Centennial Park dedicated

The new “Phoenix Pergola” was dedicated earlier this month by the Wimberley Lions Club at the newly named “Centennial Park,” which sits along Cypress Creek next to Ozona Bank. The park was severely damaged in the floods of 2015.

“Being built after the Halloween Flood of 2015, the name ‘Phoenix Pergola’ was given to the new park pergola,” John Estepp, Wimberley Lions Club member and Centennial Park designer, said. “The reference to the mythical bird that rose from the ashes seemed appropriate for our pergola from a water perspective.”

Previously, a gazebo and benches were on the site. They were all created as different Eagle Scout projects. Park benches were installed and restored by Jim Winn (Eagle Scout 1956) and Christopher Dibrell (1979).

In 1996, Tim Mesch built the gazebo on the site for an Eagle Scout Project. Mesch died in 2007 after losing his battle with cancer.

“The Halloween Flood of 2015 on Cypress Creek devastated this park site, washing away the gazebo, an Eagle Scout Project by Eagle Scout Timothy Mesh (BSA Troop 127) in 1996,” a sign at the park says. “This new pergola has been built upon the site of the original gazebo. The five original cast iron and wood parking benches have been restored.”

The Wimberley Lions Club decided to restore the park as part of their centennial service projects. The Lions Club organization marked 100 years of service in 2017, which was when the project was started.

“The Lions Club stepped up,” Linda Davis, district governor of the Lions Club, said. “It doesn’t happen in every town, but it happens in Wimberley. Lions don’t just envision a better world, we make it a better world.”