Mill Pond Park

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History

Before Mill Pond Park became the city 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 ram that he used to water his own garden and provide water to a few neighbors. Risien installed a water wheel, a valve and piston pump, and three-inch water mains which also helped keep the water troughs full at the county courthouse. John Brown later bought the waterworks and built a gristmill.

Recently many new additions and renovations have been made to Mill Pond Park including the restructuring of many parts of the retaining walls along the edges of the pond, a pavilion, a new lovely water wheel, and a community center at it's southern edge.

Mill Pond Park is spring-fed, approximately 15,000 square feet in circumference and has a fountain that emmits a beautiful spray of water approximately twenty-five feet in the air at it's north-west corner. A fine mist of water can be found on the north-west bank on windy days.

More directly on the north side of the park is a waterfall that is approximately twenty-five feet high. There is a picnic table placed near the water fall for an enjoying picnic or a relaxing spot just to set and take in the sounds and beauty. More picnic and relaxation areas to the south along with many beautiful flowers and plants.

Mill Pond Park is 70+ acres in size, has a pavilion for wet-weather get-togethers, bar-bq pits throughout, two basketball courts, play equipment, three baseball fields, and a track.