Click to enlarge CHRIS JENNINGS / HERALD DEMOCRAT Sherman mayor Bill Magers points out the 1000 foot paved walking trail at the new Pecan Grove park in Sherman Thursday morning. Phase one of the new park was opened to the public Thursday with a small playground, walking trail, and fishing in Dean Gilbert lake.

BY KATHY WILLIAMS

HERALD DEMOCRAT

SHERMAN -- The thermometer already was reaching the 90-degree mark on Thursday, but city officials and parks and recreation volunteers stayed cool as they opened Sherman's newest park.

The pavilion in Pecan Grove Park sits atop a little rise and the wind off 25-acre Dean Gilbert Lake outpaced the sun. Sherman Mayor Bill Magers welcomed one of his predecessors and the lake's namesake as well as city staff who once again brought their project in on time and under budget.

To a drum roll provided by one of his sons on the playscape outside the pavilion, Magers smiled and welcomed fellow councilors and Parks and Recreation Board Members Margie Morriss and Joanna Osburn. Osburn also was Sherman's first lady when her late husband Tom Osburn presided over the Master Plan for Parks.

Pecan Grove Park is Sherman's largest park. In addition to the lake, it comprises 103 acres of rolling hills, including wild space that will remain that way. Phase I features a walking trail, the pavilion, play scape and a 30-space parking lot. The pavilion offers plenty of space for a gathering and even the picnic tables are handicap accessible.

Phase II will bring something unique in Sherman, an amphitheater that uses the natural slope of the land to "rake" the audience for better visibility and provide better acoustics. The city also is extending Canyon Creek Drive to the other side of the lake for access to the amphitheater. There also will be a much larger pavilion, restrooms and a fishing dock and a large parking lot. Some of the land around the lake is private, but the 128 acres outside that fence all will soon be open to the public.

Phase II also will have a concrete surface walking trail. City Manager George Olson said the city is hoping to partner with other groups to establish more primitive trails for nature hikes, biking, bird watching and such.

Gilbert provided some of the park's history and said the city acquired the land and built the lake in 1988. He said city councils had tried for years to purchase the land, but couldn't find the financial wherewithal. Gilbert said former senator Phil Gramm asked him what Gramm could do for Sherman and Gilbert gave him a list of three things. One was to build the lake.

He said the U.S. Soil Conservation Service had been eyeing the property for some time to build a flood control site. However they didn't have the money.

"Sen. Gramm called up the local SCS official who said they didn't have the money," Gilbert said. "Gramm told them, 'I know there's always like $10,000 or $15,000 left over on each project. Find the money.' He had the money that day."

Before they cut the ribbon, Magers said, "As my Mother would say, I'm just tickled to have this thing opened."

Pecan Grove Park is west of F.M. 1417. To get to the Phase I area, turn west at on West Cypress Grove Road at Sherman Fire Station 3, 3200 Heritage Parkway. City staff said they hope the second phase will be open in late summer 2010.