Round Rock is set to ramp up its downtown allure with a sprawling new park and a spruce-up of its historic core. The Round Rock City Council stamped approval on a combined $1.7 million revamp for the Lawn at Brushy Creek and the Town Green projects. Planners from Design Workshop have already etched out the blueprint for the over 20-acre park and the embellishment of the area encircling the city's trademark water tower, as reported by CBS Austin.
The new park aims to bridge the gap, literally, between Heritage Trail West and Veterans Park with a pedestrian walkway vaulting over Brushy Creek. It's not just about pathways; there's talk of a canoe launch point and a sizable green stretch alongside Pecan and Georgetown Streets. Alongside this, the “Town Green” project is all about doling out a fresh look to the site around the iconic water tower, and giving the Johnson building a new lease on life for public restroom facilities, according to CBS Austin.
When it comes to the dollars and cents, it's voters who've put their stamp on the budget through the 2023 General Obligation Bonds, bolstered by the city's self-financed construction fund. The larger park venture clocks in at an estimated $1.398 million, while sprucing up the water tower area will chip in another $412,000, as per KXAN.
Rick Atkins, the city’s director of Parks and Recreation, told KXAN, "When you really pay attention to great cities around the country, they have a great park system, especially in the downtown area." With a spark in his eye for the project, he added, "We think that this is the opportunity of a lifetime. We’re very excited. We think these are legacy projects for our community."
