The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Parkhill, the architectural consultant for the Keller Sports Park Renovation Project, will present the final design plan to the public, according to city officials. The park is located at 265 Golden Triangle Blvd.
The background
“While there have been several discussions about the Keller Sports Park improvements in public meetings with the Keller Sports Park Task Force, Parks and Recreation Board, Keller Development Corporation and Keller City Council, the Nov. 2 meeting is the first time most residents will see the plans for the park in their entirety and have the opportunity to ask questions,” said Rachel Reynolds, communication and public engagement manager for the city.
The overview
Here are plans for the park:
- Converting the Baseball 4-Plex to synthetic turf infields with foul lines
- Converting Soccer Pad B to synthetic turf
- Repurposing the West Multipurpose Field into two 175-feet baseball fields with synthetic turf infields and foul lines
- Adding a new rugby-sized multipurpose field and accompanying parking lot on the north side of the park
- Transitioning Keller Youth Association’s Field 16 into an all-synthetic Miracle League field, opening up the park to players of all abilities
- Upgrading KYA’s Field 15 to a 175-feet field with synthetic turf infields and foul lines
- Replacing the existing KYA fieldhouse and restroom/concessions building
- Upgrading bathrooms throughout the park
- Adding a new bathroom/storage facility near the equestrian arena and lacrosse field, along with a pedestrian connection from lacrosse
- Upgrading the soil, seating and viewing area shade structures at the equestrian arena
- Building new backstops, dugouts for the East Multipurpose Field
- Replacing field fencing throughout the park, except the still-new lacrosse field
- Replacing backstops for all baseball and softball fields
- Adding lighting to the lacrosse fields
- Improving ADA accessibility between parking areas and bleachers for fields along the north side of the park—the southern section is already compliant
- Upgrading bleachers and shade structures throughout the park and adding scoreboards and other amenities to new fields
- Addition of a splash pad
- Upgrades and relocations of the park’s water and sewer infrastructure
“We won’t have a final figure until bids come in,” Reynolds said, explaining the costs. “The approved budget anticipates issuing about $27 million in debt from the Keller Development Corporation Fund.”
Also of note
All the remaining undeveloped land at this park will need significant drainage improvements before being developed. The expense associated with those improvements will make the feasibility of developing those areas a challenge for future City Councils. Once this project is finished, the city will have about 41 acres of parkland at the Keller Sports Park left undeveloped. The park currently has 140 developed and 52 undeveloped acres.
City officials said they hope to break ground in January on the upgrades.
Quote of note
“The improvements proposed for the Keller Sports Park will be unlike any other, making it the premier youth sports complex in Dallas-Fort Worth,” Mayor Armin Mizani said in an email. “A result of years of planning originating with input from our residents and youth association representatives, these improvements will be paid solely through dedicated sales tax revenue that Keller voters have earmarked to be used solely for park purposes."
“Simply stated, the Keller Sports Park is set to receive a multimillion-dollar renovation, all while we continue to provide historic tax relief to Keller taxpayers—six straight years at or below the effective tax rate,” he said.
