On a recent sunny Saturday, the community of Round Rock gathered to celebrate the long-awaited reopening of Memorial Park and witness the debut of the newly minted Big Boy Hester Family Field. According to an announcement on the city's official website, this event was not just a chance for families to enjoy the new digs but also a nod to the city's storied past as this marks a critical part of the Heritage Trail West project.
The Heritage Trail West project is adding its fair share to the local community – it’s linking the historic Old Town with downtown Round Easy, while snagging some improvements like an overlook along Brushy Creek and enhancements to several parks along its trail-blazing path – the goal, to offer a connected, accessible, and informative recreation space that sheds light on Round Rock's rich history and creates new opportunities for healthy outdoor activities, says the city's release. City officials have something to be proud of, with this look-back-at-yesteryear project contributing to their strategic plan of "creating a great community to live in," which aligns with the voter-approved 2023 G.O. Bonds.
The crowning jewel of the day was the unveiling of Big Boy Hester Family Field, an honorific twist on the park’s old “Bluff” baseball field, renamed for Gail “Big Boy” Hester's enduring impact on Round Rock. As the city’s announcement details, Hester threw the first pitch of his career on that very diamond and has since reaped accolades like a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, followed swiftly by having an annual business award named in his honor, all while maintaining his position at the helm of an automotive repair shop he founded way back when. The field, now restored with modernity in mind, still holds on to elements of its heritage like the natural rock seating behind home plate, merging the old with the new – much like the trail’s intention.
While there is more construction in the pipeline – parts of the Heritage Trail West project are still taking shape – the city didn't miss the chance to highlight this milestone within the park which is part and parcel of the approved bond projects; for more details on these, Round Rock’s website invites locals and the curious alike to visit at their leisure, a chance to dive deeper into what these civic enhancements entail for those living the Round Rock life.
