Moffeit CHANDLER — A conceptual plan for an expanded Winchester Park has been drafted, and city offi cials are asking residents to attend a public meeting on Tuesday to share their opinions.

“Mark Priestner said he needs more public input,” city administrator Jim Moffeit said. “He’s got something to share with us.”

Priestner represents Planning Concepts, a consulting firm in Tyler. He gathered feedback from dozens of residents in April on how to enhance park land and what to do with almost 30 acres between Martin Street and Winchester Park.

“He sent me an e-mail saying the conceptual plan is done,” Moffeit said. “He thought the first meeting was successful, and he’s put together a plan based on what he heard at that meeting.”

On April 6, 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.

“We may try to go for a spray pad this year,” Moffeit said. “I’m not sure about that. Mark will tell us what we need to do first.”

Chandler acquired 29 acres from Stanley McCurley in April. He received a down payment of about $200,000, and the title was 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.

The land includes a house, swimming pool and other buildings. Eighty to 90 percent of that land, officials have said, 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 it will be a little while before we’ve got some major construction out there,” Moffeit said.

Early planning includes adding walking paths, nature trails, playground equipment and restroom facilities and a spray pad. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department programs offer money to state municipalities and counties with populations under 20,000, providing 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. Park land typically remains with the foundation for five years. The cost to use the program is $100 a year.

Tuesday’s meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Chandler Community Center.