Small Town News

Buda parks connecting residents, health habits

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With the help of some county funding, two upcoming Buda parks projects could get local residents walking, running and skateboarding their way to fitness.

In the next year, the city plans to kick off two grant-funded projects: a south-side skate park where local teenagers can practice their sport, and 1.5 miles of hiking trails that will link up three of the city's largest parks.

Using the last of the cash from a $30 million parks bond issuance approved by voters in 2007, Hays County is contributing $140,000 for the skate park and $310,000 for the trail system. Buda will match the grant one-for-one using cash set aside in the parks capital projects fund.

The city of Buda and Hays County approved an interlocal agreement last week that will allow the grant-funded projects to move forward.

The skate park will occupy a one-acre lot south of Main Street, in the industrial area

under the water tower near the intersection of Goforth Road and South RM 967.

Design of the skate park will begin this summer, said Buda Parks Director Jack Jones, with a final opening tentatively slated for spring of 2012. The fenced-in, 10,000-square-foot concrete plaza will have jumps, ramps and rails for skateboarders to practice their tricks.

"We want to involve the community and especially the skaters in the design of the project so the park is tailored to fit their needs," Jones said. "There'll be open meetings for

the skaters to come to and tell the designers what they want to see in the skate park."

Work on the walking trails will likely start about 12 months from now, Jones said, after the city knocks out two other projects: renovations to the Stagecoach House and completion of a parks master plan.

The project will add a mile-long loop of walking trails through Bradfield Park. Another half-mile of trails on Main Street will connect Santa Cruz Catholic Church to Stagecoach Park, and on to City Park. An unprotected

crosswalk will help pedestrians traverse Main Street.

"The whole intent of the trail project is to connect Bradfield Park and Stagecoach Park with City Park and the downtown Buda area," Jones said. "You'll be able to actually walk from Bradfield Village all the way to City Park. By putting those two pieces of trails in, that would give us four miles of continuous trails in the center of Buda."

The city will also add a small parking area in the front of Bradfield Park, and construct a fishing pier in the pond, which is currently stocked with catfish and bass.

In 2008, Buda received its first parks bond grant from the county, taking $775,000 for Stagecoach Park. The county also approved $5.3 million to help purchase a conservation easement on the Dahlstrom Ranch, an environmentally sensitive tract of land over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, which will be preserved in perpetuity.

The city of Kyle received $1.2 million for Gregg-Clark Park, City Square Park, and Plum Creek Preserve.

"We want to involve the community and especially the skaters in the design of the project so the park is tailored to fit their needs. *

- Jack Jones, Buda Parks Director



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© 2011 The Free Press Buda, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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