Steve Bosak, parks and recreation director for the city of Leander, has worked in the parks and recreation industry since 1977. Bosak graduated from the University of Michigan, where he studied outdoor recreation and natural resource administration. Bosak has worked for Texas Parks & Wildlife as well as parks and recreation departments in Beaverton, Oregon, and Arlington, Texas, and came into his position with the city in June 2006. Bosak has been part of many Leander parks projects, including the Phase 1 development of Benbrook Ranch Park. On Feb. 27 a grand opening ceremony was hosted at Benbrook for the first baseball fields in Leander, which are home to three new divisions of Little League Baseball teams.

What are some city projects you are most proud of?

We built Benbrook Ranch Park [in] two phases. [The] initial phase had the playground, the skate park and an open-space field, trails, [a] pavilion, restrooms and parking—and we just completed the baseball complex, which is the first of its kind in Leander. We’ve never had any athletic field dedicated to one sport, and that’s been pretty big.

We [have] built a lot of trail[s] and sidewalk[s]. When I first got here we didn’t have sidewalks, but … they’re really important because they give pedestrians [and bikers] places to go. … They are really important to the liveability of the community. Ten years ago we didn’t have sidewalks, so we are really putting an emphasis on that and requiring it from developments—both residential and nonresidential. So that’s been pretty big—bringing our trails system along. It’s got miles to go. … But it’s taken great strides in the last few years.

We’ve acquired some properties—the Lakewood Park property, 125 acres, and we will hopefully start developing that soon. That is on the southeast side of town. It’s going to be probably our nicest, most beautiful park when it is done. It has a beautiful lake on it. … We have two phases [for the park]. Right now we have funding, a $400,000 grant from Texas Parks & Wildlife to do some initial improvements out there. … [and] if the bond measure passes, then we will have funding to build the entire master plan. 

Why are parks projects important?

No. 1, we preserve open space. … We create great, close-to-home places for people, families, children to have fun and do creative things. … It’s good, positive space where people can do good things. [Parks] provide health and wellness opportunities, it helps with clean air … and water. [Parks] help with clean energy. It helps the community attract quality jobs and business. An example is the new baseball fields at Benbrook Ranch Park. Kids aren’t going to have to travel to other neighboring communities to play baseball anymore—we can have our own baseball league.

A good parks system will keep people home and keep people in the community enjoying their lives. It’ll attract business. A good parks system, if you live nearby a park or greenbelt, it’s been proven that your property values go up. … Every house I’ve ever bought has been located next to a park.

What are the plans for San Gabriel Park?

For the South San Gabriel River Park initial development we are targeting about $11.5 million [for the] master plan.

The only plan right now for [the park] is a sports complex. It has not been master-planned. We still hope to acquire more acreage, which is part of the bond measure is some land-acquisition monies. … But if we are able to do that then we would master plan the property, have a public planning process, and we’d crunch numbers on how many athletic fields and how many different types we need. Then let the public come in and comment and see what they want to see.

It is a tremendous property. It’s on the river and a property I never thought we would have the opportunity to acquire. … It has a lot of potential for sports activities and complementary things like hiking, picnicking and other things people will do while there playing sports. But what exactly is going to be there … needs to be determined through the master plan.

I can envision soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, football, tennis—there is room for all of those things. It just depends on what the community wants.

What future projects are you most looking forward to?

My favorite … is Lakewood Park because I’ve been working on it [for at least] four years now. We’re getting close to breaking ground.

It’s been in the planning stages, and we’ve been working on it a long time. It’s going to be a cool park. … It’s a beautiful lake and property. … It has the potential for so much out there.

What are your thoughts about art in public places such as parks?

Parks are a great place for art. Art enhances the quality of anything.  … Art does everything to enhance what we have in the parks, and a good park is art. A well-designed park with good architecture and good landscaping is art, and then you bring an [art] piece to it and [the park stands] out.