1985: McClendon Park West

799 W. Broad Street

McClendon Park West is a 5-acre community park in Southwest Mansfield with a playground, basketball courts and baseball field.

Origin

McClendon Park West opened in 1985 after years of lobbying by then-City Councilmember McClendon “Mac” Moody. Much of his work on council involved advocating for residents who lived in the predominantly Black west side of Mansfield. With no parks or recreation opportunities nearby and an average household income of less than $10,000 in 1982 when planning began, the residents were in dire need of a neighborhood park. The 5-acre project was funded with a $67,000 matching grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife and opened on November 18, 1985.

Development and Improvement

In 1994, the park was expanded to add over 16 acres to the southeast. This project was renamed McClendon Park East and classified as a separate park upon opening to avoid confusion. The two parks have individual addresses and entrances but are connected via an unofficial nature trail through the woods that separate them. The McClendon Parks remain the only recreational parks west of Broad street, joined only by Mans Best Field Dog Park.

In 1999, the park completed a large renovation, prompted in large part by requests from a coalition of residents and community leaders frustrated with the aging equipment. City staff worked with those residents to organize a one-day cleanup event at the park that included 175 volunteers. Neighbors came out again during playground installation, with over 40 volunteers assisting staff with construction. The improvements were funded by the still newly implemented half-cent sales tax and celebrated at a re-opening ceremony on January 22, 2000. That playground was replaced in 2016 with updated equipment and poured-in-place surfacing.

In 2022, another major renovation began at McClendon Park West. This project removed the softball field and replaced it with basketball courts, installed a splash pad where the basketball courts had previously been located, and replaced the restroom building added in 1999 with a new facility. The renovation also includes expanded parking and other upgrades and should be completed in Winter 2023.

Namesake

McClendon Parks East and West are named in honor of McClendon “Mac” Moody, a prominent citizen known for his gentle spirit and dedication to the community. 

Mr. Moody spent over 50 years working in the local grocery store bakery, and his friendly face was a beloved stop for Mansfield residents doing their weekly shopping. During this same time, Mr. Moody was the owner of the first black-owned business on Main Street, opening an auto service center at the corner of Oak and Main. He hired friends and family to run the shop while he continued in the bakery. In his retirement, Mr. Moody was still active throughout the community, serving as a bus driver for senior citizens at the Mansfield Activities Center.

The Moodys are one of the area’s oldest families, with a long history of community service. McClendon carried on the legacy as a vocal advocate, particularly for the neighborhoods on the West side of town, where he and his family lived. On his wife’s urging, Mr. Moody ran for City Council and was elected in 1979. He would go on to serve for 15 years as the first Black council member in the city’s history. McClendon Moody was instrumental in significant infrastructure improvements on the west side during his tenure. His neighborhood passion also prompted him to push city leaders for a park in the area. 

When this park opened in 1985, the City of Mansfield honored Mr. Moody and his dedication to the city with a namesake. Upon his request, the park uses his first name, McClendon, as the official name. In 1994, a group of volunteers secured a grant from Texas Parks & Wildlife to fund the creation of McClendon Park East, off West Kimball Street. 

McClendon Moody and his wife Cleo were married for over 40 years and together raised ten children, all of whom attended Mansfield schools and many still live in the area. A devoted Christian, Mr. Moody served as a Deacon at Bethlehem Baptist Church until his death in 2018. 

In the words of his longtime pastor and dear friend, Pastor Michael Evans, “Mac Moody was a kind man with a heart for the people who demonstrated that every day of his life. To have a park named for this gentle spirit shows the level of respect he’d earned from this city. He was everything you could ever want in a citizen and it’s a beautiful way to honor his legacy.”