The History of Rollingwood Park

A park, by stages

Rollingwood has lovely parks. From the early days there was talk of creating a park for children in the city. Through the years the park has received mixed reception. Some residents have disliked the crowds it created, some objected to the cutting of curbs and erection of the George B. Hatley gate. Others in the community have viewed the park as an asset to the city.

Before the development of Hatley Park in 1968, sporting events were conducted on acreage owned by the Austin Independent School district on the corner of Ridgewood and Rollingwood Drive.

1950s · The Optimist Club

Rollingwood park land was owned by the Western Hills Optimist Club, a non-profit corporation founded in 1955 by A. A. Mack Hull with twenty charter members, many of whom lived in Rollingwood. The club purchased, from George B. Hatley, eleven acres of land bordered by Rollingwood Drive, Nixon, Gentry, Wallis and Pleasant Drive. The primary purpose of the club was to encourage development of youth.

1968 · Building the fields

While the land was being cleared and developed by club members, the little league football, baseball, and girls softball teams were being formed. Tons of dirt was trucked over from the expansion of Bee Caves Road to level the fields, which were once hills. The Optimist Club eventually added restrooms and a concession stand.

1970 · Athletic Club + City Hall

The Western Hills Athletic Club organized and acquired several acres in the corner of the park, at Rollingwood and Wallace, where it built a private swimming pool and tennis courts.

The City of Rollingwood purchased 1.0009 acres on Nixon Drive from the Optimist Club of Western Hills. This is the land the City Hall was built upon in 1975 — for the future municipal building, which was built in 1975.

1978 · The Rollingwood Park Project

The Rollingwood Park Project was the brain child of resident Hazel Maxwell and was sponsored by the City Council and Rollingwood Woman's Club (RWC). Hazel started the project with contributions of $750 from the city and $270 from the Rollingwood Women's Club. In 1978, $350 was used to pay Bud Twilley, a landscape architect, to draw plans for the park. The project went on to define the shape of the modern park.

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This article is adapted from the City of Rollingwood's [History of Rollingwood Park](https://www.rollingwoodtx.gov/parksrec/page/history-rollingwood-park), reproduced with permission.