Published: May 31, 2008 09:24 am            

Ribbon cut on phase II of Hamm Creek

Officials and area residents braved Wednesday’s mid-day heat to celebrate the completion of another phase of Hamm Creek Park’s renovation.

“A lot of people have a lot of memories of this place,” County Commissioner R.C. McFall said. “A lot of them I can’t talk about right now. But this project was the dream of George Wood. He worked tirelessly on it.

“Every county city council and chamber signed on to support this, and it’s the only such project I know of where that ever happened.”

Wood is the Brazos River Park Project chairman.

Hamm Creek Park, located about eight miles west of Rio Vista on the Brazos River, closed about 21 years ago. Plans to re-open and renovate the public park began several years ago. U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, the Johnson County Commissioners Court, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and area governmental entities supported and participated in the project. Phase I of the project, which includes roads, an entrance and a boat ramp, ended last year. Workers installed parking lots and picnic areas in Phase II. Phase III, already under way, will add campsites and other amenities to the park and is expected to be complete by next spring.

Although most know the Corps of Engineers primarily for their heavy construction projects, they are also the No. 1 provider of recreational projects in America, said Charlie Burger, deputy chief of operations for the Fort Worth district. Burger called the project cutting edge as it involved federal, state and local input.

“What this ended up being is not a Corps of Engineers park, not a county park, but a people’s park,” Burger said. “And we’re proud of that.”

County Judge Roger Harmon agreed.

“I’m always talking about teamwork, and I don’t think there’s a better example than this project here,” Harmon said. “We live in a very stressful world and people need a place to relax. This park exemplifies a place to get away from the world.”

Edwards joked that Harmon stole his speech then pointed out what he called two important aspects of the Hamm Creek project.

“It shows what happens when good people work together in good faith and what a difference that can make for our own people,” Edwards said. “This is also a safe, family friendly place where you can get your kids out in nature.”

Edwards worked to secure $4 million in federal funding toward the park’s construction. Johnson County commissioners agreed to assume upkeep costs once the project is completed.

Ronnie Bruggman, Corps of Engineers Fort Worth district recreational business line manager, said the area rates as one of Texas’ best water skiing sites. Other attendees said the park should provide a strong draw for local and out-of-county people.

“Within 75 miles of where we’re standing right now, there’s 7.5 million people,” McFall said. “That’s what we have to draw from.”

        

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