The city of Truesdale has purchased 1.5 acres of land for what will become its first public park, as well as the site of future community buildings.The land is at the southeast corner of Laura Street and Smith Street and is mostly green space. Truesdale purchased the land for $100,000.Mayor Chris Watson said the park will improve the look of the community and provide something the community hasn’t had before.“We would like a pavilion with picnic tables, a barbecue pit, things of that nature where you can have family gathering. We have absolutely nothing in Truesdale for that,” Watson said. “This was a perfect opportunity in a perfect area to make that happen.He added that later a small amount of playground equipment could be added to the area.Almost directly south from the future park, across the railroad tracks and Highway M, is Rebecca Boone Elementary School. The park space is within walking distance of many Truesdale residences, although industrial lots are the park’s immediate neighbors to the north and east.Watson said he would like for a pavilion to be built by this fall, in time for the city’s second annual Railroad Days community festival. The mayor and other city leaders also have discussed plans to eventually build a community center and rebuild Truesdale’s historical train depot as a museum.Having open land now gives the city a place for all three plans to eventually take shape over time.“It’s going to be slow,” said City Administrator MaryLou Rainwater. “It’s not all going to happen overnight. But it’s a start.”Rainwater explained that the city purchased the land now so it wouldn’t get bought by a developer, especially with many new homes being built in the city already. Money had already been set aside for the land purchase because the city last year was looking for a place to put a new community center.The community center and train depot both are still projects for an undetermined time in the future. Rainwater said the city will continue to apply for a grant to help pay for the community center, as it did in 2017.The site for the park was previously owned by Westplex Enterprises LLC.Truesdale New Park