The City of Round Rock is moving forward with major improvements of the land under the iconic downtown water tower.
At its July 24 meeting, City Council approved a $4.8 million contract with Millis Development and Construction to carry out the Town Green Downtown Park project. MDC was selected as the most qualified proposer among three bidding firms for a strong track record of successfully completing urban park projects similar in size and complexity. Funded through the City’s General Self-Financed Construction fund, the project will revitalize this high-profile downtown space into a more functional and inviting gathering plaza for residents and visitors.
Construction is expected to begin in September and last approximately nine months.
The project will feature a great lawn with high-quality natural turf, social lawns with both synthetic and natural surfaces, wooden deck seating and a food truck parking area. The space will be flexible and have the potential to host outdoor movie nights and evening activations with illuminated benches and interactive features.
A portion of the Town Green will be designated as Koughan Memorial Plaza—preserving the legacy of William Koughan, whose CPA office once stood at the foot of the tower. In 1999, his wife, Ruth Koughan, donated funds to create a small park in his memory.
One of the project’s central elements is the renovation of the historic Johnson Building that fronts Mays Street. Portions of the building—including the original gas station structure—will be preserved and repurposed to house public restrooms and event storage for large downtown gatherings. The City also plans to reinstall the decorative gas pumps and incorporate sculptures that celebrate the site’s history, including a tribute to Round Rock’s iconic domino players.
According to Round Rock Parks and Recreation Director Rick Atkins, necessary maintenance to the downtown water tower’s lighting will be addressed in coordination with the Town Green improvements. The work follows damage caused by invasive monk parakeets that chewed through parts of the tower’s lighting system.
Project Renderings
The history of the Johnson Building
While it’s not a historically designated building, the “Johnson Building” at 102 N. Mays Street holds significance for longtime Round Rock locals. Once home to Johnson Outdoor Advertising, the building is perhaps best recognized for the inoperable gas pumps out front. The underground tanks from its early days as a gas station were removed long ago, and the building has taken on several roles since.
Constructed in the 1930s, it originally operated as a gas station along what is now Mays Street. It sits near the site of the former Woodmen of the World lodge, which once housed City Hall and the Round Rock Leader newspaper offices.
The station was built in the Spanish Revival style, featuring stucco walls, a distinctive parapet, and Spanish tile roofing. It was also quite small—only about 10 feet wide by 50 feet across, not including the canopy.
By the 1970s, the building had been renovated with a simpler, more modern exterior and an addition on the north side. In 1996, a two-story segment was added, and the decorative Texaco pumps were installed out front. That look has largely remained ever since.
The Johnson Building is also remembered as the meeting spot for a group of friends who gathered regularly to play dominoes—a familiar sight for decades. In 1991, the “Domino Players” were honored as some of the first recipients of the Local Legends Awards from the Round Rock Historic Preservation Commission.
The building later housed the administrative offices of the Round Rock Express after the team announced its move to town. The original Railyard team store operated out of 34 Round Rock Avenue—a nod to team owner and Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan’s jersey number—until construction of Dell Diamond was completed.
