More than 500 people showed up for the grand opening of the newly renovated Veterans' Memorial Park in Elgin on Sept. 7.
Two-minute impact
Part of the downtown revitalization program, the park was created in 1913 and now spans two additional city blocks—featuring aspects that highlight the city's history, said Amy Miller, Elgin community services director.
"The original park still has the gazebo and seating," Miller said. "Where we expanded were two blank, vacant lots."
What's different?
Miller said a special addition to the park includes elements that nod to Elgin's railroad history.
"The children are going to love our life-sized Kompan Robinia Wood Train, which was inspired by the 1871 locomotive that established Elgin in 1872,” Elgin Mayor Theresa McShan said in a news release.
- Playground with a dry creek bed and hand pump water feature
- Additional seating options, including swinging benches
- Stage that pays homage to the Hispanic Street Dance that was held annually from the 1940s-60s
- A public art piece called "Synchronicity of Color for Elgin"
- Ziplines
- All-abilities merry-go-round
- Swings
- Wobble bridge
- Climbing hill
- Native pollinator plants
“The excitement of the community for this new park downtown is contagious, and we are confident that this is the most interactive and most beautiful downtown park in Central Texas, maybe Texas as a whole," Elgin City Manager Tom Mattis said in the news release. "We invite everyone to come see us in Elgin and enjoy our downtown."
- Opened Sept. 7
- 109 Depot St., Elgin
- www.elgintexas.gov
