College Station is moving ahead with the long-awaited Texas Independence Park after years of planning and setbacks. The City Council has approved a construction contract for the 68-acre park in Midtown, marking a major milestone for the project. The new park will feature recreational amenities shaped by community feedback and will transform a site once planned for a baseball stadium.
City Council Approves Construction Contract
The College Station City Council unanimously approved a $7 million construction contract with Skanska USA Building Inc. for Texas Independence Park at Midtown.
The 68-acre public park will be built along Rock Prairie Road and represents the first major step toward developing the Midtown area after several years of delays.
Construction is scheduled to begin on August 1, 2026, with the city targeting a public opening in December 2027.
Residents Welcome the Decision
For Midtown residents Jerry and Shelby Behm, the council’s vote marks the realization of a vision they supported for years.
The couple moved to Midtown in September 2021 after being attracted by plans for a mixed-use community where residents could live, shop, and gather.
As development slowed, Shelby Behm became one of Midtown’s most active advocates during city council meetings, with Jerry supporting those efforts. Together with their dog, Remy, they encouraged the city to continue investing in the neighborhood.
Jerry Behm said he was excited about Texas Independence Park and described it as the first investment in Midtown.
A Site with a Challenging History
Texas Independence Park will occupy the same site that was originally planned for the Texas Independence Ballpark.
The city broke ground on the estimated $23 million baseball project in November 2022. However, only weeks later, an unprecedented amount of rainfall changed the site’s soil conditions.
Additional testing completed in early 2023 found that the ground could not support the proposed ballpark. City staff determined that correcting the soil conditions would require at least $10 million in additional costs.
In August 2023, the city canceled the project after spending approximately $5 million.
Although the ballpark was abandoned, infrastructure installed during the project remained at the site, including:
- A restroom building
- Sewer infrastructure
- Water utilities
- Electrical capabilities
Community Feedback Guided the New Plan
Rather than leaving the site unused, College Station asked residents how they wanted the property to be developed.
The city received more than 400 survey responses, providing a wide range of ideas for the future park.
According to Planning and Development representative Jennifer Cain, residents suggested features such as trails, pickleball courts, a swimming pool, and a bike pump track.
The city used this feedback to prepare a master plan for the property.
In August 2024, the College Station City Council unanimously approved the master plan for Texas Independence Park.
Features Planned for Texas Independence Park
Texas Independence Park will cover 68 acres and is expected to cost approximately $21 million.
The park will include:
- A destination playground
- Two bike parks featuring a pump track, dual elevated hub, wall rides, and surface flow trails
- A dog park
- A fishing pond
- An 18-hole disc golf course
- Natural surface trails
- Picnic areas
- Parking facilities
These amenities were selected through the planning process that followed public input.
State Grant Supports Bike Facilities
In January 2025, College Station received a $750,000 grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to help fund the bike-related features planned for the park.
College Station was one of 21 communities selected to receive non-urban park grants. That year, the commission approved a record $30.9 million in local park grants.
The funding will support construction of the cycling facilities included in the park’s master plan.
Separate Baseball Complex Still Under Negotiation
Texas Independence Park is separate from another proposed Midtown development known as The Station Baseball Complex, formerly called Southern Roots.
The proposed project would be built on a different parcel within the Midtown Business Park.
Plans for the development include:
- Nine synthetic turf fields
- A championship-level stadium
- Cabins
- RV spaces
- Recreational facilities
In February 2026, the city approved a letter of intent with The Station Baseball LLC, although negotiations on the project are still ongoing.
Construction Begins This August
With the construction contract now approved, College Station plans to begin work on Texas Independence Park on August 1, 2026.
The city expects to open the park to the public in December 2027.
For Jerry Behm, Texas Independence Park and the proposed baseball complex represent the beginning of Midtown’s development. He said he hopes the projects will attract additional commercial and retail development and help create the community originally envisioned for the area.
Conclusion
College Station has officially moved forward with construction of Texas Independence Park after years of planning and changes to the original vision for the site. The approved construction contract allows work to begin on a 68-acre park designed through community input and supported by state grant funding. With construction scheduled to start in August 2026 and completion expected in December 2027, the project marks an important milestone in the ongoing development of the city’s Midtown district.
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