Land swap allows city to build amenity center at park

The city of Conroe and Houston-based Wilbow Corporation have agreed to swap land parcels, enabling the city to add amenities to Carl Barton Jr. Park off Loop 336.

The agreement originally was crafted in 2008.

In 2009, the developer worked with the city to put this on hold when the economy went through a downturn, said Mike Riggens, director of the Conroe Parks and Recreation Department.

Riggens said officials with Wilbow recently approached the city about moving forward with the agreement that will allow Conroe to add an Amenity Center to the park.

The city received four acres and $176,000 in cash in exchange for two small parcels of land totaling about 9.5 acres south of the park. The City Council approved the agreement Thursday.

Phase one of the project includes clearing the site and adding a pavilion, playground and pathways. Total cost of the first phase is $520,700.

Phase two of the project will include a walking trail, basketball court, sand volleyball court and picnic pads at a cost of $159,107.

The new amenities will be adjacent to phase two of Barton Woods and will be accessible to residents via walking paths. The project is expected to take about 18 months to complete, according to the agreement.

City Administrator Paul Virgadamo said the location will benefit the parks existing soccer fields.

There are no playgrounds near the soccer fields, he said. This puts amenities closer to the soccer fields.

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Land swap allows city to build amenity center at park