Place for Families to Play
CARL LEVIN PARK SERVES AS THE HEART OF HARKER HEIGHTS
By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos courtesy of the City of Harker Heights
Known as the “Central Park” of Harker Heights, Carl Levin Park has a lot to offer Bell County residents. The 35-acre park includes a community swimming pool, a 30-plot community garden, a pond that is stocked with rainbow trout twice per year, a large playground area, a newly renovated basketball court, a reservable pavilion and gazebo, a small outdoor amphitheater, and a Native Texas Pocket Prairie.
According to Harker Heights Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Achee, it is not a stretch to say that Harker Heights would be a very different place were it not for Carl Levin Park. Since its development in 2000, Carl Levin Park has spurred positive changes within the community, primarily that it serves as a central location for community building.
“Our vision statement is ‘Creating Community through People, Parks, and Programs,’ and Carl Levin Park embodies every aspect of that statement,” Achee says. “In fact, the park is oftentimes seen as our city center, as Harker Heights does not have a downtown area in the way that many Texas towns and cities do.”
Carl Levin Park is regularly used by thousands of people throughout the year. In addition to its many free amenities, the park is also home to a yearly Art in the Park event, which features local artists, artwork demonstrations and booths, and includes live music, kids’ activities, and a farmer’s market. This year, planners hope to add wine tastings and local craft beer to the line-up.
Throughout July, the park also hosts a Parks and Rec Fest in honor of National Parks and Rec Month. “These events highlight services and demonstrations of what we do throughout the year — archery, pickleball, fishing, art, crafts, and gardening, to name just a few,” Achee says.
In addition, the city’s Haunted Heights event on the Saturday before Halloween coincides with the last farmer’s market of the year, held at City Hall across the street from the park. The kiddos are excited to show off their Halloween costumes while parents peruse the booths of the 40+ vendors.
The park’s 30-plot community garden has taken off in a big way, with spaces available to rent for 6- or 12-month terms. “We had people who knew what they were doing and their gardens were thriving, but we also had folks who wanted to learn how to garden, but didn’t have the resources to do so,” Achee says. Enter the park’s Gardeners Education Series, presented by Central Texas Master Gardeners, which has been a huge success and will be expanded this season.
Harker Heights is a relatively new city, as it was incorporated in 1960. Its population grew rapidly starting in the 1990s, as it became a popular suburb of Killeen and Fort Hood. During the park’s development, the city reached out to the community for ideas on naming. Numerous requests (including one from then-Police Chief Mike Gentry) poured in to name it for Harker Heights Police Officer Carl Levin, who was killed in the line of duty in 1978. A police memorial at the entrance to the park in front of the swimming pool honors Levin.
Harker Heights Parks and Recreation works hard to maintain a high quality of life for residents by providing innovative programs and creating and maintaining attractive, safe, clean, accessible, interconnected parks and facilities. Whether the community is searching for ways to become more comfortable in the “great outdoors,” sign up a child for a recreational youth sports league or program, enjoy a community-wide special event, start or maintain a healthier and more active lifestyle through exercise, make new friends or spend time with old ones; Harker Heights Parks and Rec has something for everyone.
LEARN MORE
Harker Heights Parks and Recreation
400 Miller’s Crossing, Harker Heights
Recreation Center: 254-953-5657
Carl Levin Pool: 254-953-1300
