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Dutch Village Park will receive a new playground, shade structure and pavilion this summer, and Gussie Field Waterworth Park will receive a new, accessible merry-go-round.
Farmers Branch City Council approved the funds for purchase of all the park equipment, which was assisted by an increased replacement cost insurance reimbursement for Dutch Village and a $40,000 donation by the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Rotary Club for the accessible We-Go-Round equipment.
The Dutch Village Park, located at 3020 Old North Rd., was due for an upgrade before it burned on Jan. 21, 2024, city staff has told council at previous presentations for the project.
Since the last meeting discussing the park, the insurance reimbursement has increased to $262,000, Park Superintendent Mark Moffeit said, which is complete replacement cost of the equipment that was lost. The city is adding a new sidewalk, fall zone and electrical for park lighting. Council approved in a 4-1 vote with City Councilmember Roger Neal voting against the proposal.
“I know we’re upgrading this, but do we need to upgrade it to this level?” he asked before the vote. “It just seems quite expensive.”
However, the motion to approve the purchase of the We-Go-Round equipment for $93,042, of which $40,000 is covered by the Rotary Club donation, was approved unanimously.
In other business, the council, in consent agenda, approved tax incentives for three houses as part of the Residential Demolition/Rebuild Program and, following executive session, approved economic incentives for Project 2025.004 to OHT Partners, which is a multi-family real estate construction, development and investment firm.
During study session, the council received an updates from the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District regarding their consolidation plan, the city’s economic development efforts, the Oakbrook water meter project and discussed expanding the 200-foot public notification boundary for zoning requests, the Demolition/Rebuild Program, reconvening the Charter Review Committee and the formation and duties of the Farmers Branch Local Government Corp.
