Plano Approves $2.3 Million Contract to Renovate Tejas Park

The single playground at Tejas Park has always asked toddlers and 12-year-olds to share the same equipment. This spring, that setup gets replaced by something more deliberate.

The Plano City Council approved a $2.3 million renovation contract on March 23, clearing the way for construction to begin at the Cross Creek East neighborhood park. When the work is done, the park will look considerably different: two age-segmented play zones, a new pavilion, adult fitness stations, disc golf baskets, upgraded walkways and benches, improved lighting, new irrigation, and shade structures positioned over the play equipment. To cut down the time families spend locked out, the city opted for sod over hydromulch to restore ground cover, a decision that accelerates reopening.

The play area split is the most functionally significant change in the contract scope. The current single playground, used by children across a wide developmental range, gives way to two separate zones: one built for ages 2 to 5 and a second for ages 5 to 12. Separating the equipment by age reduces collision risk between younger and older users and brings the park into full compliance with ADA accessibility requirements. Lighting improvements and new irrigation round out the infrastructure upgrades.

For adults, the fitness stations give Tejas Park a workout function it currently lacks. The disc golf baskets add another draw and extend a recreational option Plano has been quietly building out. The city already operates a disc golf course at Shawnee Park, which runs alongside hiking and biking trails, a small lake, and a fishing pier on that site. Plano Parks recently announced an expansion of the Shawnee course as well. The Tejas installation will create a second disc golf location in the city, spreading geographic access for residents. According to UDisc, a disc golf tracking platform, Plano currently ranks 126th among disc golf cities in Texas with one established course and four active leagues.

Shade structures are being installed over the play equipment, a practical addition for a park that sees heavy use through summer. The new pavilion replaces the existing shade structure and adds capacity for family gatherings alongside the park's current picnic tables and grills. Walkways and benches are being upgraded throughout.

Funding was already committed in Plano's 2025-2026 Park Improvement budget, part of a citywide capital investment program totaling $319 million across infrastructure categories this fiscal year. Tejas Park is one piece of a broader municipal push to shift parks toward multi-use, accessible designs that serve residents across age groups. City staff will coordinate construction phasing and communicate temporary closures as work gets underway this spring.