FRITZ PARK MASTER PLAN
HISTORY
What started as a wish from a group receiving leadership training from the Chamber of Commerce in 1995 turned into a Parks Advisory Board which created a city park ten years later. The City of Hutto opened Fritz Park in June 2005 as the result of receiving a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Partners in Parks grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority. In August 2005, the City of Hutto and Hutto Independent School District entered an interlocal agreement which included the City of Hutto acquiring two small baseball/softball fields located on the Hutto Elementary School site; two fields located on Park Street: the football field known as Old Hippo Stadium and the baseball/softball field now known as Holmstrom Field; and the current parks and recreation department office, old tennis court and parking lot which was recently constructed.
MASTER PLANNING BEGINS
The City Council adopted the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Master Plan was adopted in January 2007 which includes several goals, actions and activities. Of these goals, the reinvestment and improvement of current facilities as well as planning for facilities to accommodate the current and future population of Hutto were among the adopted plan.
See the City of Hutto Overall Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Master Plan for the Goals, Actions and Activities and view the 2008 Tracking Matrix Update. Fritz Park Tracking Matrix
The Fritz Park Master Plan addresses the following Master Plan Goals, Actions and Activities:
Goals 1,2,3,4,5
Actions 4,5,10
Activities A,B,C,D,F,H,J,K,AA,BB,CC,GG
FRITZ PARK MASTER PLAN
In 2008, citizens, the Parks Advisory Board and parks and recreation staff began discussions regarding what Fritz Park would or could look like if and when it was to be completed. The original plans called for a parking at the end of Park Street as well as additional walking trails and picnic stations. The acquisition of the ball fields added an additional focus to create sense of history with the proposed renovation to the fields on Park Street. The Parks & Recreation Department staff accepted the challenge to come up with a plan for the remainder of development of the existing Fritz Park and adjacent ball fields.
The result of this challenge is show through the concept drawings and renderings for the plan. The original design of the park included an internal walking trail and a parking lot at the end of Park Street. Fritz Park needed to integrate pedestrian mobility, safety and additional parking not originally expected in the original design into the new concept for the park. Information gathered during the overall master plan process was confirmed and integrated into the plan. Due to high use of the athletic fields by local youth leagues, a need for additional parking to provide walking paths Park Street was desired by all groups. The concept plan was adopted by the Parks Advisory Board in October and City Council adopted the plan December 4, 2008.
WHAT THE FRITZ PARK MASTER PLAN CONCEPT INCLUDES
This is concept master plan takes into consideration the completion of an internal crushed granite trail that would connect to the existing concrete trail that runs along Cottonwood Creek. The plan also adds an additional parking lot and entry feature at the north end of Park Street. This will serve as the primary parking for sporting events at the Old Hippo Stadium and Park Street Baseball/Softball field. The new trail will also serve to as a walking path from the parking lots to the ball fields along Park Street. The new concept plan realigns the Park Street baseball/softball field and slightly moves the football stadium north. Each of these fields would get a facelift as well as a renovation to a specific time period. The baseball/softball field will resemble a 1930s/40s look and the football stadium will resemble a 1950s/60s, each with a modern update with a historic nod to local heritage and to when these fields were created. The facilities also get a new shared use concession stand and restroom facility as well as handicapped parking, a loading/unloading zone for player drop off and a couple of new playgrounds that will be located between the fields for ease of use and parental viewing during events.
By having this master plan in place, citizens, staff and City Council will be able to better prioritize future improvements that can be made to the parks and recreation facility system.
FUTURE COMPLETION OF THE PLAN
The City Council approved a resolution calling for citizens to approve a bond referendum to complete this plan. Proposition 2 for November 3 includes approximately $2.3 million to complete this proposed plan. An additional $1 million in Proposition 2 would be for the acquisition of future parkland or facilities. Please see the City’s website for more information regarding the bond referendum: www.huttotx.gov/bondelection