A trip to Rick Oden Park could soon call for a towel along with the skateboard and picnic basket. The planned Rick Oden splash pad would bring a new place to cool off to one of Garland’s established family recreation destinations.
The city plans to replace one tennis court at the Jack Coleman Tennis Center with 6,700 square feet of water-play space. Shade structures, seating and picnic areas would help families settle in for a longer visit, adding a summer attraction to a park already known for its playground and skatepark.
Rick Oden splash pad brings water play and shade
The project at 845 Briarwood Drive includes more than the splash pad itself. Garland’s park-project tracker lists seatwalls, lighting, shade structures, furnishings and landscaping among the planned improvements.
The state filing adds approximately 6,500 square feet of sidewalks, plus picnic tables and their pads. Together, the water-play space and sidewalks account for the filing’s 13,200-square-foot total.
Those supporting features matter on a hot afternoon. Shaded places to sit give adults a spot to take a break, while new pedestrian paving would connect the water-play area with its surroundings. The Rick Oden splash pad would give families another activity to pair with a playground visit or a picnic.
Another addition to a Garland family destination
The nearly 37-acre Rick Oden Park has already received a broad round of improvements through Garland’s 2019 Bond Program. Those upgrades include a regional playground, pedestrian bridge, trails, restrooms, shade structures and sports field renovations.
It is also home to the 48,500-square-foot Jon Comer Skatepark. The city’s skatepark guide describes three main areas: a street and plaza section, a bowl and transition section, and a dedicated beginner area. That range gives first-time riders and experienced skaters room to build their skills.
Water play would add a different option to that mix. Families could combine time on the playground with a chance to cool off, while picnic spaces offer a place to regroup between activities.
Garland already offers splash pads at Embree, Lon Wynne and Watson parks, along with water play at Downtown Square. At those existing locations, visitors activate the features by touching a handprint bollard. The city maintains splash-pad information and operating status for families planning an outing.
More changes planned at Jack Coleman
The splash pad is one piece of the recreation plans for this part of Rick Oden Park. Separately, the city plans to convert a portion of the Jack Coleman Tennis Center into a mix of pickleball, tennis and hybrid courts. New surfacing, nets and windscreens are included in that court project.
That work has its own schedule. The city’s project tracker says court construction will begin once the Bob Day Tennis Complex is fully operational.
Rick Oden splash pad targets spring 2027 completion
The splash pad’s state registration lists an estimated $3 million construction cost, with work scheduled from October 15, 2026, through May 15, 2027. Kimley-Horn and Associates is the design firm. The completion date is a construction target; Garland has not announced an opening date.
For park visitors, the appeal is straightforward: more ways to spend an afternoon in one place. The Rick Oden splash pad would bring water play into a setting that already offers climbing, sliding, skating and room to gather.