“This incredible new space is the result of many years of planning and foresight from our Town Council and board members,” Mayor Derek France said. “We knew this park could offer so much more to our residents.”
The park underwent $2.9 million in renovations over the course of eight years, and it leads the way for several more parks projects that are slated to open or start construction later this year. In addition to Rheudasil Park, the Flower Mound Parks and Recreation Department plans to open Canyon Falls Park and start construction on Peters Colony Memorial Park.
Canyon Falls Park is being built as the western portion of Flower Mound continues to develop and to meet the Rheudasil Park reopened with the snip of a large pair of scissors and fanfare from nearly 200 people during its Aug. 27 ribbon-cutting ceremony in Flower Mound.
“This incredible new space is the result of many years of planning and foresight from our Town Council and board members,” Mayor Derek France said. “We knew this park could offer so much more to our residents.”
The park underwent $2.9 million in renovations over the course of eight years, and it leads the way for several more parks projects that are slated to open or start construction later this year. In addition to Rheudasil Park, the Flower Mound Parks and Recreation Department plans to open Canyon Falls Park and start construction on Peters Colony Memorial Park.
Canyon Falls Park is being built as the western portion of Flower Mound continues to develop and to meet the growing needs of the community.
The Rheudasil Park renovation comes from the 2014 master plan, Parks and Recreation Director Chuck Jennings said.
“It was totally worth it. This space, this 10.02 acres, is special,” France said. “It really is a place that was created by the community for the community.”
Rheudasil Park renovations
Rheudasil Park, named for the town’s first Mayor Bob Rheudasil, sits on 10.02 acres of land that was deeded to the town in 1987.
“It’s one of our older parks, and it hadn’t had very many upgrades over the years. A lot of stuff had reached its lifecycle,” Jennings said.
Before the renovations, which were funded through a portion of the town’s sales tax revenue, the park included a playground, a pavilion, a basketball pad and the pond.
Pond dredging started in January 2018 and finished later that year. The town awarded the construction bid to North Rock Construction LLC in March 2021.
Teresa Thomason, the Flower Mound Parks Board chair, said the park will be a place for family gatherings.
“The design team and general contractor created a space we can all be proud of. The beautiful park truly has something for everyone,” she said. “I know our residents will appreciate and enjoy the park for another 40 years.”
Community reactions
Well before the park got its facelift, former Flower Mound resident Jamie Miller visited the park every Tuesday with her father. She grew up in town, and the two would have their “dad-daughter” days at the park to feed the ducks, she said.
The tradition continued into adulthood, and Miller moved out of Flower Mound, she said.
Miller said her father died in 2018, but she continues to visit the park every Tuesday. To honor her father, she worked with the town to dedicate a park bench to him.
Miller, who now lives in Arlington, said she is excited to see the park get a needed upgrade where she can continue to feed the ducks for years to come.
Miller’s father is not the only one remembered at the park.
Penny Glover sees her father, Bob Rheudasil, who served as mayor from 1961-68, remembered at the park with a plaque and bronze statue at the park entrance. ••“I doubt he thought he’d be the first mayor or [ that he’d] have a park named after him,” she said about her father.
Additional projects
In addition to Rheudasil Park, the parks department continues work on two other projects.
Construction work on Canyon Falls Park will reach completion this fall, Jennings said. The $3.1 million park is new, and it is being built in the western portion of town.
The Canyon Falls development deeded the 10.8 acres of land to the town for the park. It will include a playground, a basketball court and a splash pad.
The department is also working on a specialty park—Peters Colony Memorial Park—adjacent to the Flower Mound Public Library, Jennings said.
The park is in the final review stages and is expected to have a final approval of funds by September, according to town officials.
The park will include a legacy monument commemorating local heroes and veterans.
“The trails and the parks are huge [for people looking to move to Flower Mound]. People are going to want to make sure they’re close to their homes, that they can hopefully walk to that park,” Jennings said. “It just adds beauty, and it gives family activities, things for folks to do. Not only that, but we try to make sure these parks look great.”
