Park Development

The City of Schertz strives to continue developing the areas around the City with more beautiful parks and facilities. With the growth of the City's population, the Parks & Recreation Department has many future projects.

ASHLEY PARK CONCRETE LOOP TRAIL

COMPLETED! In 2019, city staff completed Phase I of the renovation project at Asley Park which included reconstructing the basketball court, replacing playground equipment, a cosmetic update to the restroom facility, and providing an accessible route to the new features. The existing asphalt loop trail as not replaced at that time due to limited funding. Phase II of the renovation included demolition of the existing failing asphalt trail, and reconstructed a concrete loop trail in its place that is fully ADA accessible, and extends the accessible route to the restroom, the toddler playscape, and to one picnic area. Phase III of the Ashley Park renovation includes an additional playscape feature and a picnic pavilion available for party reservations which is scheduled for construction this Fall/Winter.

VETERAN’S MEMORIAL PLAZA LANDSCAPE RENOVATION

COMPLETED! New landscaping beds were added in a symmetrical ring around the plaza and feature various types of roses to give the plaza a more formal look. Limestone blocks and earthen berms were used to create an amphitheater-effect two-tier seating area on both sides of the plaza. An accessible sidewalk was constructed from the back of the plaza to the parking area at the Aquatic Center and an accessible parking spot was created adjacent to two Purple Heart Recipient parking spaces. Pavers are now available to purchase online at schertz. com and are installed twice a year in March and September.

HILLTOP/HOMESTEAD PARK CONCEPTUAL PLAN

City staff are working on a new community park in the northern region of Schertz between the Fairhaven and The Links at Scenic Hills neighborhoods and the new Homestead development. The city has owned an undeveloped 8.37-acre parcel known informally as “Hilltop Park” for over a decade. The respective Homeowner’s Associations (HOAs) for the surrounding neighborhoods own 3 contiguous parcels of 8.08 acres, 7.27 acres, and 6.07 acres, and city staff is working with those HOAs to donate the parcels to the project to be used as a match for grant funds for development of this park. Also included in the project is the approximately 15acre park that is being dedicated to the city with the Homestead development. The new combined community park will have a total of 45 acres and will remain a largely nature-based park. Early conceptual plans call for a hilltop overlook/observation platform, a fishing pond with pier, walking trails, mountain-biking trails, nature-based playscape, picnic pavilions, restrooms, and interpretive signage. The grant will be submitted in October 2021 and notifications of grant awards would be in the Spring 2022. If awarded the grant, construction could start in Fall 2022 or early 2023.

CRESCENT BEND NATURE PARK IMPROVEMENTS

New water lines and well spigots were recently installed to connect each bird blind to the existing water line. These improvements will save time and effort for our volunteers who were previously using garden hoses to fill up water tanks at bird blind sites to maintain water drips for the birds. A new automatic entry gate will be installed at Crescent Bend Nature Park this fall so that the park will be consistently opened and closed based on a timer. Additionally, the aging post & cable vehicle barriers at the entry to the park will be replaced with limestone blocks to step up the first impression as visitors drive into this gem of a nature park!

PROPOSAL TO CONVERT WENDY SWAN MEMORIAL PARK POOL TO SPLASHPAD

City staff are exploring options to convert the existing residential-sized pool at Wendy Swan Memorial Park to a small splash pad feature. A longer operating season is possible with a splash pad (March – October) versus the traditional summer season (Memorial Day – August.) The cost savings from staffing the pool would be used to pay back the reserves for the construction of the splash pad and the existing pool filtration systems can be utilized for the splash pad, resulting in further savings. Design options are still being considered but construction could happen over the winter to coincide with a spring opening. Questions can be emailed to parksandrec@schertz.com.