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Off
of U.S. 190 on South Thomas Stewart Drive.
Before
Mill Pond Park became a municipal park, it was the first waterworks
in San
Saba. In 1875, Guy Risien built a rock and brush dam across Mill
Creek to operate a hydraulic dam that he used to water his own garden
and provide water to a few neighbors. Most of the original dam still
stands. Risien installed a water wheel, a valve and piston pump, and
three-inch water mains. Risien also helped the county keep water troughs
at the courthouse full. Risien later sold his waterworks to John H.
Brown, who built a gristmill. Later the city water system housed its
machinery there. Mill Pond still provides water to the residents of
San Saba. |
Today,
Mill Pond Park is a lovely park with a spring-fed lake and a man-made
swimming pool. A waterfall cascades over rocks into ferns, moss, canna
and caladiums. The water flows under a bridge then winds through the
park. There are picnic sites with grills. The ideal spot is the table
next to the waterfall, with the sound of the rushing water and the
beautiful flowers. It is an idyllic spot for a picnic, a marriage
proposal, or a romantic date. Seven-million gallons of water pump
through the lake daily. The pond water looks like Hancock Springs,
with tiny bubbles rising to the surface. The water is so clear you
can see the water plants deep down. Ducks and geese paddle by, and
many tributaries meander through the park. The seventy-one acre park
also has baseball fields, a group pavilion, tennis courts, a playground,
basketball courts, a running track and nature trails. The city has
received a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife to expand and renovate
the park to add more hiking trails, a sandy beach, and more camping
spaces.
The municipal swimming pool is located within Mill Pond Park and is
beautifully landscaped. A semi-shallow end slopes toward the deep
end. There is a separate, rectangular wading pool and a large bathhouse.
The pool is surrounded by a wooden deck and concrete. |
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