The initial monies were used to reconstruct the 1920’s style pool/lake, relocate the McFarlin Tennis Center grandstand, remove asphalt roads, reconfigure parking lots, restore the “Victorian Garden”, expansion of the pool house and the planting of over 100 new trees by volunteers. A 1999 bond of $1.2 million dollars along with a $65,000 Parks Foundation grant was used to address the Master Plan’s Phase II items. Completed in 2003 were the full restoration of the “Old Fort” and the preservation of the 1890 Band Stand by Fisher-Heck Architects. The irrigation of the northern section of the park, installation of a new playground and the construction of a new parking facility by the McFarlin Tennis Center designs were by Beaty & Partners Architects. In 2003 Texas Public Radio took the lead in getting over 100 volunteers to create a “Butterfly Garden” above the springs. There are still several Master Plan items that are unfunded. The most critical item is the creation of more green space by the removal of one baseball diamond. Other items on the unfinished list are: reinstallation of the “Crane Fountain”, remove the parking lot facing San Pedro Avenue, irrigation to southern section, restore all historical features, park perimeter lighting and the planting of more trees. Most recently Councilman Roger Flores Jr. whose father, the late Councilman Roger Flores, was a strong proponent of the park restoration, awarded $450,000.00 for the restoration and ADA adaptation of the San Pedro Branch Library. Work on the library will begin in July of 2006.
