Cedar Park's Emergency Services Poised For Expansion

CEDAR PARK-LEANDER, TX -- Cedar Park fire and police departments will have soon have larger facilities thanks to a $7.5 million bond issue recently approved by voters.

Voters overwhelmingly approved the bond issuance to fund public safety facilities in projects in a special election last November. Of those casting ballots, 73 percent voted to endorse the measure.

Now, the planning for such expansion has begun, reports Hill Country News.

Fire Department Chief James Mallinger already envisions a fifth fire station currently in the planning stages to be built for a little over $4 million, he told the newspaper. The station would be located at Cottonwood Creek Trail, with an expected opening by 2018.

More of the bond proceeds will be used for additional space for fire department personnel. Some $1.43 million in proceeds have been earmarked to finish out an existing, vacant building to house offices and training space.

Mallinger also conveyed plans to recommend an expansion of New Hope Drive from toll 183A to Ronald Reagan Boulevard to ensure greater safety.

“This will provide us with a safer route in the northeast portion of the city,” Mallinger explained.

Also experiencing growing pains is the Cedar Park Police Department. A 72 percent growth in the force since 2003 has fueled the need for bigger office space, Commander Bryan Wukasch said.

To accommodate the growing ranks, the department not long ago moved its headquarters to large space along Quest Parkway.

But even that move hasn’t fully accommodated the rank and file. Plans now call for a new wing to its headquarters.

In the next few months, police representatives will visit with and architect for design of a new headquarters wing along with estimates on cost.

Police officials envision an 11,150-square-foot wing to expand their base. Another 1,125-square-foot area might be added for an evidence processing bay.

“We’re working with the city and they are deciding the timeline,” Wukasch told the newspaper.

Additional plans call for the addition of parking area and a memorial to be built in an unused fountain portion of the building.

All told. the police department plans come with a price tag of $5.73 million--exceeding its allotment from the 2015 bonds money allotment. But Wukasch explained about $1.77 million from the 2015 bond issuance would be used and the balance from unspent money from past bonds issues, he said.