Bonham, Texas -- The sprawling Powder Creek Park complex is always a busy place, with children playing in the playground and walkers circling the park on a one-mile trail, but the park will be even more popular now that a ribbon-cutting ceremony has officially opened a splash pad to help children have fun outdoors during the summer heat.

Fittingly enough, Glenn Taylor, one of the primary driving forces behind the creation of Powder Creek Park, assisted as Bonham City Councilmember Tony Rodriguez, a staunch proponent of building the splash pad, cut the ribbon. It was also fitting that one of the first children to enjoy this new addition to the park also participated in the Bonham Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting.

Bonham City Manager Sean Pate told how Mr. Rodriguez had been drumming up community support for this project ever since tossing his hat into the ring to run for a seat on Bonham City Council.

Rodriguez expressed his appreciation to all the volunteers who worked on the project, as well as a long list of donors that included Bonham Economic Development Corporation, M.W. & Fair Miller Foundation, First United Bank, Hope Concrete, Fix-n- Feed, Kwik Chek/McCraw Oil, Holiday Inn Express, Tractor Supply, Dairy Queen and Mac McIntosh.

"With a community effort, we can get things done," Rodriguez told the crowd that had gathered for the ribbon cutting.

A shaded pavilion for parents and guardians has been completed.

Remnants of a historic dam used by the railroad during the steam-engine era.

photos by Allen Rich