Celina approves $189M in 2026 infrastructure spending plan

The city of Celina approved the first stage of its $853 million Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP), adopting a framework to spend $189 million in 2026. Funding for the remaining years is planned but not officially approved. 

The CIP split the funding for the coming year into several categories, prioritizing water and wastewater utility infrastructure above all other sectors. A breakdown of planned spending over the next year includes: 

• Water and wastewater utilities – $86.8 million. 
• Roadways – $68.1 million. 
• Parks – $18.2 million. 
• Facilities – $7.5 million. 
• Information technology – $3.7 million. 
• Public safety – $3.5 million. 
• Drainage – $1.75 million. 

As the most prominent capital driver featured in the plan, projects under the water and wastewater utilities category primarily revolve around installing water lines, building wells, pump stations and improving sewer infrastructure. The largest single project is providing additional pump capacity at the Celina Road pump station, costing a total of $56.1 million to upgrade it from 25 million gallons per day (mgd) to 35 mgd. 

Phase 2 of the Downtown Water Reclamation Plant initiative comes second, carrying a total $50.8 million price tag. The city will expand the facility’s treatment capacity from 0.95 million gallons per day (mgd) to 3 mgd. The city will spend another $40 million to expand the Legacy Hills Water Reclamation Plant from 0.95 mgd to 2 mgd. The CIP includes a $36 million investment to build an 8-mgd ground storage tank and a 25-mgd pump station. 

Among the planned roadway projects, Celina will allocate the largest investment into its downtown streets projects, covering $86.6 million over the next five years. The city will spend $17.9 million for the first batch of road initiatives in 2026. The project vision calls for converting asphalt streets to concrete and incorporating paving, drainage, water, sewer, sidewalks and streetlighting. 

Street maintenance initiatives will require $30 million over the next five years, evenly split with $6 million each year. The annual allowance covers maintenance of existing roadways, including crack sealing, concrete panel replacements, spot repairs, sidewalk repairs, striping and concrete panel lifting with foam injection. 

The singular project carrying the highest price tag – $27 million – will be the reconstruction of Smiley Road. Celina will reconstruct it as a concrete roadway and build the first two lanes within the right-of-way of a six-lane divided arterial and implement paving, drainage, sidewalk, signage and pavement marking improvements. 

For parks, Celina will build out the remainder of Ousley Park, spending $24.7 million over the next five years. The project will include a splash pad, large entry fountain feature, structured and natural playgrounds, open-air pavilion, pedestrian bridges, memorial walk, dog parks, pickleball courts and parking. The city will spend an additional $22 million to buy public parkland. A total of $18.7 million will be sun into Phase 2 of the Wilson Creek Park project, developing another 20 acres to include two open multi-sports fields, lighted baseball fields, restroom and concession buildings and field lighting. 

The largest investment in municipal facilities will be the $5 million Public Works Permanent Administration project. The city will build the first phase of permanent offices for the department, covering around 100,000 square feet. Plans include building meeting and locker space for roughly 200 employees, a break room, storage and other essential equipment. 

Celina will allocate $7.5 million to expand IT fiber, dedicating $1.5 million each year. The technology will help support the city’s critical infrastructure, providing reliable communications for water, wastewater and public safety facilities. 

As part of its planned investments in public safety, Celina will predominantly focus on fire stations and a police weapons range. This includes building a $23 million Permanent Fire Station No. 2 to replace the temporary facility. The station will be a double-company facility covering roughly 22,000 square feet. It will include five apparatus bays, sleeping quarters for sixteen firefighters, accommodations for a station office and a battalion chief and secure on-site parking. 

The city will spend $19.8 million to build Fire Station No. 5. The approximately 20,000 square foot facility will be one-story tall, feature three 80-foot fire engine bays and contain 11 bedrooms. Plans for the police weapons range call for a $14.8 million investment in a roughly 23,000 square foot, one-story building. The facility will contain 12 firing lanes, a large training classroom, ammo storage area, a range master office and a weapons cleaning room. 

The remaining funding for drainage will be used to improve the city’s downtown drainage system by installing new drainage pipes and replacing culverts. The city will also invest in annual maintenance and repair work. 

Photo by Nicolas Henderson from Coppell, Texas, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, from Wikimedia Commons