Onion Creek is in for a major upgrade: construction is set to start this summer on the long-planned John D. and Byrd Mims Garison Memorial Park, a 40-acre natural area along the creek just north of downtown Buda. City officials say Phase 1 will add water access and trails along with parking, restrooms, and prairie restoration. Work is scheduled to begin in late July 2026 and is expected to take roughly a year, with the park closed to the public during construction. The park’s northern entrance and nearby roads will function as an active construction zone while crews build out the new amenities.
What the park will include
The first phase is designed to turn the creek corridor into a full-fledged recreation spot. Plans call for a swimming hole with multiple water access points, plus a kayak and canoe launch with a washing station. Concrete and decomposed-granite trails will tie into the existing Onion Creek Trail, and the design adds a canopy walk, bird blind, and overlook for people who would rather watch the water than get in it.
The layout also features a nature play area, an open pavilion, restroom facilities and two new parking lots, along with native-landscape restoration to revive the park’s prairie corridors. As outlined by Buda Bonds, Ten Eyck Landscape Architects handled the design work, and the bond oversight committee and parks commission reviewed the plans.
Funding and contract
The project is funded primarily through Proposition B of the city’s 2021 bond program, with additional support from Proposition A trail funds, $6.9 million from Hays County and a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, as reported by Community Impact. On June 16, the Buda City Council approved a construction contract with SpawGlass Contractors Inc., and public procurement records show the winning bid came in at roughly $13.9 million, per the city's bid tabulation. Public bid documents list the award and contract details.
Timeline, closures, and safety
The city’s press release states that construction is scheduled to start in late July 2026 and is expected to run about 360 calendar days, with completion targeted for summer 2027. Officials say public access to the park will be restricted for the entire construction period and that Garison Road north of downtown will be an active construction zone.
The city notes that work will be staged to protect Onion Creek, and designers say the project is intended to balance new recreation features with habitat restoration along the creek corridor, according to the release.
What leaders say
Mayor Lee Urbanovsky framed the project as a long-awaited community win, saying it will give residents “a place to swim, paddle, walk the creek,” in remarks included with the city's announcement. City and bond leaders highlighted the role of community input, design review, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant in shaping features that aim to protect the creek corridor while opening it up for everyday use. Parks staff say they will post construction updates and safety guidance as work progresses.
Where to follow progress
Renderings, a project timeline, and construction notices are posted on the official bond page and will be updated as the park moves through construction. For ongoing updates and to sign up for notices, visit Buda Bonds, which the city lists as the project hub.
