Families wait at Bergfeld Park in 2019, for “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” to begin.

Bergfeld Park joins the Tyler Rose Garden as the second place in the Rose City to be designated as a Great Place in Texas.

The Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association designated the City of Tyler’s Bergfeld Park as a Great Public Space by the state chapter’s Great Places in Texas program.

Bergfeld Park has served Tyler and surrounding areas as a public space for 110 years. In 1913, the city purchased 8.4 acres of land for the neighborhood park, which was developed over the years with public and private funding.

A master plan for Bergfeld Park was adopted in 2013 to update the park’s features. Bergfeld Park was designated as a Lone Star Legacy Park by the Texas Recreation and Parks Society in 2014.

Renovations for the park occurred in four phases: a new playground in 2015, the amphitheater in 2017, a splash pad in 2019 and tennis and pickleball courts in 2021. The Works Progress Administration built stone and rock features within the park in 1941, and the Splasher the Dolphin granite statue was preserved during the renovation phases.

Through Great Places in Texas, the Texas Chapter of APA recognizes unique and authentic characteristics found in three essential components of all communities — streets, neighborhoods and public spaces. APA Great Places offers better choices for where and how people work and live every day, places that are enjoyable, safe and desirable. Many characteristics, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality and community involvement, define such areas.

Great Places in Texas exemplify exceptional character and highlight the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value. This year marks the seventh year of the Great Places in Texas program.

Bergfeld Park is located at 1510 S College Ave.