Council moves forward with Downtown park project, improvements to water tower property

Published on February 8, 2024 under RRnews

Round Rock City Council unanimously voted on Feb. 8 to authorize an agreement to continue development of a new Downtown park and make improvements to the property surrounding the iconic Downtown water tower.

This agreement authorizes Design Workshop to commence the construction documentation and administration phase for the Lawn at Brushy Creek project. The contractor has already completed the schematic design for the 20-plus acre park and engaged with the public through several open houses. The project includes connecting Heritage Trail West to Veterans Park via a pedestrian bridge, establishing a canoe launch and developing over 6 acres along Pecan St./Georgetown St. The amount allotted for the project is $1,398,000.

Additionally, the agreement encompasses the design and administration of what officials are calling the “Town Green” project, which will enhance the property surrounding the iconic Downtown water tower and the Johnson building, which once served as a gas station, on the northwest corner of Mays and Main Streets. In the 1970s, a group of Round Rock men began a long tradition of playing dominoes under the tree near the station when the building began closing early each afternoon in response to the gas crisis at the time. The building will be rehabilitated and remain in the ownership of the City to provide restrooms for the community, as well as storage for City events and operations. This portion of the contract totals $412,000.

The City aims to take a unified design approach between the Lawn at Brushy Creek and the updates to the water tower property, drawing inspiration from other recent and ongoing improvements in Downtown Round Rock, including the downtown parklets and the upcoming renovation of the Griffith Building, the City’s former library building, and the associated paseo, or walkway.

Funding for the projects will come from the voter-approved 2023 General Obligation Bonds and the City’s General Self-Financed Construction fund.