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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFINAL - LEGACY PARK APPLICATION WITH QUESTIONS, October 4, 2024 LONE STAR LEGACY PARK APPLICATION Fall 2024 BRISON PARK 1. Please describe the following: establishment date; information regarding the people or organizations who helped to found the park; reasons behind the park’s creation. (max 8 points) From the time it opened in 1876, Texas A&M College provided on-campus housing for most faculty members. These homes were owned and controlled by the College, not by the professors who lived in them. By 1920, the Administration decided that campus faculty residences blocked expansion of campus buildings and began discussing the possibility of asking faculty to move off campus. Pursuing the idea of individual home ownership on privately owned land, in 1921, five A&M faculty members formed the Southside Development Company. The five partners, who purchased 85 acres of land adjoining the southern edge of the A&M campus, were Robert R. Lancaster, with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service; Daniel Scoates, Department of Agricultural Engineering; M.M. Daugherty, also with Texas Agricultural Extension Service; C.W. Burchard, Department of Chemistry; and Floyd B. Clark, Department of Economics. Dr. Clark was the managing partner. For their new residential area known as “College Park,” the Southside Development Company had Dr. D. B. Milner draw up the architectural plans for streets, building lots and a park with a centrally located lake. Clarence Andrews was the contractor and Frederick W. Hensel, the first landscape designer known to have been associated with the College, was commissioned to design the plat layout and landscaping. A copy of the earliest known map of the College Park development is attached (Brazos County Deed Records, Vol. 38, pp.602-605). 2. Describe the park’s original acreage, amenities and design as well as the current acreage and site facilities. (max 7 points) In 1921, Dexter Park (renamed Brison Park in 1987) featured a lake located in the middle of the park and was established on approximately 8.07 acres within the new College Park subdivision. Platted home lots along Dexter Drive surrounded the park. Recreational activities such as swimming, boating and occasional ice skating were the main use of the park’s lake at that time, but early photos show that the lake was also used for church baptisms. In 1939, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was called in to drain the lake for safety reasons and to help rid the area of mosquitos and malaria. At that time, the park became primarily a green space for resident families and visitors to enjoy. Today, Brison Park (aka Dexter Park) remains on the original 8.07 acreage. Its current amenities include: - Location – short walking distance to A&M’s Aggie Park and Kyle Field for football games and frequent special college events - Easily accessed, deeply shaded areas created by the huge old trees and vegetation - Three large wrought iron benches spread throughout the park - Paved and unpaved nature trails - Acorn memorial street lights - Small bridge in the south end of the park - A water fountain - Specially designed large trash cans - Pets allowed on a leash - Pet waste stations 3. Describe what makes this park unique to your community including site features, traditions, historic activities, and/or cultural topics. (max 20 points) Dexter Park was prominent in a lot of “firsts.” It was the first park near Texas A&M and was established within the first off-campus residential development called “College Park.” The lake was created as the focal point of the park in this unique subdivision design. When the ownership of Dexter Park was transferred to the City of College Station in 1947, it became the first municipal park in the city’s park system. In November 2000, the City of College Station unveiled a special marker at Brison Park as a tribute to the 12 Aggies killed and 27 injured in the tragic 1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse. The “Brison Park Bonfire Memorial Lights” include twelve antique lamp posts, with a plaque at each base stating the name, hometown and class of each of the twelve victims. These stand as memorials for losses that touched not only those families but the hearts of Aggies everywhere. Candlelight ceremonies are held there to remember those victims. Brison Park, with its large old native trees, vegetation, and a creek, is known as a popular birding location. Especially during migration, the two acres of dense foliage at the north end of the park are filled with at least 193 species of birds and the trails are easy to navigate. The following are some of the organized activities held at Brison Park: The Fall Gathering, held annually for over 35 years, draws over 100 residents who meet each year in late October. Residents invite over 350 homes to an evening with fire pits, hot dogs and conversation. The Spring Event is a coordinated project with multi-generational volunteers from numerous groups (Texas A&M students and professors, public school students and teachers, local Audubon and Native Plant societies, and residents) who work together to protect natural habitats and promote conservation of wildlife. Multiple home tours have been organized with the most recent in 2023. In 2023, The Southside Historic Neighborhood Homes Tour had its “headquarters” ticket table at Brison Park, showcasing original homes and educating the public about the park and the neighborhood’s early history. Brison Park was the training ground for the 130+ volunteers involved in the homes tour. th A special Tree Planting took place in Brison Park to celebrate the 100 Anniversary of the Southside Neighborhood and will continue yearly with support from the City of College Station Parks and Recreation Directors and the City of College Station Conservation Advocacy Group (CAG). The Southside Historic Neighborhood surrounds Brison Park and is composed of residents who are extremely active in improving the park and safeguarding what makes it special. Described as a beautiful neighborhood oasis, Brison Park is the hub for all manner of activities, helping to build an intergenerational community with its own “Southside culture.” 4. Describe the natural characteristics within the park and efforts taken to conserve the natural environment. (max 15 points) A small tributary of Bee Creek runs through the middle of Brison Park, which consists of a rolling green space highlighted by a huge, 100-year-old Post Oak tree with several branches that reach the ground. A two-acre thickly wooded area on the north end of the park is the home of many species of birds and has become a favorite of birdwatchers. Small areas in the park have a canopy of trees and green plants that provide serene locations to picnic or just to enjoy peace and quiet under the cover of nature. When the Southside Development Company sold Dexter Park to the City of College Station, official restrictions were placed on the park to guarantee that its natural environment would be preserved (Brazos County Records, Vol. 130, p. 589): 1. No BBQ grills or playground equipment of any kind 2. No Scout headquarters or camping 3. The Park must be kept clear of “unsightly objects” and all permanent buildings These deed restrictions guarantee that this natural area will be protected “in perpetuity” by the City of College Station, which has carefully maintained the park since 1947. Signs along the major paved walkway of the park include those pointing out the official City Ordinance (#298) which warns against damaging the old trees and vegetation The “Spring Event” each year is a coordinated project with participants from numerous groups. Master Naturalists, Rio Brazos Audubon Society, Native Plant Society, College Station Association of Neighborhoods, Southside Neighborhood, and Texas A&M professors and student volunteers work together to eradicate invasive non-native plant species and maintain a native garden in Brison Park. 5. Explain if the park played a significant role in the cultural or heritage development or preservation within the community. (max 11 points) A neighborhood park with an interior lake was a new design concept and generated much interest in the new 1921 subdivision. As a result, lots around the park sold out quickly and the first homes were built on Dexter Drive directly across from the park. Some of the original homes, built in 1922, are occupied by third generation owners and their significant history has been preserved and shared through the years by those family members. In 1939, A&M declared that the faculty homes on campus property had to be demolished or moved to other locations. Many of these houses were relocated to Southside, helping to make it the historic area it is today. About 20 of these campus homes, with different architectural styles, were owned by A&M professors or by others who were employed at the college. As a result, the original neighbors had much in common and Dexter Park was a perfect gathering place for meetings and social gatherings. Although Southside neighbors are now much more diverse in occupation and home ownership, there is a special camaraderie among them and pride in the history of the neighborhood - and a strong desire to protect its heritage! Today, Brison Park remains an important part of that heritage and is carefully maintained by resident volunteers as well as by the City of College Station. 6. Explain how the park and/or individual resources within the park connect to local or state distinction. (max 7 points) During A&M’s early years, there were no parks nearby. As the only park within a short walking distance from the campus, this park has been a special place for Aggies (from throughout Texas & elsewhere) to enjoy from 1921 through the present. (In 2024, there are 58 parks in the College Station park system, but Brison Park is the only large protected natural environment just one block across George Bush Drive from the A&M campus.) On April 11, 1987, Dexter Park was renamed Brison Park in honor of Fred R. Brison, Sr., who lived adjacent to the park and was one of its staunchest advocates. Brison was an A&M Distinguished Alumnus in horticulture for 43 years and was an internationally recognized authority on pecan culture and plant propagation. He was also an active community resident who served on the College Station City Council and was mayor pro tem from 1971-1974. The Rio Brazos Audubon Society, a Texas non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitats, has recognized Brison Park as a primary birding location. The park and its activities and community involvement have also been included in a Bird City Texas application. That community-focused certification program to help Texans protect birds and their habitats is very important to the City of College Station and its residents. 7. Describe any historic features and designations located within the park including any WPA/CCC work. (max 7 points) In 1921, the small tributary of Bee Creek that ran through park property was dammed to provide the large lake for the College Park subdivision. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) dug the drainage ditch to promote better drainage coming from the A&M campus area, through the park, and eventually flowing into Bee Creek, Carter Creek and the Navasota River. In 1939, that lake was drained by the WPA to protect residents from widespread malaria. The 1939 “cut” in the dam was a perfect place for a small bridge to join the two ends of the dam. Local children in the 1950s named it “Billy Goats Bridge” and it became the historic place where three goats tried to cross over and avoid the ugly troll who lived underneath. (The “Three Billy Goats Gruff” story, based on an old Norwegian folk tale, was first published in English in 1858.) The story is still popular and the bridge has become a memorable landmark for ongoing generations who insist that “the mean old troll STILL lives under the bridge!” in 1987, a memorial with bronze plaque was erected to honor Professor Fred R. Brison, Sr. and Dexter Park was renamed Brison Park. The memorial is located on the south side of the park across the street from the Brison’s historic home on Dexter Drive. Brison Park was designated as the City of College Station’s location for the “Brison Park th Bonfire Memorial Lights” honoring the victims of the Aggie Bonfire collapse of 1999. The 25 anniversary of this tragedy will be remembered in November 2024 The incredibly large, sprawling Post Oak tree called the “Brison Oak” is located on the northeast side th of Brison Park. This tree is over 100 years old and was part of the 100 Anniversary celebration of the Southside Historic Neighborhood. 8. Please describe any citizen initiatives or advocacy programs that have supported the park throughout the years. (max 7 points) The Southside Neighborhood and the Southside Advocacy Group have dedicated members who strive to preserve the park and early residential area. In December 2017, because of the increasing size of A&M, the neighborhood decided to protect the area by requesting an NCO- Neighborhood Conservation Overlay- zoning district for approximately 127 acres. Neighborhood representatives in the Heart of Southside area submitted an application to the City of College Station requesting a “Neighborhood Conservation Overlay” zoning, one of the City’s Single-Family Overlay districts. The request was 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 by the College Station City Council on Feb 14,2019. Conservation-minded citizens in the neighborhood are also involved in the official Conservation Advocacy Group (CAG) organized by the City of College Station Parks & Recreation Department to help foster wildlife conservation. Neighbors meet monthly with the CAG to discuss how Brison Park fits into the overall plan for the City of College Station and their efforts in the larger context. Each year, members of the CAG partner with the Southside Historic Neighborhood residents to determine which non-natives to remove from the park. In 2024, the Southside Historic Neighborhood received a grant from the City of College Station to plant native plants and trees in the Brison Native Garden. In the fall, residents plant fall plants and then also clean out the garden in the spring during the Spring Event. Especially important during dry summer months, Southside neighbors organize a weekly watering schedule for the new plants in the Brison Native Garden. Additional information follows on the two events in Brison Park which build a strong sense of community and promote the area’s conservation efforts: “Fall Gatherings” is an event that has been held in Brison Park on the last Sunday of October for 35 years! This is a social gathering and over 350 invitations are distributed to residents in Southside, encouraging them to come eat, meet their neighbors and talk about plans for the community. Recently, a native plant sale and planting new native plants in the Brison Garden were added to the day, along with a presentation on Butterfly Gardening. “Spring Event” is a free event held in Brison Park to educate the community about “Birding in Brison,” and about the importance of native plants, animals and habitat restoration. Many age groups - from younger children to National Honor Society groups to college students to professionals & retirees - work together in Brison Park. This is an effort with many hours of work in the spring to benefit birds, pollinators and the local wildlife. Educational materials are also handed out by volunteers to promote the importance of continued focus on nature in Brison Park. 9. Please list previous awards given to the park. (max 2 points) Recognitions: “The Brison Park Bonfire Memorial Lights” historic marker was erected in Brison Park in honor of the 12 victims of the Aggie Bonfire collapse in 1999. The Rio Brazos Audubon Society has recognized Brison Park as a primary birding location. The park is now listed in the “2024 Bird Guide” published by the College Station Parks & Recreation Department. The 100-year-old “Brison Oak” in Brison Park will soon be designated as a “Brazos County Heritage Tree” and will be listed on the Brazos County Historical Commission’s registry. 10. Please provide a summary of park usage and average annual attendance. (max 1 point) College Station has grown from a resident population of 2,184 and an Aggie student population of 6,543 in 1940 (the city’s first census) to a resident population of over 120,511 and an Aggie population of over 72,000 in 2020. Through the many years of College Station’s tremendous growth, at least one constant has remained - BRISON PARK. We hope it is there for residents and visitors for another 100 years! There is no way to provide an accurate annual attendance of park usage when people coming to Brison Park vary greatly in their reasons for being there and in their occupations. College and younger students of all ages, teachers, professional groups, working and retired Southside neighbors, out-of-town visitors, etc., are often seen in this beautiful park. Attendance at the park is affected by the following factors: 1. There are approximately 300 homes in the Southside Historic Neighborhood near Brison Park. 2. There are several churches and schools nearby that utilize the park. 3. Residents and Aggies daily walk their pets in the park. 4. Many birthday parties, group meetings and picnics take place at Brison Park each year. 5. Every home football game brings over 100,000 people to the Southside area because of its close proximity to A&M. Many of those from out-of-town visit Brison Park during that time. 6. A&M professors often bring their classes to the park during nice weather. 7. Aggies love to play badminton, spike ball, frisbee, etc., and picnic in the park. 8. Even marriage proposals have taken place under the huge “Brison Oak” tree.