GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — Georgetown Parks and Recreation discussed over $10 million worth of enhancements planned for Blue Hole Park at a city council workshop Tuesday.
The master plan integrates community survey data and lessons learned from floods that inundated the park and much of Central Texas over Independence Day weekend.
The San Gabriel River runs through the park, which is in a flood-prone area.
“I love to see investment in gems like this,” said Allyson Plantz, who grew up in Georgetown. “I hope whatever they’re doing is a flood-proof plan, because that is something that happens all the time.”
In line with community feedback, the primary aims of the project are to protect natural areas and enhance existing park features. Improvements will include nature preservation spaces, a picnic area, creation of additional parking, updated restrooms, reinforcement of the San Gabriel riverbank and more.
Georgetown currently has $7 million earmarked for the project. Parts of the plan could be adjusted or phased out to bridge the difference between the budget and projected cost.
Breaking down the budget
Georgetown Parks and Recreation outlined the estimated costs in a budget opinion, enumerating the proposed enhancements and the projected price of each item.
A summarized breakdown of the budget is as follows:
- Design: $1,087,900
- Construction: $7,534,481
- Mobilization and permitting: $466,500
- Site work and demolition: $870,000
- Parking and roadways: $1,124,084
- Park amenities and structures: $5,073,897
- Contingency: $1,531,000
- Total project cost estimate: $10,153,381
Deterring future flood damage
Kimberly Garrett has served as director of Georgetown Parks and Recreation for the past 20 years and has lived in the city for the past 30 years. In that time, she remembers the San Gabriel flooding “at least four times.”
“[The water] comes through really fast. It’ll take concrete away; it’ll take the trail. We’ve lost light poles. We’ve seen benches wash down the river,” Garrett said.
When floods hit Central Texas on July 4, water levels on the San Gabriel rose significantly.
Garrett said damages from the flood cost over $100,000, requiring debris cleanup, restoration of electrical service and rendering restrooms by the river unusable.
Looking ahead to the enhancements, “we learned what survives and what doesn’t,” Garrett said. “There’s new technology and engineering that can be done to make sure that those [new] features don’t get washed away.”
An investment in the future
The city plans to begin design for the enhancements in 2026. Construction is projected to begin in early 2027.
“[The enhancements] are really just to make it more family-friendly, to bring people to the park — make it a destination,” Garrett said.
Plantz hopes the improvements to Blue Hole will serve the city and visitors for years to come.
“It’s been here for generations. It’s been the hang out spot for families and teenagers, and I would hate to see it disappear,” she said. “I’m glad to hear they’re investing it in more, because it is something that needs to stick around for sure.”
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