Upgraded Pfluger Park Playground Scheduled To Open Friday, May 18

PFLUGERVILLE, TX — City officials have schedule a ribbon cutting ceremony in opening a revamped playground at Pfluger Park on Friday.

The playground area in the park located at 515 City Park Rd. has been revamped, and will re-open at 9:30 a.m. Friday. The $240,000 funding for upgrades came from Parks and Recreation’s annual operations and maintenance budget, and a $90,000 grant from the Pflugerville Community Development Corp. (PCDC).

"Just in time for the Deutschen Pfest weekend, the Pfluger Park playground will be open for play," Mayor Victor Gonzales said in a prepared statement. "Thanks to partnerships with the PCDC and our Parks and Recreation Department, this innovative play design is becoming a reality and looks like quite an amazing place for children to play and families to make memories."

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Added PCDC Executive Director Amy Madison: "Pfluger Park is a longtime gathering spot for all generations in our community, but the playground needed updates and expansion to support the growing population and our most important resource—our children. The role of the PCDC is to support community development, and we proudly helped fund this project. We are thrilled to celebrate the re-opening of this wonderful, new playground at Pfluger Park as we kick off Deutschen Pfest weekend."

The playground has been closed for construction since March for the construction of a new playground, a gazebo and site furnishings. The cornerstone of this project, the new playground provides a safe and accessible play space and includes elements honoring the history of the park, officials said.

“The new playground enhances safety and is designed specifically for a larger demographic of children than our previous playground, including features for children ages 2-5 and 5-12,” Parks & Recreation Director James Hemenes said. “This new playground design innovates climbing elements and opportunities for active play.”

The former playground was more than 20 years old and in need of replacement, Hemenes noted. It was recommended for replacement by third-party inspectors based on new Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Guidelines for Playground Safety. During the playground renovation, a large American Elm tree was removed to prevent falling limbs and removed with assistance from an arborist, officials said. Due to advancements in playground equipment, the play surfaces have a cool-touch powder coating on the metal surface to prevent the playground from getting too hot in the Texas heat, parks officials added.

Additional work on the playground, including a shade structure and sidewalks, will be completed after Deutschen Pfest.

The park will be open at Deutschen Pfest and then to the general public starting on May 20 following festival clean-up efforts. For a full list of parks and playgrounds in Pflugerville, visit pflugervilletx.gov/trails for interactive and downloadable parks and trails maps.

>>> Photo courtesy of City of Pflugerville Parks & Recreation Department