Editor’s note: This story was updated on Aug. 12 to reflect that the City Council unanimously approved the construction contract for the parks.
Construction may soon be underway for broadscale new features to Corpus Christi’s Northside parks, spanning from a new amphitheater and hike-and-bike trails to a softball field and community gardens.
On the table for the City Council’s consideration Aug. 12 was a $16.5 million contract to launch those efforts, which primarily revolve around revitalization of Ben Garza Park, Dr. H.J. Williams Park and T.C. Ayers Park, as well as development of a new park at the former Washington-Coles Elementary School campus, according to agenda documents.
Overall funding allocated for designing and building the projects — to include hike-and-bike trails connecting the parks, as well as a trailhead at a North Beach entry — rings in at a cumulative $20.3 million, a city memo shows.
The improvements are required as a key prong in a 2015 agreement between local, federal and state agencies that was brokered to settle a civil rights complaint.
The complaint had alleged construction of the new Harbor Bridge disproportionately impacted the historically Black and Hispanic Hillcrest neighborhood.
The memo shows among the fresh attractions anticipated are development of a new park on the former elementary school campus with amenities proposed to include a large amphitheater and a food truck court; a fully outfitted softball field at T.C. Ayers Park; a new playground and trailhead at Ben Garza Park; and a refresh of the basketball court in H.J. Williams park, to be accompanied by a new exercise station and community garden.
A proposed aquatic center in the T.C. Ayers Park area — an initiative being managed separately from the other improvements — is earmarked for $8.9 million, according to city records.
It is slated to replace a swimming pool that had closed in 2022, the Caller-Times has previously reported.
Funding for the overall projects is split between political jurisdictions — in all, federal and state offices picking up nearly $5 million and the city contributing about $11.5 million. The city’s portion is divided between certificates of obligation and a portion of the 2014 voter-approved bond program, agenda documents show.
Should the council opt to move forward with the proposed construction contract Aug. 12, it is estimated that work could begin next month and conclude the following year, according to the memo.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: New parks features are coming to Corpus Christi. Here’s a preview of the proposal.
Reporting by Kirsten Crow, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
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