The Brownwood City Council has approved a renovation project at Riverside Park, a major investment in the City’s park system.
Riverside Park is a shaded 90 acre park adjacent to the Pecan Bayou on Riverside Drive and is equivalent to nearly a third of the entire city park system, and serves as the City's largest park.
The Riverside Park project prioritizes infrastructure and will include the demolition of existing roadways, reconstruction of new asphalt roadways, 180+ designated parking spaces, new road ribbon curbing, fencing, electrical, lighting improvements, landscaping, a new main pavilion, expanded patio of pavilion with string lighting, food truck hookups, entrance signage, and sidewalk improvements.
Improvements were identified in the 2023 adopted Parks Master Plan, with significant community engagement through surveys, and public meetings. Improvements identified took existing usage and events held at Riverside Park into consideration, as well as future events that may be held in the park.
“The Riverside Park Project is a significant investment in our community's recreation opportunities,” said Mayor Stephen Haynes. “This project will increase the functionality of the park and create more opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
The approved project proposal includes the base bid and additive alternate 3. Through value engineering and utilizing City staff for certain tasks, the City was able to achieve significant cost savings. The total cost of the project approved is $3,113,912.06, funded through a combination of Federal American Rescue Plan Funds, BMDD Parks allocation, and parks funding in the existing FY 23/24 budget. The City of Brownwood is currently seeking an additional $1,500,000 outdoor recreation grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife to for additional recreation improvements.
Construction is anticipated to begin by end of January 2024, and completion is expected by the end of September 2024.
