BELTON, TX — A public dedication ceremony will be held to commemorate the Belton Standpipe as a local landmark.
The ceremony will be at 301 W. Avenue I at 1 p.m. on Feb. 7.
The Belton City Council has recognized the Standpipe as a significant part of the City’s history by awarding it the inaugural Local Landmark designation.
The Standpipe will be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and represents the "ingenuity and forward thinking of Beltonians."
The tower was built in 1914 during a growth period when city leaders were working to modernize utility services.
Concrete standpipes were once fairly common, but steel water towers later replaced most of them, including in Belton on the same site.
The steel tower was demolished in May 2015, but the Standpipe is a rare surviving example of its type.
“We’re fortunate to have such a rich history and culture here in Belton,” City Manager Sam Listi said. “The Local Landmark designation helps bring attention to community treasures, like the Standpipe, and reminds us of the importance of preserving the past as we plan for the future.”
The City of Belton says plans are under way to restore the Standpipe site and add park amenities at the location.
Development plans for the park are anticipated in 2021, with construction of a park tentatively scheduled for 2022.
The City plans to seek grant funding to support Standpipe preservation efforts, which would include two phases. The first phase would removing loose plaster and ventilating the tower. The second phase would re-plaster, paint and add a corrosion inhibitor.
“Several state and federal grants are available for preservation and park development,” Listi said. “We believe this project will be competitive for grant funding.”
