City awarded 3/4 million Pacific Park grant

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  • A photo of Pacific Park taken in June 2019/ Staff photo by Taylor Nye
    A photo of Pacific Park taken in June 2019/ Staff photo by Taylor Nye
  • An artists' depiction of the outdoor sports pavilion in Pacific Park/ Courtesy City of Sulphur Springs
    An artists' depiction of the outdoor sports pavilion in Pacific Park/ Courtesy City of Sulphur Springs
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East End residents celebrate park perseverance 

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The City of Sulphur Springs has been awarded a $750,000 grant for Pacific Park which they will be able to use for playground equipment, landscaping and more, per the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 

In November 2019, citizens voted to approve $200,000 per year of funding be redirected from Sulphur Springs Economic Development Corporation to pay for the refurbishment of Pacific Park and the Senior Activity Center. At the same time, the city also sought other funding sources for the project, including a land sale and a quarter million dollar grant from TPWD. 

The city completed the grant process with TPWD throughout the spring months, asking for a letter of assistance from East End Allegiance: Our Youth. East End residents appeared before the city council in May 2019 to urge action for what they felt were outdated facilities and equipment. 

“It hasn’t been weeks or days, I’m talking about basically years of neglect,” said East End resident Brittany Abron in May 2019. 

Now, more than a year later, East End residents felt triumphant about their role in helping push the project and the TPWD grant forward. 

Never let anyone tell you no,” said resident Bridgette Cooper on the East End Allegiance social media page. “Always stand for what’s right! In your community you matter and your voice will be heard.” 

The TPWD grant must be used for Pacific Park, as it is specifically for outdoor spaces, according to TPWD guidelines. In total, the amount of funding the city now has set aside for Pacific Park reaches $1.5 million, according to city manager Marc Maxwell. 

Some features of the park will include an updated Grays building with a commercial kitchen, an outdoor sports pavilion, a park for smaller children, walking trails, and an improved splash pad, among other amenities. 

“It’s going to be a fabulous park,” Maxwell said. "It will incorporate everything the community asked for during the planning sessions. We are looking forward to the park becoming one of the city's crown jewels."