Denison park inducted into state legacy program

Aaron Dobson, director of parks and recreation for the city of Cleburn and president of the Texas Recreation and Park Society, presented an award to Denison on March 16, recognizing Waterlue Lake Regional Park as an inductee into the Lonear Legacy Park program.

Dobson told the council the recognition celebrates parks at least 50 years old that have deep community ties. “On behalf of the Texas Recreation and Park Society, it is my honor to recognize Waterlue Lake Regional Park as the most recent inductee into the Lonear Legacy Park program,” he said.

The presentation described the park as more than a recreational site: park staff and residents have stewarded it for generations, Dobson said, and the site retains historic features such as inscription rock where early travelers carved names.

The remarks noted the park’s amenities and scale: more than 211 acres, nearly eight miles of trails, boat access, playgrounds, athletic facilities, a dog park and pickleball courts. The presenter traced the park’s history to the mid-1840s and said the city dammed the springs in 1887 to create the municipal water supply that served residents through 1908.

Council members and staff joined the recognition; staff accepted the award on the city’s behalf. The council moved on to other agenda business after the presentation.