Allen City Council met on Tuesday, May 10. Read on for the highlights and approved projects. The full agenda and meeting video is available here.
Contract awarded for construction of Fire Station 6
Council approved a construction contract for Fire Station 6 in the amount of $11,247,190, not to exceed $14,974,976. Most of this amount will be covered by $9.945 million in bond funding approved by Allen voters during the 2016 bond election. Located at Ridgeview Drive and Watters Road, the construction of Station 6 will coincide with surrounding development along the SH-121 corridor to address the needs of the area's growing population.
As with all Allen fire stations, Station 6 is designed with its own unique vision. Station 6 will have an older nostalgic firehouse design styled with New England architecture, decorative windows and folding doors. Fire Station 6 is the final station planned for Allen Fire Department.
Pictured: Digital rendering of exterior front of Fire Station 6
Rolling Hills Park moves forward with planned upgrades and expansion
Council approved a contract with Cole Construction, Inc., for the renovation of Rolling Hills Park in the amount of $1,766,267. The existing park property combined with the purchased park property will transform Rolling Hills Park into over three acres of usable park acreage. In addition to a new playground, Rolling Hills Park will include a loop trail, pavilion area, pollinator garden, sport court, and open play area.
Council also approved an ordinance to permanently close a portion of Glenwick Place located within Rolling Hills Estates, which will improve safety concerns for vehicular traffic entering the frontage road of Hwy 75. Construction begins June 2022, with estimated completion by late spring 2023.
New indoor playground design and installation approved for Stephen G. Terrell Recreation Center
City Council authorized a $1,227,626 contract for the design, fabrication and installation of an indoor playground at Stephen G. Terrell Recreation Center, currently under construction at 1680 W. Exchange Parkway.
The indoor playground creates an interactive play environment that takes advantage of the lobby/reception space it occupies. Set directly beneath the iconic elliptical rotunda ceiling, the play structure’s towers will peak 40 feet above the floor beneath them. Enclosed catwalks or bridges between the towers increase the three-dimensionality of the main play structure, and a connection from the towers to a play deck atop the first-floor party room adds even more expanse to the total playground setting. Of course, the little kids are also provided with ground-level individual play features that are in direct view of parental and guardian seating nearby. The playground is designed to accommodate children ages 2 to 12.
In the Request for Proposals (RFPs), Parks and Recreation staff had a direct and influential contribution to the design by providing detailed “word sketches” of how the playground should look and function. This helped accelerate the initial concept while meeting important objectives for the new structure. With an appropriate mix of ground-level and above-level components, the playground and its indoor setting will comply with all ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements for play structures.
Pictured: Digital rendering of indoor playground design at Stephen G. Terrell Recreation Center
Putting Public Works in the Spotlight
During the May 10 Council meeting, Mayor Fulk declared May 15-21 as “Public Works Week.”
This national recognition acknowledges the vital work public works employees provide to their community. From roadway maintenance to waste collection, traffic management and much more, the work that public works employees perform helps keep our communities functioning.
CVB’s 2021 in Focus
The Allen Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) Advisory Board presented its annual report, displaying its vision of marketing Allen as a destination for conventions, events and leisure tourism. In addition to the CVB’s massive catalog of Allen restaurants and entertainment options, the report also detailed the CVB’s efforts attracting events like weddings and conventions to town.
Initiatives and goals the CVB and CVB Advisory Board focused on in the past year include launching a new wedding section to the CVB website, the continuing efforts of the ShopAllenTX campaign and newsletter, expanding use of social media and video and more direct sales efforts – which bring additional revenue and business to Allen.
New cardio fitness equipment coming to Allen recreation centers
Allen recreation facilities soon will replace the existing cardio fitness equipment. Approved by Allen CDC and City Council, the new purchases will focus on ellipticals, upright bikes and recumbent bikes at Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium and Joe Farmer Recreation Center, as well as treadmills, ellipticals and recumbent bikes at Allen Senior Recreation Center.
Replacements and updates are essential to maintain a safe environment for facility users. The first phase of replacement occurred in 2021, which included treadmills and Adaptive Motion Trainers at Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium and Joe Farmer Recreation Center. Prior to this replacement, the last full-scale cardio fitness equipment replacement occurred in 2015.
Pictured: New treadmill equipment at Don Rodenbaugh Natatorium
Follow Council news and future meetings
Allen City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Meetings are held in Council Chambers at Allen City Hall (305 Century Parkway). A calendar of upcoming meetings is available on the City website.
To receive a link to upcoming meetings by email, visit CityofAllen.org/NotifyMe and sign up for City Meeting Notices. Meeting agendas are posted at least 72 hours prior to each meeting. Agenda links are provided within the meeting details of each calendar listing and at CityofAllen.org/Agendas.