HomeMy WebLinkAboutFRISK - BRISON PARK SUPPORT LETTER DRAFT
1004 Ashburn Avenue
College Station, TX 77840
October 2, 2024
Re: Lone Star Legacy Park Designation for Brison Park
Dear Members of the Texas Recreation & Parks Society,
I am a retired teacher who grew up in College Station and am currently a member of the
College Station Historic Preservation Committee and the Brazos County Historical
Commission. As an avid historian, I have long been interested in researching anything
related to our City, so learning more about the history of Brison Park, College Station’s
first municipal park, has been a real treat.
This park’s history reaches way back but its importance hasn’t faded through the years
since it was developed in 1921. Even though the City and University populations have
increased tremendously since then, Brison Park remains an important center for the
Southside community’s activities. A & M students who also live in Southside are always
welcome to participate in the neighborhood’s events in Brison Park. This is a unique
opportunity for them to meet other residents, make new friends and feel like this is their
“home away from home.”
Brison Park doesn’t have any playground equipment in it that wears out or gets rusty,
but it does have trees and vegetation that grow more beautiful and inviting every year,
as evidenced by the “Brison Oak” which stands 58’ tall and 113’ wide at the top of the
tree. (This tree is being added to the registry of official Brazos County Heritage Trees.)
Perhaps nature and a peaceful environment are the primary reasons for the flow of
residents, students and visitors who all come frequently to enjoy Brison Park.
Instead of watching TV or an iPad or an iPhone for many hours every day, children
need to play outside to develop healthy bodies and creative imaginations. For several
generations of people (all ages), Brison Park has provided a wonderful natural green
space that is getting more and more difficult to find. Through the conservation efforts of
many dedicated citizens and the City of College Station, the wildlife, birds, and native
plants of this 103-year-old park will continue to flourish.
Thank you for considering Brison Park for designation as a Lone Star Legacy Park.
Sincerely yours,
Sherry Smith Frisk
Texas A&M Class of ‘70