PROPOSED PARK
Proposed Trails
EXISTING HILLTOP PARK
Next steps Schertz officials are working on the Comprehensive Plan this year with the hope of outlining community priorities and giving the city a sense of direction in the years to come, Browne said. “At the end of it, we are looking for- ward to getting a better feel for what exactly our land use plan is going to be moving forward and what our zon- ing will be as well,” he said. Browne said the survey results also play a part in planning the city budget and operations. “We look at feedback as we build our budget every year,” he said. “It is a pretty big balancing act that we have, to meet all the needs of the city.” As for parks and recreation, the department will work on a new mas- ter plan in tandem with the city’s work on its Comprehensive Plan, Strum said. And the department will also work to complete the 8-mile- long Great Northern Trail, as well as a new 45-acre $1.5 million park in north Schertz around Hilltop Park. According to Browne, the city is pleased with the results of the survey. “Our goal is to provide outstand- ing services to our residents and to improve the quality of life for every- one,” Browne said. “The survey shows we aremaking progress inmany areas, including our magazine, public safety and that the quality of our services is well above the national average.” HILLTOP/HOMESTEAD PARK PROJECT The city aims to complete the $1.5 million Hilltop/Homestead Park project over the next decade, which would bring a 45-acre park to northern Schertz. Conceptual plans call for a fishing pond with a pier, walking trails, a nature-based playscape and more.
SOURCE: CITY OF SCHERTZ/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
taxes and crime at 31%, according to 2021 survey results. As the city grows beyond its 2020 population of 42,002, roads and infra- structure will continue to be worked on and developed, City Manager Mark Browne said. In 2020 and 2021, the city started road projects for Elbel Road, East Live Oak Street, Schertz Parkway and more. Upcoming projects include work on Tri-County Parkway, Eck- hardt Road, Green Valley Drive and others that are in need of a slurry seal, which provides a new driving surface and protects pavement, according to Schertz Engineer John Nowack. Alongside these upcoming Schertz projects, the Texas Department of Transportation has plans to expand major roadways around the city, including FM 1518, FM 1103 and the I-35 northeast expansion. With all of these projects underway and the main concern in the survey being traffic, Schertz officials said traf- fic will get worse before it gets better. Residents gave feedback to city offi- cials at a Feb. 15 meeting and asked about roads, such as Old Wiederstein and Lower Seguin roads. Assistant City Manager Brian James said the city has a list of roads they hope to address in the future, but funding is still needed. James said areas, such as Lower Seguin Road, will likely see traffic increase as the FM 1518 project begins. “We are keenly aware that as [FM] 1518 gets improved, it is probably going to get worse before it gets better on Lower Seguin Road,” James said.
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NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION • MARCH 2022
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