The Aumsville City Council has annexed 23 acres of land along Bishop Road into the city limits for the Eastside Community Park project, while plans to develop the property remain pending.
During the council’s regular meeting July 14, officials voted unanimously to approve the annexation of the undeveloped property resting between Bishop Road and Highway 22.
City Manager Ron Harding said development of the property is still pending and will begin after the city secures enough funding to move forward with park construction. He said this would include submitting an application to the city and corresponding public hearings before the council and the Planning Commission.
According to an infrastructure plan approved by the council June 23, the park is expected to cost a total of $11 million, which could be expended during various phases over the next 20 years.
Mayor Angelica Ceja added the city is mindful that some residents near the property live outside the city limits, and the city will ensure these county residents are involved in public processes as well.
The goal of the project is to create a multiuse facility that could include athletic fields, walking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, restrooms and other amenities. Specific features would be chosen during the design process, with opportunities for the public to weigh in on the final design, said Harding.
A park on the east side of Aumsville has been in the works since 1996 when the parks master plan approved that year identified a need for public park space in that area. The Bishop Road property was purchased by the city for park development in 2019, and annexed from the county into the urban growth boundary last year.
