(Seguin) — A new neighborhood park is coming soon to the city of Seguin. The Seguin City Council on Tuesday approved the design and the purchase of playground equipment that will be used in Bauer Park, on East College Street.
Parks Director Jack Jones says the city is using federal funds given out for COVID relief to purchase the playground and exercise equipment for Bauer Park. The park was previously the location for the Seguin Public Library, but the old library building was removed after a new library was built on West Nolte Street in downtown Seguin. Jones says Bauer Park has been short on amenities, but he says that’s all about to change.
“This has been a longtime coming where the little library used to be behind the sign. There is nothing back there right now only about 1.8 acres or so of vacant land that has been reclaimed as park land. They call it Bauer Park now going back to the history of the park back into the early 1900s. We are very fortunate that the American Rescue Plan Act from the government gave the city a bunch of money. We are very fortunate that Mr. Parker recommended that some of that money and through your approval comes to the parks and recreation to do a lot of improvements like our ball fields, Wave Pool, pickleball and of course, Bauer Park,” said Jones.
Jones says this is a major recreational upgrade for a part of Seguin that really didn’t have this kind of space available to it. He says this will be a big benefit for the families in that area, and for the entire community as well.
“If you know, Bauer Park is on the east side of North Austin Street. There is nothing in that neighborhood – a big neighborhood for folks to go play. Now today, there is a lot of people walking around Bauer Park today – a lot of exercisers walking around the park but there is not anything in the middle, so we are going to fill the middle with this playground, “said Jones.
Jones says they are excited to unveil their official designs for the park. He says there will be places for children and adults to enjoy that space.
“You can see where the library used to be, in the middle, there is a brand-new playground and a large pavilion and on the southeast corner there are fitness equipment – about four stations on the southeast corner of that park,” said Jones.
A major feature of the new park will be the addition of play areas that can be used by everyone in the community. Jeff Mankins, a recreation consultant with Play & Park Structures in San Antonio, has worked on a number of playground projects in the Seguin ISD, and he’s built a number of all-inclusive playgrounds in communities across South-Central Texas. He has now designed the new play areas in Bauer Park. He says their goal was to create a playground that would be all-inclusive.
“Inclusive meaning play events that are for children with disabilities maybe adults with disabilities so that they can participate with their children and their family. We designed a playground that has a ramped structure so that potentially a child or a parent that is a mobility device can access the play structure and can play unilateral with their friends and family and so that’s kind of how the playground has been designed. We have several individual pieces, a wheelchair ramped – what we call an Inclusive Orbit and it’s actually a merry go round that allows somebody maybe in a mobility device to participate or spin with their friends and family as well,” said Mankins.
One of the other features in the park will be a small device that is specifically designed to benefit autistic children. Mankins says the Selfie Swizzler was developed with input from Dr. Temple Grandin, who he described as the Mickey Mantle of autism. Dr. Grandin is famous for her work, including a number of books on autism and animal science. She has also been the subject of a movie about her life. Mankins says the Swizzler will be a fun and comforting attraction for all kids, but especially for those who are on the autism spectrum.
“She helped us design that play piece that would allow a child that has autism to be able to spin and be a part of (the fun). So it’s similar to, if you have seen the movie, it goes back to what she calls her hugging machine. It allows a child to be comforted and then spins. So, a lot of research around that,” said Mankins.
Mankins says the play equipment is designed to bring fun and recreation for everyone. He says they spend a lot of time working on playgrounds and making sure that they offer something for everyone.
“Play & Park Structures does a lot of research within our organization called CORE that helps develop play pieces for different abilities not only for physical – it could be emotional and so forth and so with the opportunity, we designed this playground to be for all children, all families and also with a tremendous amount of shade knowing that it is warm,” said Mankins.
The federal COVID relief funds are covering all of the expenses for the new park space. Jones says there are also some special features that are being added to the park thanks to generous donations from two local companies. Caterpillar is providing $20,000 to purchase a spinning piece called an Inclusive Orbit, while Niagara Bottling is providing $15,000 for a feature called a Sensory Summit Roundabout. Jones says they are grateful to find corporate partners to help complete this project.
“We are very fortunate that these two companies have come to help fund these two pieces as part of that playground project. Niagara and Caterpillar have both done a lot for the community over the years and we are blessed,” said Jones.
There’s already a small walking track in the park, and a handful of benches. Jones was asked if additional benches would be added. He says there aren’t more park benches included in the current plan, but he says there will be additional seating offered under one of the new amenities.
“As of right now, there are three benches that are around, memorial benches that are around the park. Now, there will be a pavilion there with six or even maybe nine tables and it’s like a regular pavilion. If you reserve them, you pay for them, you get them but generally speaking, it’s not reserved. You can sit there as long as you want to. We also need to have a drinking fountain out there, need some more lighting and electricity. That’s not part of this project. That will be separate projects but there will be plenty of seating out there,” said Jones.
The council took action that will allow the park upgrades to be made soon. Council members approved the expenditure of just over $625,000 that will be used to purchase and install the playground and fitness equipment and to build the new large pavilion at the park on East College Street.
