Moffeit CHANDLER — Site planning was scheduled to begin this week after dozens of people provided feedback on how Chandler officials should expand Winchester Park.

“The meeting was great,” Planning Concepts Principal Mark Priestner said. “We had good attendance and great input. We discussed what types of recreational facilities are needed at the park and what existing elements need to be improved. We will be coming up with a list of recreational items and start developing a conceptual site plan.”

The city was scheduled to close Wednesday on a deal to acquire 29 acres on Martin Street from Stanley McCurley. He will receive a $200,000 down payment, and the title will be transferred temporarily to the Texas Parks and Recreation Foundation.

The remaining $385,000 will be paid at 6 percent over the next 10 years. If the city satisfies the debt in five years, the early-payoff penalty would be about $18,000.

McCurley has four months to vacate the property, which includes a house, swimming pool and other buildings.

During the April 6 meeting at City Hall, residents talked about the need for added features at and around Winchester Park, improved parking, and the need for privacy at residential neighborhoods in the area, city administrator Jim Moffeit said.

“I was really pleasantly surprised and happy with the input we got. Nobody was being negative. The only issues I saw were from residents who live close to the park who were concerned about how they would be affected.”

City Council member Gene Giger said residents also appear eager for offi cials to add spray pads to park land, and that they were receptive to building a new community center on the newly acquired property.

“I learned a lot about what other people want,” he said. “We don’t know what we’re going to do, but I see us adding more walking paths, nature trails, playground equipment and restroom facilities. My goal is to make this park good for cradle to the grave — for kids and adults to go out and enjoy themselves.”

Moffeit stressed that “80 to 90 percent” of the land will be used for park development. The rest could be used for a new government complex that would house City Hall, the Chandler Police Department, Chandler Brownsboro Area Chamber of Commerce, and Chandler Community Center.

“But this isn’t going to happen tomorrow,” Giger said. “It’s going to take 10 to 15 years. There are going to have to be some priorities set. What grants are available, and how much do people want it?”

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant programs were a motivating factor in the acquisition.

One of the agency’s programs offers money to state municipalities and counties with populations under 20,000. It provides 50 percent matching funds, with the maximum amount awarded $750,000.

The state agency allows the assessed value at purchase to be used as matching funds in a parks grant. However, state law prohibits Chandler from using that program if it owns the property, according to the foundation.

“State regulations do not allow the use of govermentowned park property as an in-kind match for park development grants,” the foundation’s Web site says. “By holding title to property during the grant review process, the foundation makes it possible to (use) the value of the property and maintain its eligibility for grant assistance.”

Park land typically remains with the foundation for five years. The cost to use the program is $100 a year.

“Priestner said the main thing the city needs is a 20- year plan for this thing. But he brought up a good point: You don’t want to put so much in the park where you are elbow-to-elbow on everything.”

Planning Concepts, a consulting firm in Tyler, has been retained to draft plans on how to best use the land and Winchester Park as Chandler prepares for what is projected to be substantial growth in Smith and Henderson counties over the next 30 years.

Officials initially discussed purchasing 14 acres of McCurley’s land before an offer was made on the entire property. His asking price was $650,000.