The overview
City Council was presented with four potential relocation sites, according to the city council presentation:
- Stagecoach Park
- Green Meadows Park
- Whispering Hollow Park
- Summer Pointe Park
Green Meadows Park has some amenities but limited parking and no utilities, according to city documents. Whispering Hollow Park and Summer Pointe Park have fewer amenities overall than Stagecoach Park. Summer Pointe Park would also require the dog park to be split into two sections, one for large dogs and one for small dogs, due to space constraints.
An option that was suggested due to space limits was to have two dog parks in different sites. Staff noted that having two separate dog parks for different types of dogs may be difficult since some citizens own multiple types of dog breeds.
Stagecoach Park is also the most centrally located option, sitting about 0.6 miles from the city center, according to the city presentation. The other sites are at least 2 miles away. Host said Stagecoach Park makes logistical sense because it is closer to the parks department, which would make ongoing maintenance easier.
Digging deeper
Previously, the Buda Parks Commission and city staff initially voted to relocate the park to Whispering Hollow Park, recommending a combined dog park with a fence separating small and large dog areas. However, Host voiced support for Stagecoach Park during the workshop.
City Manager Micah Grau noted the city should expect strong feedback, both positive and negative, if Whispering Hollow is selected, as it is a neighborhood park. In contrast, Stagecoach Park does not abut any residential areas, making it a more neutral location, he said.
Stagecoach Park will require clearing space for the new dog park, including removing tree branches, trees or brush, according to city documents. The relocation project to any of the options, not just Stagecoach Park, is estimated to cost between $35,000 and $150,000.
No outreach to surrounding neighborhoods of any of the options has been made yet, as staff waited for council direction before proceeding.
What they're saying
Council Member Matt Smith said that, compared to the other options, Stagecoach Park feels more open and less like it would intrude on existing green space used for various activities.
“[Stagecoach Park] makes sense to me by it being central. There’s plenty of room, you’re not bordering on any neighbors [and I] love the idea of being able to use the trail system there ...” Smith said. “If you can’t tell yet, that’s my favorite [option].”
Grau added that staff will assess how the relocation could affect Stagecoach Park’s annual holiday lights display, though he said any potential conflicts can be managed.
Mayor Lee Urbanovsky also supported the move, noting the central location and potential to build the dog park as large as needed.
City staff will continue developing plans for the Stagecoach Park relocation and bring an updated proposal back to council at a later date.
The background
The current dog park is about 60,000 square feet and has 957 feet of fencing, along with separate equipment for small and large dogs, according to the city’s presentation. The relocation will include removing the existing fence, installing a new one, and relocating and upgrading equipment. The project will be funded through sportsplex funds, according to the agenda item.
