Several parks in Bastrop will temporarily close for construction and maintenance over the coming weeks, as city officials launch improvement projects aimed at enhancing safety, accessibility and amenities.
What we know
The Parks and Recreation Department shared the following timelines:
- Minerva Delgado will close Feb. 23 and is estimated to reopen May 18.
- Fisherman’s Park will remain open, with restricted areas in and around the splash pad parking lot from March 2 to April 13.
- Fireman’s Park and Mayfest Park will remain open, with areas under construction from March 9 to April 13.
“Please stay cautious of restricted areas during your park visits and keep an eye out for signage,” the Parks and Recreation Department said in an announcement posted to social media.
How we got here
These upgrades were OK’d during an Oct. 21 meeting when Bastrop City Council approved a $2.9 million purchasing contract for a variety of playground improvements ranging from new themed structures to splash pads and more.
“Council had the opportunity to borrow some money with no impact to the tax rate, and also had the ability to pay down other debt because of some savings we did in the debt fund,” Bastrop City Manager Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino said during her State of the City address in early September. “The council chose to invest [those savings] into quality-of-life projects.”
Key detail
The improvements to the splash pad at Fisherman’s Park will allow the amenity to recirculate water.
“In the summer months, we waste about a million gallons a month,” Carrillo-Trevino said of the existing splash pad infrastructure. “That’s very painful when you have residents in the county or in the periphery whose wells are dropping precipitously.”
The outlook
Residents can follow the Parks and Recreation Department on Facebook for updates.
