Summary: Kings Gate Park, with its playground and trails, is officially a park of the City of Willow Park. And now the City will be able to move forward more quickly to make improvements and additions (like bathrooms).
Latest Update: Friday, 11 August, 2023, The Community News article; Friday, 04 August, 2023
Tags:#Parks
WP’s New Ready-made Kings Gate Park. It's Official.
Kings Gate Park, with its playground and trails, is officially a park of the City of Willow Park. And now the City will be able to move forward more quickly to make improvements and additions. During the 08 August 2023 Council Meeting, Agenda Item 8, the council accepted the transfer of Kings Gate Park from Wilks Development, making Kings Gate Park a park of the City. (See The Community News article below.)
This early exchange will allow Willow Park to move forward more quickly with improvements planned for the Kings Gate Park.
• Install bathrooms
• Build a "single track" bike trail.
• Build a training bike trail.
• Add sports fields.
• And more.
As part of the Tax Incremental Reinvestment Zone, TIRZ, between the City and Wilks Development, Wilks built the playground and trails in exchange for reduced city taxes and fees. In addition, the TIRZ required Wilks Development to transfer Kings Gate Park to the City, when Wilks Development was 80% complete. Although not 80% completed yet, they have agreed to an early transfer to give the City the opportunity to move forward with park improvements.
Willow Park TIRZ One, with Wilks Development, began 11 October 2016 City Council Meeting with public hearing on the Wilks TIRZ and Planned Development District. The ordinances for the TIRC and PD were passed in the 25 October 2016 2016 Town Hall and Special City Council Meeting. And in the 15 November 2016 City Council Meeting the city passed “Resolution 20-16 a Resolution authorizing the execution of the TIRZ Reimbursement Agreement for Reinvestment Zone Number One between the City of Willow Park Reimbursement Zone Number Once, and WPD Trinity, LLC.” Willow Park Civics > City Development > TIRZ and Wilks Development
The plans for the transfer were first discussed in public during the May 2023 Parks Board Meeting. Willow Park Civics Blog > Kings Gate Park, WP’s New Ready-made Playground and Trails, 19 May 2023
02 May 2023 Parks Board Meeting, Agenda Item 5. Future parkland projections. Minutes: Mayor Pro Tem Young explained that the City approached Wilks Development about taking over Kings Gate Park now instead of later, as per the Planned Development agreement. She told of its importance to adding another park to our city, but also its availability for us to have space to make additional improvements, such as the proposal for the city's trailhead with restrooms.
And the park transfer was approved and sent to Council by the Parks Board in their 01 August 2023 meeting.
2. Discussion & Action: Consideration and acceptance for the dedication of Kings Gate Park from Wilks Development to the City of Willow Park, and payment of Title Policy.
Background: The Planned Development Zoning District for The Shops at Willow Park, approved by City Council on October 25, 2016 [Agenda] Ordinance 740-16, and amended April 12, 2022 [Agenda], states in Paragraph 14(a) “Hike and Bike Trail: Open Space”: …“At the developer’s written request and after a final plat for at least 80 percent of the Property has been recorded, the developer will dedicate by separate instrument some or all of the greenbelt (GB) planning arca shown on the Site Plan, including the hike and bike trail and public parking areas, and City will accept and maintain the dedicated area and improvements.”…
City staff approached Wilks Development in February 2023 to discuss its early release and dedication of Kings Gate Park to the City of Willow Park. This early transfer will not only accelerate the city’s possession of additional public park space, but its city ownership will also allow for easier construction of the single-track hike and bike trails planned and more park improvements.
• Residents get look at much lower tax rate, The Community News, 11 August 2023. Residents get look at much lower tax rate, County presents transportation bond information, Land Annexation, Kings Gate Park, ARPA funds redirected.
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