Parks update: splash pad resurfacing, Kings Creek grant application and Ben Gill dredging planned

Parks staff summarized multiple 2026 capital projects and near-term work as part of a broader effort to complete the city’s park master-plan elements. The splash pad south of Jamie Fox Court will undergo resurfacing starting Tuesday and will close for a two-day curing period; staff said a grand opening occurred on Aug. 29 and thanked the board for prior support. Demeter noted stormwater-funded dredging and drainage work at Ben Gill Lake is planned for 2027 to remove accumulated sediment and allow future amenities such as a fishing dock.

Demeter also outlined grant activity: Texas Parks & Wildlife 50/50 grant applications are planned for Arley White and Moby’s Restaurant-area work, and Kings Creek Park has an application with a total cost shown in the packet at $11,500,000 with a 50/50 match. "We have our grand opening on August 29, and we had a good time," Demeter said when describing recent park openings. Staff said bids for trail and court work were favorable and that design budgets were added to avoid the expense of a full master-plan rewrite while still enabling targeted park designs.