The project was first discussed during a June 6 City Council review of Richardson’s partnership with the North Texas Municipal Water District. An agreement to construct the tank was reached during the July 11 council meeting.
The construction project consists of expansion of the Northside Pump Station, which is located at the corner of Point North Parkway and Synergy Park Boulevard. In addition, approximately 6,500 feet of 30-inch water transmission line is expected to be added along Point North Parkway and Renner Road; over 2,000 feet of 20-inch water line will be added along Renner Road; and over 2,000 feet of 12-inch water transmission line will be added along Alma Drive to the President George Bush Turnpike.
According to city officials, the NTMWD improvements include a metering station at the Northside Pump Station and 30-inch line from the metering station to Custer Road along Renner Road.
A portion of the recreational amenities for Point North Park are on an area of land that was originally purchased by Richardson from The University of Texas system in 1975 to build a potable water distribution system, according to city officials. Between 1975 and 1989, park amenities were added, including a restroom, a pavilion, a playground and ultimately a baseball field. In 2003, the city added a second 3 million-gallon storage water tank on the property.
Richardson City Manager Don Magner said the site is the best location for the additional storage tank because it has a high elevation point in the city. He said Richardson considered two other locations, but neither was as ideal as the city-owned land where the current water facilities are also located.
Some Richardson residents voiced concern during the July 11 meeting regarding the storage tank addition to the park and how the rest of the land will be used.
“I know there's concern that the remainder of this 7-acre land will be used for additional water system infrastructure,” Magner said. “We don't intend to remove any of the park amenities."
Magner said Richardson plans to relocate several of the current park facilities, including the pavilion and the playground, to a different area of the city-owned property to give room for the new storage tank. Magner said plans are to keep the park's amenities open to the public as much as possible during construction.
City officials said the project is expected to begin construction later this summer and be fully complete by fall 2024. Construction of the 30-inch water transmission line is expected in the fall of 2023.
For more information on the expansion, view the meeting agenda here.
Editors note: This story has been updated to correct where construction will take place, when the park amenities were added, the size of the second water tank and how construction will affect park use.
