Sonora Park playground and spray-grounds are set to satisfy Kennedale residents and families this summer.

Plans are merging from last year’s paperwork progression to a visible course of action that will result in a theme park of sorts for Kennedale.

Residents can view the complete revamping process as construction commences for what will become the area’s new 29.2-acre community’s park. Construction began in the 200 block of New Hope Road Monday.  Crews could be seen working near the entrance by the railroad tracks with lengths of natural gas pipeline that will be rerouted. 

“We are excited about the park, it will contain several elements that will improve the quality of life and it’s something that residents and families will enjoy,” said Bob Hart Kennedale city manager.

Hart said the $800,000 park plan cost was a project made possible by a $400,000 matching grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Four hundred thousand dollars were contributed by each the State of Texas and the City of Kennedale. With assistance from contractors and neighboring cities and many others assisting in the development program the Sonora Park theme park plan is slated to be completed at the end of July in time for summer fun.

Tarrant County Precinct 2 Commissioner Marti VanRavenswaay is contributing to the project beyond the scope of the $800,000 grant with the road and parking lot additions to the park according to Hart. The preexisting gravel area will be used for the layout.

“We’re rebuilding the playground and putting in a fishing pier,” Hart said. “We are going to have trails in back so we acquired the additional 4.2 acres of land.”

The land will provide a walking trail area with 7-feet-wide concrete paths over four-tenths of a mile. Other features of the park will include a spray-ground or splash park water area to compliment the renovated playground. All playground equipment will be new. The existing duck pond will have some repair work to strengthen and double check damn sealing, but will otherwise be left in the current state as the central
location within the park.

James Cowey, Kennedale director of development services and Sonora Park’s project manager said the community park will be open to the public and offer the community fun for no charge. Families will be able to utilize the new pavilion area for picnics and events, a fishing pier will be erected and improvements will be made to the entire playground area. Also, the residents will have the spray-ground which
will include several water activities.

“We’re shooting to get this in by the summer for the kids,” Cowey said. “We’re hoping by July. We want to do it sooner, but it’s also based on weather.”

Cowey said the first part of the project underway includes moving an existing gas pipeline. DFW Midstream Services LLC will coordinate the project over the next two to three weeks as they lay natural gas pipelines that will allow for a widened and paved park road. The service will then include grading work and the base before paving.

Mark Spencer with MHS Planning and Design LLC, based in Tyler is the architect creating plans. The city of Kennedale has used MHS services on three other projects in the past. The floor plans for the project include renovation of the existing parking lot, to provide and install open play area, irrigation and grading and plans to provide and install trees.

“We have to get bids on different items like concrete and labor,” Cowey said. “We try to keep local vendors to cut down overhead with larger firms because we’re basically doing it in house.”

Once the pipeline is moved, Cowey estimates two to three more weeks or until the middle or end of March for the parking lot construction.
The spray-ground will feature stations where patrons can press a timer button that will activate the water on a timed system. The park area will incorporate the existing duck pond and irrigation, greatly reducing costs according to Cowey.

“The spray park will use city water coming in and then we do not have to worry about treating the water because it’s straight out of the tap.” Cowey said. “And then it drains into the lake and we’ll have park irrigation.”

Cowey said the additional water will not affect the duck pond for overflow since the water will drain into it. The current construction of the pond includes overflow areas in place. The water will be utilized in addition for irrigation to the park. Cowey said evaporation is also a contributing factor for the water management. The city will not have to use irrigation or other methods to water the park.

“Council approved bids on playgrounds and with colors being key component, we want to match,” Cowey said. “Even though it’s modern equipment, we’re trying to pick schemes for the color. There’s going to be all brand new equipment [installed] within the existing footprint of the playground. It will have balancing beams, stepping stones, climbing rocks and tubes, teeter totters and of course new swings.”

The area of Sonora Park was once a brick yard and Cowey said the goal is to use the 1800’s era as a theme in matching and color coordination.

“Over the next few weeks, you’ll see changes,” Cowey said. “The key component is completely redoing the playground.”

In addition to the playground, the park will feature a nine-hole disc golf course. Disc golf is a sport where discs are thrown similar to Frisbee style toward goals or baskets to score. The course is similar to golf in that there are obstacles and hazards for each hole or basket.

“It is all the rage,” Hart said, “especially for the older kids.”

The course will be in the green area according to Cowey which is toward the back of the park beyond the playground.

“It’s neat to see what we’ve completed with the parks,” Cowey said. “Every city needs a park. It’s a place for family to be a family. Today, in society, with the rising costs, here is a place you can go out and be a family for free.”

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