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Home My WebLink AboutDUPRIEST - BRISON PARK SUPPORT LETTER INCLUDING FULL HISTORYTo: Texas Recreation & Parks Society From: Shirley Dupriest Southside Neighborhood Resident My home since 2007 is in the College Park subdivision located in College Station, Texas. Two blocks from my home are Kyle Field of Texas A&M University and 72,000 students. The number of students is overwhelming and, as a mature adult, I couldn’t survive without the wonderful park three short blocks away. As a recent citizen of College Station, my interest in my neighborhood peaked when I volunteered for the Historic Preservation Committee about 6 years ago. My subdivision, College Park, is the history of my city and my local park has a history of its own. Not long after College Station was incorporated in 1938 – with about 2,000 residents – the first city council created a parks board to manage future public parks and grounds. On July 15,1947 the city purchased, for $2,000, an unplotted area in the plan of the College Park subdivision, southeast of the A&M College campus. This area included the park area around and including park lake and became the city’s first municipal park, Dexter Park. The story of the College Park subdivision and its park begins in 1921. The land for College Park was privately owned by the Southside Development Company, yet everyone who bought lots in the subdivision had an equity in the park. Each property owner had a right to go into court and sue for its retention. Because of this fact, not even the Directors of the Southside Development Company could legally permit its destruction. 1 Part of the original park design was an area of over two plus acres in size, which was left in a natural state with existing vegetation. A lake was fulfilled by the construction of an earth dam in August, 1921 at the south end of the park. The lake measured approximately twelve feet at its deepest point. Unfortunately, in July, 1939, under orders from Texas A&M College President T.O. Walton and Civil Engineering Professor Gibb Gilchrist, the lake was drained to eliminate the growth of an uncontrollable weed which made the control of mosquitoes too expensive. The mosquito control was mandatory because of a malaria epidemic occurring throughout the United States at this time.1 In September, 1940 to help remove standing water in the park, the Works Project Administration (WPA) dug the existing drainage ditch to promote better runoff coming from the campus area, through the park and eventually flowing into Bee Creek, Carter Creek and the Navasota River.2 The deed to the property when sold to the City of College Station, stated “the park should be used for park purposes only and included several restrictions on future uses and structures which could exist on the park property. Some of these include prohibition of barbeque stands, children’s play equipment, the use of the park as a camping ground, nor in general, should the area contain any unsightly objects or permanent buildings of any kind.”3 A clause was added which read, “These restrictions shall remain in force until such time as they may be changed by a majority vote of the registered voters of the city of College Station.”4 These restrictions have been enforced by the City multiple times over the 100-year-old park. Located on Dexter Drive and originally known as Dexter Park, it was renamed Brison Park in 1987 in honor of Professor Fred Brison. He served as Mayor Pro Tem of College Station from 1971-1974 and was a faculty member of Texas A&M’s Department of Horticultural Sciences for 43 years. His home was located near the south end of the park at 602 Dexter Drive West where he attended to the oak and pecan trees in the park area. In Dec 2017, because of the increasing size of A&M, our neighborhood decided to protect the area by requesting an NCO- Neighborhood Conservation Overlay- zoning district for approximately 127 acres. Justin Golbabai, Planning and Development for the City of College Station, stated that the requested “Heart of Southside Neighborhood Conservation Overlay” area is located in an area south of George Bush Drive and north of Luther Street and Thomas Street, generally between the lots on the west side of Fairview Avenue and the lots on the east side of Lee Avenue and Pershing Drive. The neighborhood includes 262 properties and surrounds College Station’s first city park - Brison Park. The requested area contains the Oakwood and Dulaney Subdivisions, the majority of the College Park subdivision, and smaller portions of Woodson Village Phase 1 and Phase 2 subdivisions. Neighborhood representatives in the Heart of Southside area have submitted an application to request a Neighborhood Conservation Overlay zoning, one of the City’s Single-Family Overlay districts. The request is made to preserve the character of the neighborhood. The “Heart of Southside” is Brison Park, formerly Dexter Park. The neighborhood NCO process took 14 months, hundreds of hours by neighbors and city staff, phone calls, emails, meetings and certified mailings. The request was approved Feb 14,2019. Neighbors who spoke on behalf of the NCO included:Katherine Edwards, College Station, gave a brief description of how College Station has grown since 1946 when she grew up in the Southside. She stated her support but only if we preserve the neighborhood trees, and green space. Bob Richers, College Station, stated that Council needs to keep the character of this neighborhood and how the park is surrounded by a beautiful neighborhood. Mr. Richers asked Council to approve the NCO request. Ken Matthews, College Station, talked about the Southside Neighborhood Park and how the community comes together in this park. Mr. Matthews stated that this overlay will protect the neighborhood. Nan Crouse, College Station, stated she is representing Emily Jane Cowen. Ms. Crouse read an article regarding the neighborhood park and the commonality in the neighborhood. She requested Council to preserve the Southside Neighborhood. Scott Shaffer, College Station, stated his support for this item due to the NCO currently being proposed and Council honoring the Southside Neighborhood. Maggie Malone, College Station, stated her support for the NCO as proposed and how this community has made her feel welcomed ever since she moved in. Ms. Malone asked Council to preserve this neighborhood. Will Botts, College Station, explained how he owns several rental properties, a couple of them are in the Southside Neighborhood and wished his other homes were in the amazing community. There being no further comments, the Public Hearing was closed at 8:04 p.m. MOTION: Upon a motion made by Councilmember Rektorik and a second by Councilmember Maloney, the City Council voted five (5) for and none (0) opposed. The motion carried unanimously.5 Brison Park is a beautifully wooded green space with a 1/3-mile nature trail and a seasonal stream. The Brazos Valley Audubon Society has identified 193 varieties of birds seen in Brison Park annually, especially during the fall and spring migration. Located in the park around the perimeter are lamp posts and individual markers dedicated to each of the 12 victims of the 1999 Texas Aggie Bonfire tragedy. The history of Brison Park grows with every new student, professor, and resident who reside in the Southside of College Station, Texas. Bryan Eagle, The, “Paving in College Park Gives Final Touch to Real Estate Project; College Men’s Idea”, Nov. 21, 1939. Langford, Ernest. Private Interview. September 7, 1976. Park Lake, Transfer of Deed. Brazos County, Texas July 15, 1947. College Station City Council. Minutes of Regular Meeting, July 15, 1947. College Station City Council. Minutes of Regular Meeting, February 14, 2019.