Mansfield bond election is worth $155.5 million. Here’s what it would pay for.
Mansfield’s city council will ask residents May 7 to approve five bond proposals totaling an estimated $155.5 million.
The bond would give the city money for a veterans memorial, a Miracle League field, renovations and additions to parks and athletic facilities, a joint recreation center and library and an expansion of the city’s trails network, according to a news release.
The city said in December 2021 it received recommendations for the bonds from a committee of 27 residents.
Mansfield did not release a schedule for the projects, saying that would be determined later by the city council, but said voters would get more information at least 30 days before the election in a voters guide, according to the release. It also plans to hold public meetings to tell residents about the projects and their tax rate implications.
“Prevailing market conditions, demographic changes, assessed valuations of property in the city and other factors would affect the schedule on which the bonds would be issued,” the city said in the news release.
The city cannot guarantee a particular interest rate for the bonds or what the tax implications would be of passing the bonds, according to the release.
Prop A: Veterans Memorial
The city is asking for $7 million to construct a veterans memorial at Julian Field Park, according to the release. They expect it to include a memorial plaza and pavilion, a water feature with an overlook and a monument recognizing all military branches. It will also include looped trails and upgrades to the existing memorial gardens along with expanded parking, a restroom and updates to the Serenity Gardens.
The playground at Julian Field Park would be moved to James McKnight Park West, according to the release.
Prop B: Recreation Center and Library
The city said constructing a new joint recreation center and library is expected to cost $78 million, according to the release. The facility would include a fitness space, a gymnasium, an “indoor adventure track,” indoor aquatic space with pools, lap lanes, slides and play areas and a place for classrooms and party rentals.
The library would be relocated to the space and would be larger, according to the release. It would have space for book and media collections, quiet study zones, a children’s area and markerspace. It might include an indoor playground, a large event hall, a rooftop plaza and an outdoor amphitheater.
Prop C: New Park and Upgrades to Existing Parks
The city is asking voters for $55 million to construct a new park and upgrade an existing sports complex, according to the release.
The new park, 138 acres in southwest Mansfield, would cost $30 million and would include a looped trail, multiple playgrounds, pavilions and possible sports courts such as tennis, sand volleyball or pickleball, according to the release. The upgrades to Michael L. Skinner Sports Complex would cost another $25 million, bringing the total for this proposition to $55 million.
The upgrades would construct new baseball fields in the existing soccer space, create a complex “comparable to neighboring communities for tournaments and league play,” and add looping trails, multiple playground, a pond and other park amenities.
Prop D: Completing Trails
The city wants to complete the Walnut Creek Linear Trail to Mansfield’s eastern and western city limits and expand the Pond Branch Linear Trail from the historic downtown to South Main Street, according to the release. Mansfield is asking voters to approve $10.5 million for the combined projects.
Prop E: More Park Upgrades
A barrier-free, synthetic-surface baseball facility and a new inclusive playground, pavilion, restrooms and looped trail in the city would cost $5 million, according to the release.
This story was originally published February 16, 2022 at 5:15 AM.