An artist’s rendering shows a family walking on a nature trail toward the Blackland Prairie Park pavilion that will be built on Tower Road in Temple as part of a $75 million “Places & Spaces” capital improvement plan.

DAVID STONE | July 29, 2022

A small piece of blackland prairie that reputedly has never been touched by a plow will soon become one of Temple’s newest parks, Temple City Manager Brynn Myers said this week.

“The land is undeveloped and has been in a conservation program,” Myers said. “We don’t want to develop it into a regular park. We will put in some nature trails and a pavilion for educational purposes.”

The land — dubbed Blackland Prairie Park — is located off Tower Road southeast of the Temple landfill.

Kim Mettenbrink, Temple’s park planner, said the park is 10 acres, and five acres is true remnant prairie land.

“The northernmost five acres of the preserve consists of true remnant prairie,” Mettenbrink said. “It’s part of only 1 percent  of Texas that still exists in an undisturbed remnant prairie. This is a rare piece of land that helps us understand the role and importance of the prairie for wildlife, soils and a healthy sustainable ecosystem.”

Blackland Prairie Park is one of 50 Temple park projects in a massive $75 million “Places & Spaces” capital improvement plan that will be funded between 2023 and 2027 by Certificates of Obligation bonds, Myers said.

Certificate of Obligation debt is similar to General Obligation bonds in their usage and retirement but do not require voter authorization and are not used for refunding debt.

Construction and restoration costs for Blackland Prairie Park are estimated at $3.1 million.

The pristine five acres is teeming with native grasses such as big and little bluestem, Indiangrass, sideoats grama and big muhly.

The other five acres has been disturbed by cattle ranching and evasive non-native grasses have been introduced, but soon that acreage will be converted to flora native to the Blackland region of Central Texas.

“The Fire Department is conducting controlled burns on the non-native area to get rid of invasive species such as King Ranch grass,” Mettenbrink said.

Once the prescribed burns are complete and non-native species have been eradicated, that land will be reseeded in native grasses and flowers such as Turk’s cap, scarlet sage and purple coneflowers.

Myers said the city has purchased additional land adjacent to the future preservation park for the construction of restrooms and a parking lot large enough for 22 cars and two school buses.

“We didn’t want to build a restroom and parking lot on this preserved prairie, so we purchased some adjoining property,” Myers said.

The park area is naturally divided by wetlands consisting of a small creek, a pond and a large number of gilgais. Gilgai are small round wetlands that are found on prairies where soils are dense, and they are unique only to the American prairie and parts of Australia and Africa.

“We will need to restore native flora in the wetlands area as well,” Mettenbrink said.

While most of the park’s nature trails will be constructed using crushed granite, she said the wetlands will be crossed using boardwalks.

“There are native trees in the wetlands area, including cedar elm, cottonwood and live oak — it’s a nice mix,” she said.

Along the nature trails will be nine benches, trash containers and 16 interpretive signs highlighting the types of wildlife and plants found in the park. Signs also will provide educational information about Texas prairies.

“There’s a lot of wildlife out there,” Mettenbrink said. “I’ve seen deer, waterfowl, birds of prey, squirrels and rabbits.”

A large pavilion will be built near the center of the property and will provide classroom and learning opportunities for local children and adults, Myers said.

“We’re hoping the park draws interest from naturalists, master gardeners and others interested in promoting conservation and the botanic history of the area,” she said.

Future Blackland Prairie Park visitors use a boardwalk to cross a wetlands area in the artist’s rendering. Blackland Prairie Park is one of several new parks that will created under the “Places & Spaces” capital improvement plan that will funded by Certificates of Obligation between 2023 and 2027. In addition to the new parks, the program includes dozens of park upgrades and improvements throughout the city.

Beat the heat with free fun

To help Temple residents to beat the heat, the city is offering free admission to select aquatic and indoor facilities until Sunday, Aug. 14.

Clark Swimming Pool (1808 Curtis B. Elliot Dr.)

• Open Thursday through Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m.

Walker Swimming Pool (2603 N. Third St.)

• Open Friday through Wednesday from 12 to 6 p.m.

Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum (315 W. Ave. B)

• Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The following locations are always free and open to the public.

Santa Fe Plaza Fountain (301 W. Ave. A)

• Operates daily from 7 to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 3 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.

Splash Pads

• Operate daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Ferguson Park Splash Pad (1203 E. Adams Ave.)

• Jaycee Park Splash Pad (2302 W. Ave. Z)

• Miller Park Splash Pad (1919 N. First St.)

• West Temple Park Splash Pad (121 S. Montpark Road)

Temple Public Library (100 W. Adams Ave.)

• Open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m.

• Pets are allowed.

For more information, visit templeparks.com/heatrelief or call 254-298-5690.

Legends continues Tablerock run

Salado Legends continues its 2022 run with performances on July 30 and August 6. The show tells the story of the Scottish settlers, Tonkawa Indians and Spanish explorers in Salado. Tales of Indian life, the Civil War and Texas frontier life are interwoven throughout the play with delightful music and dance by a talented cast. A barbecue dinner prepared by Prairie Dell Meat Market is served at 7:15 pm and the show begins at 8:15 p.m. Tickets for dinner, the show or both can be purchased at centraltexastickets.org. Jason Deckman photo

Our Town Temple is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues

The latest exhibit, Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues, will be on exhibit at Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum through Oct. 8.

Moravian Glory: Preserving Our Brilliance

A new exhibit, Moravian Glory: Preserving Our Brilliance is open at the Czech Heritage Museum & Genealogy Center in Temple, and an official reception will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 30. The exhibit runs through Oct. 1

Friday, July 29

• Kyle Reed at Barrow Brewing, 8 p.m.

• Guys and Dolls at Temple Civic Theatre. A odd-ball romantic comedy directed by Dr. Sara Harris Baker.  For tickets and showtimes, visit

  https://templecivictheatre.com

• Academie Musique of Central Texas String Camp Showcase, 1:30 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 300 N. Main in Temple.

• Summer Sounds Free Concert at Santa Fe Plaza featuring American Merit Band. 7:30 p.m.

• Weldon Henson live at Bo’s Barn. Weldon Henson is to country music what an ice cold beer is on a “long, hard, hot, day” – refreshing. The first few notes out of his mouth and you know your witnessing the real deal. 8 p.m.

• Dementia/Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group: Occurs weekly on Fridays. This group allows your loved ones to join us.  Loved ones will be doing activities while the group of caregivers are joining together to better understand and learn tips and tricks for daily life. 

• Gabe’s Last Shift at FoxDog (for now). Gabe is headed to college at Texas State. Come wish him farewell. 4:30 p.m.

• Sing-A-Long Piano Show at Green Door every Friday at 10 p.m.

• 4-Hour Temple Brew Trail Tour with Tour Temple. 6-10 p.m.

• Karaoke at Corky’s Beer & Wine. 8-11 p.m.

• Chess Club at Temple Public Library. 4-6 p.m.

• Ghost Hunting Class at Wilson Recreation Center. Do you have an interest in the paranormal? Ever wonder what it's like to be a real ghost hunter? Try our Paranormal Studies class with paranormal investigator JohnJohn from Dark Explorers paranormal and learn all there is about becoming a paranormal investigator. Join us for this introductory class. 5:30 p.m. to. 7 p.m. $35 per person.

Saturday, July 30

• Moravian Glory reception at Czech Heritage Museum & Genealogy Center.  4-7 p.m. See this exhibit that chronicles the life of a Moravian woman.

• A Very Corky’s Variety Show featuring live performances by Justin Moreno, Mystica Fiora, Noah Johnson and The Magical World of Jeffrey Jester. 8 p.m. Visit www.tourtemple.com for tickets

• Midnight Tradesmen live at Barrow Brewing. 8 p.m.

• Guys and Dolls at Temple Civic Theatre. A odd-ball romantic comedy directed by Dr. Sara Harris Baker.  For tickets and showtimes, visit

  https://templecivictheatre.com

• Salado Legends at Tablerock. Salado Legends, is an outdoor musical written by Salado resident playwright Jackie Mills. It was chosen by the Library of Congress to serve as a record of life in America during the 1850’s and “to preserve our nation’s diverse cultural traditions for generations of Americans, present, and future. Meal: 7:15. Show, 8:15. Tickets: centraltexastickets.org

• Niles City live at Bo’s Barn. 9 p.m.

• Texas Red’s Name that Tune Bingo at Bold Republic Brewing. 7 p.m.

• 4-Hour Temple Wine Trail Tour with Tour Temple. 3-7 p.m.

Sunday, July 31

• Central Texas Film Society Monthly Movie & Discussion presents Jaws at CAC. 2 p.m. “When a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community off Long Island, it's up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down.”

• Martian Folk live at Fire Street Pizza in Belton. Noon.

• Guys and Dolls at Temple Civic Theatre. A odd-ball romantic comedy directed by Dr. Sara Harris Baker.  For tickets and showtimes, visit

  https://templecivictheatre.com

• Summer Lecture Series at 2 p.m. at Barrow Brewing Co. Music by The High Country Flyers at 4 p.m.

Monday, August 1

• $1 Summer movies at The Beltonian Theatre. 10 a.m., 1, p.m. 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday. Storks

• Trash to Treasure Totes, Sammons Community Center. 1 p.m. Go green and create a unique tote bag from plastic bags! Becca Bash will be teaching this fun and creative way to recycle and reuse those endless plastic grocery bags that get stashed away to create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind bag that could have a variety of uses. Watch that bag evolve into your own creation. Knowledge of basic crochet stitch is encouraged. A size K crochet hook is recommended. For more information, call 254.298.5403.

• Second Look Book Club at Temple Public Library. 6 p.m.

Tuesday, August 2

• Tai Chi at Sammons Community Center. 3 p.m. This ancient Chinese exercise and martial art promote vitality, balance, strength, and longevity. This on-going course is adaptable for all levels of mobility. Led by Christopher Dow, who has practiced this and related Chi Kung exercise forms for 42 years. For more information, call 254.298.5403.

• O’Pen Mic Night at O’Briens Irish Pub. 8 to midnight. O'Briens Open Mic Is Back! Every Tuesday 8 p.m. This is an acoustic open mic. will be using our in house sound system! Come on out and let's have fun!

• $1 Summer movies at The Beltonian Theatre. 10 a.m., 1, p.m. 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday. Storks

• Mystique & Mayhem at Temple Public Library. 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Do you enjoy storytelling and problem-solving? Join us for a new adventure every month! Great for ages 7–11. First Floor | Teen Space

• Trivia Night at Fire Street Pizza in Belton. There will be 6 rounds of themed trivia to test your knowledge of all things trivia! Other categories will include Movies, Sports, music, and more! Play from your phone! FREE to play! Join anytime. Winners walk away with FSP swag, free pizzas and bragging rights! 6 p.m.

• Trivia Night at J Cowboy, 7:30 p.m.

• STEM Team at Temple Public Library. 4:15 p.m.

• Baby Bookworms (0-12 months) at Temple Public Library. 11 a.m.

• Karaoke at Green Door. 9 p.m.

Wednesday, August 3

• Trivia at Green Door. 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Thursday, August 4

• Back-to-School Teacher Appreciation Party at FoxDog. 4 p.m. We LOVE our teachers! All teachers, paraprofessionals and school staff will get 15 percent off their tab with a valid school ID

• Karaoke at Bo’s Barn. 8:30 p.m.

• ‘Bring Your Own Songs’ Open Mic Night at Knead Peace. 7-10 p.m., Originals Night for all those singer/songwriter types out there. No cover tonight. Feel free to bring a chair, hammock, picnic blanket, snacks and cooler. Family friendly event!