LAGO VISTA—The City Council formally showed its support for Keep Lago Vista Beautiful’s efforts to create a memorial dedicated to Hollace “Mr. Lago Vista” Bowden.

At the regular Council meeting Feb. 18, Sherilyn Beal opened the presentation by showing KLVB’s progress on cleaning the “Y” area at Highland Lake Drive and Boggy Ford Road for the memorial. She said the memorial should include a raised flowerbed with perennials, a Mexican buckeye tree and a commemorative bench with a plaque for Bowden.
KLVB estimated the total cost of supplies and delivery at $5,580. The cost did not include parking, though KLVB proposed three parking spaces on National Drive west of the memorial.
Richard Brown took over for Brill to finish the presentation and answer questions from the Council. He said KLVB has not chosen a name for the memorial, though members were shying away from calling it a park. Mayor Randy Kruger agreed, saying the park moniker could become a liability for the city since roads surrounding the area receive a lot of traffic.
Several names for the memorial popped up during the Council meeting, including Bowden Memorial, Bowden Triangle and Bowden Memorial Garden. Brown said KLVB will keep the Council updated on a possible name and other progress on the memorial.
City Manager Bill Angelo offered the city’s services to lower the cost of creating the memorial.
Brown said KLVB chose to memorialize Bowden because of his active service in the KLVB and his community service throughout his residence in Lago Vista.
Bowden was instrumental in the city’s clean and burn days, and helped bring the annual La Primavera bicycle race to Lago Vista. He died in late 2008.