TP&W awards city $750,000 grant

PAUL ROMER | CITY OF BELTON

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission has awarded a $750,000 Community Park Grant to the city of Belton, which will fund a park at the site of the historic standpipe, located at 301 W. Avenue I.

The 2.3-acre site occupies an entire city block, which is currently vacant, except for the concrete water standpipe built in 1914.

In December 1991, the standpipe was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In February 2020, it was designated as a local historic landmark by the city of Belton.

“We are very excited to receive this grant,” Belton Mayor Wayne Carpenter said. “It will assist us to not only preserve this historic Belton landmark but also to develop a park with modern amenities for the neighborhood and the community at large.”

Plans for the park include a new playground, open multi-use field area, restrooms, parking, pavilion, and a circular walking path around the park leading up to the standpipe, located at the highest elevation in Belton. The park is a short distance to other destinations including Historic Downtown and the Nolan Creek Hike and Bike trail.

“This park development will bring vitality to an under-served area of Belton,” Grants and Special Projects Coordinator Jo-Ell Guzman said. “It helps preserve a story for the next generation of citizens and visitors that is worth telling.

The standpipe was built during a period of rapid growth when city leaders were working to modernize utility services. Concrete standpipes were once common, but steel water towers later replaced most of them, including in Belton on the same site. The steel tower was demolished in May 2015. The standpipe is a rare surviving example of its type.

The standpipe served as a water source for the Belton community until the 1980s. It will be restored onsite as part of a separate project funded by the city of Belton.