AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Receive a Staff presentation on the draft Riverfront and Eastside Regional Park Preliminary Designs; and provide direction to the City Manager.
Body
Meeting date: July 7, 2026
Department: Parks and Recreation
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: N/A
Account or Project Number (C = CIP funds): N/A
Funds Available: N/A
Account Name: N/A
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: Click or tap here to enter text.
City Council Strategic Initiative: [Please select from the dropdown menu below]
Quality of Life & Sense of Place
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Comprehensive Plan Element (s): [Please select the Plan element(s) and Goal # from dropdown menu below]
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☐ Housing + Neighborhoods - Choose an item.
☐ Land Use + Community Design and Character - Choose an item.
☒ Parks & Public Spaces + Health, Safety & Wellness - PPS-1: Provide an accessible, diverse connected network of parks, open spaces, and recreation facilities to serve the entire San Marcos community
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☐ Core Services
☐ Not Applicable
Master Plan: [Please select the corresponding Master Plan from the dropdown menu below (if applicable)]
Parks, Recreation, & Open Space Master Plan
Background Information:
The purpose of this project is to develop two Preliminary Design Reports that will serve as a framework to guide the future improvement and development of the Riverfront Parks (Plaza, Juan Veramendi Plaza, Bicentennial, Children’s, Rio Vista, William & Eleanor Crook, and Ramon Lucio Parks) as well as the future Eastside Regional Park, formerly the Quail Creek Country Club and Golf Course.
These reports will address:
• Programming
• Facilities
• Features
• General Layout
• Funding Requirements
• Potential Implementation Strategy
The Riverfront and Eastside Regional Parks Preliminary Design Plans project began in February 2025 and was structured in two phases of community engagement.
• Phase 1 (February-April 2025) included seven Public Open Houses held throughout the city, accompanied by an online survey available in English and Spanish.
• Phase 2 (May-July 2025) included a second online survey to gather additional community feedback.
The Parks and Recreation Board began its review and discussion of the draft design concepts at its September 18, 2025, Regular Meeting. For the Riverfront Parks, the Board focused on reducing proposed parking, relocating parking farther from the river, reviewing the baseball field layout at Ramon Lucio Park, and evaluating the parking configuration around Children’s Park. For the Eastside Regional Park, the Board focused on the addition of baseball fields and the placement of amenities across the site.
On December 18, 2025, the Board adopted its Recommendation Resolution, endorsing Concept D for the Riverfront Parks and Concept B for the Eastside Regional Park. The Board also recommended naming the Eastside Regional Park Quail Creek Park, based on strong survey preference.
Following the Board’s action, Parks and Recreation staff presented the recommendation to the Neighborhood Commission in January 2026. In May 2026, the Neighborhood Commission adopted a Recommendation opposing the Parks and Recreation Board’s Recommendation.
All recommendations from both bodies are included as attachments. Additional supporting documents include:
• Phase 1 and Phase 2 Open House feedback
• Online survey results
• 2025 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) metrics used for facility and amenity planning
• All draft concepts reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Board.
Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes (Hyperlinked)
The following Parks and Recreation Board meeting minutes provide additional context on the discussions held throughout fall 2025:
• September 18, 2025 - Regular Meeting Minutes
<https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_09182025-4615>
• October 23, 2025 - Regular Meeting Minutes
<https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11202025-4716>
• November 20, 2025 - Regular Meeting Minutes
<https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12182025-4758>
• December 18, 2025 - Regular Meeting Minutes
<https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12182025-4758>
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
Parks and Recreation Board - Adopted Recommendation Resolution 2025-03RR-PRB on December 18, 2025.
Neighborhood Commission - Adopted Recommendation Resolution 2026-01RR-NH on May 20, 2026.
Alternatives:
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Recommendation: