Planning for parks From the cover
The overview
At Garey Park, officials are on a countdown to finish improvements after the park’s original land donor, businessman and philanthropist Jack Garey, died in 2022. To date, San Gabriel Park has seen $14.2 million in renovations through three phases of improvements spanning six years. The 180-acre park’s fourth and final phase prioritizes parking and athletic facilities.
advocate for more trail access to the park. “We just love to keep up with what is going on and what’s being offered in town, and what they’re doing to improve outdoor life here in Georgetown,” Ellie Krieger said. While the city is in the early stages of creating Blue Hole Park’s first master plan, officials are also finalizing San Gabriel Park’s Phase 4 master plan and preparing to start Phase 2 of construction at Garey Park, Garrett said.
For 30 years, husband and wife Ellie and Bryan Krieger have called Georgetown home. The two brought their children to Blue Hole Park when they were younger for fishing derbies and swim days, Ellie Krieger said. Now, the couple regularly visits Blue Hole Park, accessing it by walking Pickett Trail, which follows the South San Gabriel River and leads to the park near downtown. To Ellie Krieger, Blue Hole Park “defines Georgetown,” and in December, she and Bryan attended a city-organized open house to
History, future of Georgetown parks projects
2015: San Gabriel Park master plan completed
2018: Garey Park opens to the public
2024: Georgetown Parks & Recreation holds open houses for San Gabriel and Blue Hole Park
2025: City to finalize San Gabriel Park Phase 4 and Blue Hole Park master plans
2004: Jack and Cammy Garey donate 525 acres and $5M to Georgetown for Garey Park
Georgetown
29
2004
2027
2010
2020
SAN GABRIEL RIVER
1460
2018: Phase 1 of San Gabriel Park is completed, costing $2.5M
2024: Phase 3 of San Gabriel Park is completed, costing $7.5M
2027: Deadline to use Jack Garey’s $20M for Garey Park renovations
2008: Voters pass a $35.5M park bond
35
N
SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The specifics
Public input
Architect Phillip Hammond said. The plan calls for the current soccer fields to be transformed into two collegiate-sized fields and two half fields, which could be made out of synthetic turf if funds allow, Hammond said. Addi- tionally, parking spaces, restrooms, playgrounds and concession stands will be added.
The city partnered with design firm Parkhill to create preliminary concepts for San Gabriel Park Phase 4. After months of planning, Parkhill’s latest concept adds one additional baseball field to the park’s current eight. Seven of them will be sized for the Georgetown Youth Baseball Association’s largest group of participants, Parkhill Landscape
A December community survey for San Gabriel Park Phase 4 found more than 40% of the 380 respondents visit San Gabriel Park a few times each week. Additionally, nearly 40% of respondents said they visit the park to use its baseball or soccer fields. Most park users named parking, restrooms, trails and open space, and base- ball and soccer fields as their top priorities.
San Gabriel Park Phase 4
E I
Visitor frequency at San Gabriel Park
A few times a month: 30%
A few times a week: 41.6%
Sports fields Concessions/restrooms Playgrounds Proposed trail connection
Seasonally: 17.6%
Community Center
Rarely/ never: 2.6%
SOURCE: PARKHILL/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
Daily: 8.2%
SOURCE: PARKHILL/COMMUNITY IMPACT
36
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook