rock's downtown district, is under consideration by city officials and will be voted on by the City Council on March 9.

Officials previously stated the project would extend an existing trail down Sheppard Street/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way toward central downtown as an expansion to the Brushy Creek hike and bike trail, and solve stormwater issues by providing options for water detention and water-quality management.

If approved, the $277,834 contract under consideration would authorize design firm Dream Workshop to begin creating the schematic master plan for the park. City documents state the design will help plan out the use of greenspaces owned by the city for the park, as well as land required for Heritage Trail, which would run through the park. The firm will also seek opportunities to collaborate and coordinate with other downtown projects like the paseo slated to replace the Palm House.

While funds for the contract would come from the city's general self-financed construction fund, the construction of the project is tied to the city's $230 million 2023 bond Proposition A, which includes improvements for several parks and other city facilities characterized as quality-of-life enhancements. Round Rock citizens will vote on the bond in the May 6 election.