By Gabby Sahm

Staff Writer

This month, the City of Coppell will be holding meetings to discuss new plans for two parks. The two major projects they will be discussing are the redevelopment of Andy Brown Parks and the Coppell Life Safety Park.

The Coppell Life Safety Park will be a project intended to provide educational opportunities to help students, families and community members. The topics presented will discuss life safety programs such as severe weather response, fire-safety procedures and pedestrian caution. There will also be a museum, party room and public classrooms for educational purposes.

The new safety park will not only be used by families and students, but also by the fire and police departments to hold academy courses. The fire department will host its community CPR course, while the police department will use it to hold its self-defense and awareness classes.

The Andy Brown Redevelopment Project will bring fresh greens and active areas for small group and family outings.

“If the current conceptual plan for Andrew Brown Parks is approved, there will be a complete reconstruction of Andrew Brown West, significant redevelopment at Andrew Brown East and some modifications to Andrew Brown Central,” Director of Parks and Recreation Brad Reid said.

Andy Brown West will become the prime athletic venue on the north side of town, while Andy Brown East will become a more passive area with improved hike and bike trails, water access, pavilions, special event areas and open spaces to enjoy a restful day at the park. Andy Brown Park Central will have better visibility and add to the entrance way into the city. Completion will take around three years.

“There are several reasons for the need to redevelop the Andrew Brown Park system,” Reid said. “Primarily, the city is responding to the Coppell 2030 Strategic Plan, which calls for large community gathering areas at Andrew Brown Park, and the renovation of the athletic facilities to bring them more in line with the quality of the other facilities in Coppell and our neighboring communities.”

Coppell High School sophomore Morgan Salazar used to go to Andy Brown Park everyday as a child. She just recently started going back again because she wants to start running. She wants to better her life, and she thinks the park being re-done could help.

“It is really good for the park,” Salazar said. “It is a big improvement and it will only better our community.”

The public meetings for Coppell Life Safety Park will be held at Council Chambers on the following dates: Wednesday, May 14, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 31 at 10 a.m.; Monday, June 2 at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, June 3 at 7 p.m. Meetings for the redevelopment of Andy Brown Park will be held in the same place but the dates are as followed: Monday, May 19 at 7 p.m.; Tuesday, May 20, at 7 p.m.; Thursday, May 22, at 7 p.m. and Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m.