A year to the day after the first presentation for revitalizing the Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park, the Kyle Parks and Recreation Department and Kyle Chamber of Commerce joined by the Kyle City Council celebrated the completion of construction with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the arrival of Santa Claus and the lighting of the Christmas tree Dec. 1. Holiday lights and displays have been set up throughout the park and will be up through the new year.

South Burleson Street was closed to allow for vendors and local organizations, such as the Kyle Area Senior Zone, to set up booths as well as a stage for the ceremony.

Kyle Elementary School, Chapa Middle School and Hays High School’s honor choir sang holiday songs for the dozens of community members that came out to celebrate the completion of the park and the flipping of the switch for the lights all over the park.

A construction contract with T.F. Harper & Associates LP in the amount of $1.798 million was approved June 1 by the city for construction and improvements on the park, which included adding seating and picnic tables, preserving historical areas of the park and making the space more compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, a section of the park will remain closed until flowers that would not survive through the winter can be planted in the spring.

“As a lifelong resident of Kyle, I’ve waited a long time to see this park upgraded. Words cannot explain how happy I feel right now,” Council Member Robert Rizo said. “I look forward to the day that I can bring my grandkids here, enjoy the weekends, enjoy some good food, enjoy the people of Kyle."