Bergfeld Park Wins Lone Star Legacy Award

TYLER — Bergfeld Park was named a Lone Star Legacy Park for its special prominence in the local community and the state of Texas, according to a city of Tyler news release. City officials say these parks have endured the test of time and have become iconic to those who have visited, played, and rested on their grounds. A designation as a Lone Star Legacy is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a park by the Texas Recreation and Parks Society (TRAPS).

Bergfeld Park received this designation at the Texas Recreation and Parks Society (TRAPS) Institute and EXPO in Corpus Christi on February 18 and was accepted by the Tyler City Council during Wednesday�s council meeting. Eight Texas Parks were honored with thedesignation. The purpose of the designation is to recognize what a park means to a particular community. Officials say Bergfeld Park currently has both Local and National Historic Landmark designation symbolizing its rich history in the community.

The City Council also accepted a $75,000 donation from Grace Community and Green Acres churches on behalf of children from Gospel Village Mentoring for re-development of the playground and the purchase of new equipment in Bergfeld Park (see image at left). �This donation really shows how important this park is to the citizens of Tyler,� said Parks Director Stephanie Rollings. MHS Planning and Design of Tyler recently completed a Master Plan for improvements to Bergfeld Park which was adopted by the Council in November 2013. This plan was then used to design a new playground facility for the park. Additional funds are being raised for implementation of this first phase of the Master Plan, and therefore, the council may need to accept those additional funds at a later time.