Burnet voters to decide on Highland Oaks park trade
Future ownership of a small, city-owned park outside of the Highland Oaks subdivision in Burnet will be decided by voters in the May 6 election. The city wants to transfer ownership of the park to the Highland Oaks Property Owners Association. State law requires park transfers be decided by election. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Whether to transfer ownership of a small, city-owned park in Burnet to the Highland Oaks Property Owners Association will be decided in the May 6 election. A public vote is required by state law for a city to sell or convey any parkland, even if it is to a homeowners or property owners association.
The small park is immediately outside of the Highland Oaks subdivision on Tami Drive in north Burnet. If the vote allows, the city would transfer ownership to the Highland Oaks POA, which would take over maintenance.
As part of the deal, the city would upgrade the park by installing a new playscape, a shade cover, and benches.
Similar upgrades and park ownership transfers have taken place across Burnet, said Highland Oaks POA President Crystal Hall.
“It’s long overdue,” she said. “That park hasn’t been updated since the subdivision was built. We just had our (POA) meeting last Friday, and we voted on it. Everyone is pretty excited about it.”
Burnet voters will make the ultimate decision, as Texas local government code Sec. 253.001 requires a vote before city-owned parkland can be sold or traded.
2 thoughts on “Burnet voters to decide on Highland Oaks park trade”
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Was this little city-owned park in place prior to the building of Highland Oaks subdivision?
Is the park to be sold or conveyed to the POA? That information is not clearly stated in this article.
Why are city taxpayers now paying for upgrades if ownership is simply being “transferred” to the POA? The article says there has been no city maintenance since Highland Oaks was constructed.
What is the cost to city taxpayers for these upgrades?
Is there fencing around this park to prevent people outside of POA from using it, once ownership is “transferred”?
Who will be responsible for liability once “transfer” is complete?
Dakota, can you please get answers to these questions? We need good facts in order to vote.
Thank you.
Hello, Patricia. Thank you for reaching out. I’ll do my best to answer your questions.
1. The park was built by the developer who built the Highland Oaks subdivision, so they were constructed simultaneously.
2. The vote would give the city permission to convey or transfer the property to the POA. It would not require that the city transfer ownership or that the POA accept it.
3. Any funds used to upgrade the park would have to be brought before the City Council if the vote were to pass. Burnet residents would have the opportunity to give feedback on any expenditures from the council on the park if ownership was transferred. No costs or plans for improvements will be determined unless the transfer goes through.
4. As it stands, there is no fencing around the park preventing others from using it.
5. If the park is conveyed to the POA, the association will own it and be liable for its maintenance.