City to Break New Ground at Old Settlers Park
The City of Round Rock will mark the official groundbreaking on major voter-approved improvements to Old Settlers Park at 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 30. The ceremony will take place near the existing Lakeview Pavilion and Joanne Land Playground at 1301 Harrell Parkway, and the public is invited to attend.
City leaders, including Mayor Craig Morgan, are expected to speak at the groundbreaking, as well as former Mayor Charlie Culpepper and local sportscaster Dennis De la Peña.
“Old Settlers Park has a rich legacy as a gathering place for our community, and we are excited to deliver on the vision our residents overwhelmingly supported in the 2023 bond election,” said Mayor Craig Morgan. “These projects represent the next chapter of investment in the future of Round Rock and our quality of life.”
What’s changing?
Old Settlers Park is the City’s largest park and hosts several youth and amateur sports leagues. The park’s several hundred acres provide space for recreational options such as disc golf, cricket, baseball, softball, soccer and more. It is also where Rock’N River and the Multipurpose Complex are located, and several of the City’s special events are held.
In May 2023, Round Rock residents voted to approve a proposition to enhance local parks, sports facilities and recreational spaces. A series of projects to expand and built out Old Settlers Park were included in the bond, with the aim to provide increased opportunities for recreation and connection.
The planned improvements include the development of a new amphitheater area for special events, Lakeview Pavilion and restrooms, the relocation of the Joanne Land Playground, new pickleball and tennis courts, the expansion of the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex, the expansion of the Rock’N River waterpark, the construction of a new recreation center and office complex for the Parks and Recreation Department, including a track and field complex and additional sports fields, and major upgrades and pedestrian improvements to Harrell Parkway, the main roadway through the park.
Work will first begin on the Lakeview event area, followed by the commencement of construction on the Harrell Parkway improvements. Construction will begin on the new tennis and pickleball courts later this year, and the new recreation center and Multipurpose Complex expansion will begin in the summer and fall of 2025, respectively. The expansion of Rock’N River will take place during the waterpark’s off-season in the winter of 2025.
For updates on construction and more information about the City of Round Rock 2023 G.O. bond program, visit www.roundrocktexas.gov/bond.
About the Round Rock 2023 G.O. Bond Program
In 2021, the Round Rock City Council directed staff to begin creating a list of capital projects that would require funding in the upcoming decade. Drawing on community input from the 2020 and 2022 Citizen Surveys, as well as the Round Rock 2030 Comprehensive Plan, Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and Recreation Center Needs Assessment, the City Council called a May 2023 bond election for capital projects related to public safety and parks, recreation and sports. Both propositions passed on May 6, with Proposition A receiving 67.90% of votes in favor and Proposition B passing with 75.14% support.
Proposition A focused on parks, recreation, and sports and totaled $230 million in bond funding for the construction of hike/bike trails, a remodel of the Clay Madsen Recreation Center, improvements to the Play for All Park, construction of a new park on Brushy Creek in Downtown Round Rock and an expansion of the Sports Center. It will also provide funding for several active amenities within Old Settlers Park, including a new recreation center, a new Lakeview Pavilion, additions to Rock’N River, an expansion of the Multipurpose Complex and replacement tennis courts, as well as systemwide infrastructure throughout the park.
Proposition B focused on public safety initiatives and totaled $44 million in bond funding for the expansion of the Public Safety Training Center, including new classrooms and a driving track, as well as the relocation of operations from Central Fire Station to a new Fire Station 1, in addition to two new stations expected to be built in northern Round Rock.
