Rodgers presented project updates from fiscal year 2025, along with potential priorities for FY 2026, during the July 14 Richardson City Council meeting.
In total, Rodgers said the department consists of 49 employees that tend to 42 parks, 510 acres of median and right of way for city utilities, 93 miles of trails and more.
The overview
Priority projects for FY 26 including applying roll coat, a binder that reduced wear and tear on concrete surfaces, at the Ann Eisemann Inclusive Playground at Cottonwood Park and replacing the outdated restroom at Yale Park with a prefabricated restroom building, according to a staff presentation.
Rodgers said the pre-fabricated buildings, which are ordered and delivered as a unit, have a more modern look and are easy to install.
Other projects include upgrading the median on Yale Boulevard between Centennial Boulevard and Collins Boulevard and upgrading medians on Waterview between Spring Valley Road and Belt Line Road.
Improvements include removing concrete and replacing it with river rock bands that will give the medians a modern appearance, Rodgers said.
“This is something we’ve been doing a lot of lately,” Rodgers said. “It improves the look of our city so much.”
Lastly, Rodger said the department intends to replace cracked segments of concrete at Campbell Ridge Park Trail.
The projects would be funded through the city’s parks maintenance fund, which was established in 2018 to pay for upkeep.
Some projects, such as the adding a bridge to the trail at Breckinridge Park do not fall under the scope of the maintenance fund and will require a bond proposition, City Manager Don Magner said.
Diving in deeper
Rodgers also details completed and upcoming projects coming from the FY 25 budget including repairing the failing retaining wall at McKamy Spring Park Bridge, which cost $255,000 and was completed in March. Rodgers said staff was unable to determine why the retaining wall failed.
The Yale Park tennis court was replaced in June, Rodgers said, costing $45,000.
The berm renovation at Renner Linear Park was completed in July. Work included constructing low retaining walls adjacent to the berms to prevent soil from the trail after rain. The renovation cost $145,000, Rodgers said.
Also completed in July was the $155,000 median landscape renovations at East Spring Valley Road.
New irrigation and infield sod are currently being installed at Point North Park baseball field, Rodgers said.
Additionally, median landscape renovations at W. Belt Line Road is scheduled to begin in August.
What else
All parks and recreation assets valued at more than $10,000 are assessed annually by staff for safety, structural soundness, age, utility and appearance to determine if they need to be replaced, Rodger said.
Additionally, Rodgers said a majority of park assets are currently graded at “good” or “excellent” condition.
Asset classes include irrigation systems, playgrounds, restrooms, pavilions and pedestrian bridges.
Along with projects paid for by the parks maintenance fund, Rodgers also outlined several priority items for consideration in the Parks and Maintenance general fund.
Items include:
- Tennis court resurfacing
- Installing pre-fabricated restroom facilities
- Replacing the sauna at Heights Recreation Center
- Trail, wayfinding and interpretive signage
- Cloud-based ball field light conversions
- Americans with Disabilities Act chair lifts at pools
- Replacing the Huffhines Recreation Center stage curtains
- iPads for maintenance staff
- Professional development
- Installing more seating in parks
What’s next
Budget discussions will continue during council meetings with each department head presenting priority items to council.
Magner will present the budget to council in August and council will vote to approve the budget in September.
