The pending City Council item was a five-year lease for trail and park access on roughly 130 acres near Hunter Road. Council approved the pending item.
The lease puts New Braunfels in charge of construction, maintenance, utilities, insurance and improvements for about 130 acres intended for natural-surface trail access.
The New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation spent $8 million in 2024 to buy approximately 130 acres in northwest New Braunfels for economic-development projects and future park space. The corporation later voted unanimously for the no-cost lease, sending the item to council; Comal.News covered that step in its report on the EDC-backed lease.
What the lease requires
The agreement covers two tracts: about 62.6 acres and about 68.163 acres, with one portion addressed as 3982 Hunter Road. New Braunfels accepts the land as is and must pay for construction, maintenance, utilities, insurance, repairs and any improvements. Work requiring city permits must follow city codes.
The contract runs for five years and can be extended for another five-year term after 30 days' written notice, subject to terms accepted by both parties. Either the city or the EDC may terminate the lease with 30 days' written notice.
Volunteer support, then an opening plan
A trail-organization representative supported the Northwest Park project and described planned volunteer construction, maintenance, and fundraising for natural-surface trails. That recorded statement describes the group's plans; it does not independently establish the work schedule or costs.
A Northwest Park master plan is underway, and the Parks Department intends to open part of the property for natural-surface trails. Residents can inspect the contract on the city's item page; an executed agreement and a Parks Department opening plan would answer when access begins and which trails, parking areas and rules come first.
The action closes the vote question raised in Comal.News' first look at the proposed trail-access lease. The longer-term question—how the interim trail opening fits the final park design—remains tied to the master-plan process.