by Veronica Gordon
An amphitheater with rolling hills for seating, new restrooms and better parking are among planned improvements for Buda City Park.
The plan also includes making City Park more of a festival park for the many events ranging from the annual Wiener Dog Races to Budafest and more.
City Park is one of several projects included in the city’s Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space Master Plan.
“We received input from the Parks and Recreation Commission on July 18 regarding the master plan,” said Buda Director of Parks and Recreation Jack Jones. “With input given by the city council and the Parks and Recreation Commission, we are ready to receive input from the public.”
A public input meeting for comments on a preliminary draft of the City Park Master Plan is set for 6:30 p.m, Wednesday, Aug. 29 at City Hall.
“Once we get input from the public, we will make adjustments to the master plan as necessary and bring it back to the city council for their consideration as part of the city’s overall Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan,” Jones said.
Jones said the process began two years ago in response to the growing needs of citizens and those who use the park for special events.
“We kept hearing over and over that City Park is being used more as a festival park in addition to a community park,” Jones said. “We wanted to make it a better experience for festivalgoers.”
The City Park plans include a splash pad for children similar to the one at Rio Vista Park in San Marcos.
The proposed amphitheater would provide bench seating for 2,000 attendees with the ability to accommodate another 3,000 to 4,000 on the grass.
The plan also calls for a sand volleyball court, disc golf course, mile markers and signage, and concrete trails that wind their way around the venue.
The total cost for the proposed improvements is estimated at $4.2 million with the potential for some grant funding.
Citizens are urged to attend the public meeting to learn more about the project, Jones added.