The City of Celina recently approved the construction of a 100-acre park in Celina, responding to a growing need for more space for sports and recreation.
The project known as Wilson Creek Park will cost an estimated $50,750,000 to complete, according to city documents.
Celina’s population has increased by a whopping 143.37% since the most recent census taken in 2020. Now standing at a grand total of over 43,000, residents have been calling for recreational areas, especially athletic fields.
Monk Kreder, the head coach of the 7-and-under baseball team Dallas Tigers, told CBS News Texas it has become so difficult to reserve a field that they find themselves playing in 100-degree heat.
“Fortunately were able to get this field from 5 to 7 so we gotta rush hour here after work,” Kreder explained to CBS.” Maybe a little hot but we’re conscious with the water and stuff and the kids are having a blast.”
Celina Mayor Ryan Tubbs has hailed the new park as capable of not only alleviating the city’s overwhelmed sports facilities but also offering the community a place to convene.
“This park is important to bring all of our residents together in one location,” Tubbs told CBS. “Our tagline here is ‘Life Connected.'”
“Parks are important to bring people together to be healthy to get out and exercise, as well as we’re busting at the seams in our current park,” Tubbs added.
The master plan for Wilson Creek Park promises an array of facilities, including a cricket pitch, a disc golf course, courts for tennis and pickleball, and multi-use fields for baseball, soccer, and lacrosse.
Other features include two playgrounds, a splash pad, a dog park, nature trails, batting cages, and even an amphitheater.
Currently, the area where Wilson Creek Park will be constructed is undergoing a massive overhaul, with municipal plans to build two large roadways — Sunset Boulevard and Roseland Parkway — and erect an elementary school.
The park will be bordered by Wilson Creek, Sunset Boulevard, and Roseland Parkway.
The development of the park concept involved input from the community. Residents were able to partake in an online survey and engage in face-to-face discussions at events planned in different locales, including the Friday Night Market and the Celina Senior Center.
Celina launched a similar probe in its efforts to develop a master plan for its new public library, as covered in The Dallas Express. Undertaken as part of a larger initiative to revamp its city center, Celina officials plan to build a new multistory library and administration building at 112 North Colorado St.
Ground won’t be broken for either project anytime soon, as both the park and the library building are only just entering the design phase.
Cody Webb, Celina’s director of parks and recreation, said at the recent city council meeting that the design scope would be presented to city officials next month, according to the Celina Record.
