Park of All Seasons | Elgin Memorial Park

The goal of the "Park of all Seasons" is to increase the biodiversity of plants and trees throughout the park so that patrons can experience a different park every season; flowers in the spring, fruit in the summer, fall foliage and evergreens in winter. This is accomplished through various projects, including the Edible Arbor Walk and Pollinator Gardens. 

Elgin Memorial Park is a beautiful 28 acre park along Main Street. The park is filled with hundreds of mature Cedar Elms providing shade for patrons and homes to birds. While these trees provide many benefits, they are also a monoculture, which means a lack of biodiversity in the park. Through the work of volunteers, Elgin Memorial Park will be transformed in to a vibrant and diverse park that is engaging in every season. 

Edible Arbor Walk Project

The Edible Arbor Walk Project began in 2018 with the planting of a handful of donated fruit trees. Year after year the Elgin Parks and Recreation Department partners with the community to plant new fruit, shade, nut, and evergreen trees in Elgin Memorial Park to increase the biodiversity in our park, provide hands-on learning opportunities, and allow park patrons to grab a snack straight from the tree.

Trees are donated by individuals and organizations such as Million Trees Across Texas. Trees are cared for by individual volunteers. 

Child watering tree
Pollinator Garden with Concession Stand

Elgin Recreation Center Pollinator Gardens

Beginning in 2019, the landscaping around the Elgin Recreation Center has been transformed from a monoculture of santolina, to a thriving pollinator garden. Volunteers work with staff and donated plants to build habitats for wildlife of all sizes, from host plants for caterpillars, pollen plants for bees and butterflies, thicket for birds and puddling spots for toads. 

This project is supported by donations from local organizations like Down Home Ranch and individuals, as well as volunteer hours from organizations like Ranch House Recovery, and individuals. 

The Stepping Stone: Texas Native Restoration Area

This community and volunteer driven project began in the Fall of 2021 as a way to reclaim parkland as a native environment for both flora and fauna. The Stepping Stone Texas Native Restoration Area lends itself to be an educational space where park patrons can experience an original Texas landscape as original settlers would have experienced, learn about the benefits of native plants and experience native in a hands on way. This is a long-term and ongoing project; as time goes on, the environment will change and develop. 

Seeds in Stepping Stone