The City of Irving’s Heritage Park has been honored with the 2023 Texas Downtown Association President’s Award in the category of Best Public Improvement for a city with a population of over 50,000 people.
The winners of the 2023 President’s Awards Program were announced on October 25 in Nacogdoches during the Texas Downtown Annual Conference. For over 35 years, the awards program, sponsored by Texas Downtown (TXDT), has been recognizing outstanding projects, places, and individuals contributing to the vitality of Texas downtown areas.
In 2021, the City of Irving successfully completed the Heritage Park renovation project, which transformed a 1-acre lot into a sprawling 2-acre open space in the heart of downtown Irving. The renovation included the installation of new lighting, walking paths, the restoration of historical buildings, and the addition of a state-of-the-art entertainment stage featuring an enormous 15x20-foot LED screen.
“This project was about more than transforming a park - it was about creating a vibrant, multifaceted space in the center of a historic and evolving district,” remarked Mayor Rick Stopfer. “This award underscores our commitment to preserving our past while embracing our future.”
Established in 1985, Texas Downtown's mission is to connect and serve communities dedicated to downtown vitality. The organization provides its members with valuable resources, advocacy, education, and connections. Texas Downtown represents a diverse array of communities, including cities of all sizes, economic development organizations, non-profit entities such as chambers of commerce and merchant groups, and small business owners.
