(Seguin) — Big things are happening at Manuel C. Castilla Park, where the city of Seguin is putting the finishing touches on a major renovation that includes a brand-new custom playground and upgraded fitness equipment.Jack Jones, Seguin Parks and Recreation director, says located along the walking trail at the park on North Guadalupe Street, the new features are part of an ongoing effort to enhance recreation spaces for residents of all ages.
He says the project is one of the most significant upgrades the park has seen in years.“Manuel C. Castilla Park is a community park, and we know that the community has used that park for years and years and years. You’ve got the walking track. You’ve got a playground there in the middle of the walking track and that is probably about 25 years and that park needed a brand new big playscape like the one we have in Starcke Park and like the one we have in Bauer Park as well. In the budget this year, city council approved $700,000 for a brand-new playground,” said Jones.
Although they will be new like the other parks, Jones says this new playscape will stand out from the rest.
“What is cool about this playground, it’s actually custom designed. It’s pretty unique. It has a forest theme and there is going to be a squirrel out there as well. If you notice it, in the middle of it, it looks like a tree. It will have some pecans out there that you can step on. It looks like the river. You have blue going through the playground so it really encompasses Seguin with the river and with the squirrels and with the trees and so it’s a very unique design and I think the folks in Seguin are really going to love to see something a little bit different than what they’ve seen at other parks in Seguin,” said Jones.
In addition to the playground, Jones says new adult fitness stations are being installed around the 400-meter walking track, offering park visitors a new way to add workouts to their workout.
“What I have been told is it should be done by Thanksgiving, and we will have a ribbon cutting out there. There will be a plaque out there. We can also highlight the 40×60 foot pavilion that was done by the Seguin Chamber Leadership Class, so we also have a sidewalk tying into the pavilion and walking track out there. There are also going to be four fitness stations positioned around the walking rack so if you are doing that quarter mile walk every day or jog, you can stop and there’s four stations to work your arms, work your legs — the point is this Manuel C. Castilla Park is a very active park with tackle football, flag football, baseball, softball practices and with the playground out there, it just makes it where there is something for everybody to do,” said Jones.
Approximately two or three years ago, the community park received its first major upgrade with a lighted full-size basketball court. The park also recently added new backstops providing the community with a total of four additional spaces for baseball or softball practices.
Manuel C. Castilla Park is located at 2261 N. Guadalupe St. in Seguin.
