I wanted to pass along some information about several new parks that will be opening up in the Leander area soon. I came across an article in Community Impact Newspaper that talked about 7 new parks in the Cedar Park and Leander area that were on the drawing board or slated to open soon. I hope you enjoy the information and can get out and enjoy the beautiful Texas Spring and Summer weather in one our many local parks!!!
"Leander has new park plans, too. Benbrook Ranch Regional Park, located at the corner of Bagdad Road and Halsey Street, will be completed by the end of May.
The 46-acre park includes a BMX track, disc golf course, softball field, soccer fields, hike-and-bike trails, playscape, group pavilion and restrooms. Funding for the project came in the form of a $500,000 grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, a $200,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and leftover 2004 bond funds.
More than 70 percent of the property is part of a 100-year flood plain that would have otherwise gone unused. The BMX course was designed by Land Design Partners and constructed by the Leander public works department. The 18-hole disc golf course is the first in Leander.
Phase two includes a small skate park, athletic field improvements and another pavilion. Due to funding issues there is no timeline for phase two’s completion.
“We’re really behind the curve right now due to the growth. We don’t really have the facilities that we need to satisfy the public demand right now,” Leander Parks and Recreation Director Steve Bosak said. “This will help us with athletics. We’ll have more soccer fields, and we’ll have a softball field. This will also bring services north of FM 2243, which up until now we haven’t had up there.”
The park is also the home of one of three restrooms in Leander composed entirely of concrete. Made by LB Foster, the CXT restroom is prefabricated and delivered to the site ready-to-use. Plumbing and electricity are completed beforehand, so that when the structure arrives it can be placed on the pad immediately. According to Bosak, the restrooms were fully functioning three hours after the landing.
Devine Lake Park
Leander is also putting the finishing touches on Devine Lake Park.
The park opened for public use in November, however, fishing is prohibited until May 1.
After the lake dried up in 2006, catfish donated by H-E-B and chad and sunfish from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department were put in the lake. In late 2007 the lake was stocked with fingerling large-mouthed bass by a donation from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Fishing has been prohibited until May 1 to allow the population to grow and get established in the new environment.
The park includes a playscape, multiple picnic areas, open fields and an off-leash dog park. It is also the home of Leander’s annual kite festival held the second weekend in March.
Texas X Park
Recent additions to Leander’s Texas X Park has the development on schedule for a 2008 groundbreaking, with a grand opening in late 2009.
“We got excited; it’s our fault. We thought we’d be moving a little bit quicker,” X Park developer Matt Tolbert said of the delays. “We just took a step back and double checked everything. We’re in a hurry, but we’re not. This stuff needs to be done right so you don’t trip down the road when things are really rolling.”
The organizers of the extreme sports venue are currently working on securing all the necessary permits to open a facility of this size and nature. Permit requirements have forced the X Park to make several minor engineering changes.
“We’re just securing the quality of the development and trying to be as environmentally friendly as we can,” Tolbert said. “These permits are tedious, but they’re done right.”
The 203-acre park is located at the corner of Bagdad Road and San Gabriel Parkway. Phase one of the project includes the extreme sports facilities, with phases two through five to include hotels, commercial retail and cable ski facilities.
In February, Leander City Council approved the addition of a 2,500 seat amphitheater suited for small concerts and shows. The amphitheater joins BMX racing, paintball, and motocross as planned features.
One exciting component to be included in the X Park is electronic wristbands. The bands are water resistant and have a computer chip embedded in them that allows users to keep a balance and track movements throughout the X Park. Ideal for children, users need only swipe the armband past an electronic sensor to make purchases or enter other areas of the park.
Parents will be able to monitor their child’s spending and location online and place more money in the account. Visitors can purchase armbands at the park or online.
“The whole community is excited, and we’re excited for them. We’re hoping to deliver a good product to exceed their expectations,” Tolbert said. “The city has been great. They’re the perfect neighbor.”
