Neighbors, family and friends recently gathered to memorialize Mr. Pat O'Shea, a beloved and hard-working resident of the White Rock Valley Neighborhood Association.

On November 20th the group dedicated a new shade structure in his name at the White Rock Valley Park.

The park is situated at White Rock Trail, between Spring Branch and Clearhurst, and the new stone and metal shade structure abuts the playground.

Mr. O'Shea came to the White Rock Valley neighborhood in 1963, and along with his wife Dee, was instrumental in forming the neighborhood association, which now boasts approximately 500 members.

O'Shea served as the group's president for eight years, and during his tenure worked to turn a once vacant lot into the now popular park.

It is considered the "perfect preschool park" by the many families that use it.

While both Mr. and Mrs. O'Shea passed away some years ago, the WRVNA was inspired by his works and current members wanted to enhance the playground with a shade structure.

Three years ago, a committee that included Mr. O'Shea's daughter, Sheila, was formed. They were successful in raising approximately $20,000, and the Parks Department contributed another $20,000 to make it a reality.

Chris Bellew, current president of WRVNA, was the first to speak to the gathered group.

He explained that while the WRVNA certainly wanted to finish the job Mr. O'Shea started, they also wanted to honor his years of service.

"Pat was too big for a tree to represent his memory," said Bellew. "We wanted something really big!"

"Our partnership with Parks and Rec began with president Joan Walne, and we continue to work with project manager Ken Pyland, adding more components to the park."

"The sign facing White Rock Trail will be landscaped, and new trees will be planted to border the shade structure."

"The project will come full circle as the trees will be from the Dallas Tree Bank, perhaps the same trees that were saved from previous White Rock Valley zero lot lines."

Bruce Bowles, who was Mr. O'Shea's vice president for five years and serves as the current WRVNA crime watch chair, fondly recognized himself as Mr. O'Shea's "sidekick and volunteer."

"When I met Pat the first thing he said to me after ‘hello’ was, ‘ready to go to work?’"

"Pat was very active in our community. Everything he did was always with this neighborhood in mind."

The plaque affixed to the structure reads in part: Honoring Pat O'Shea; a great dad and grandfather, devoted friend, wonderful neighbor and community leader.

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The White Rock Valley neighborhood consists of 1,350 homes bounded by Walnut Hill, Audelia Road, Northwest Highway and the Jackson Branch of White Rock Creek.

Visit the group's website here.

Lead photo courtesy of Dana Kimbrough.