Max Starcke Park | Seguin

The City of Seguin is proud to present Max Starcke Park as a 2018 Lone Star Legacy Park in the 80th year of the parks’ existence. Max Starcke Park is definitely a park that holds special prominence in Seguin and the state of Texas and is well deserving of TRAPS recognition.  Since its inception, Max Starcke Park has served as a model for other municipal parks. The park is named for Maximillian Hugo Starcke, a former alderman and mayor of Seguin for 10 years who later worked as the Managing Director and afterwards as a consultant for the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).  In 1962, the LCRA dam near Marble Falls was renamed Max Starcke Dam in his honor.

Beginning in 1933, the citizens of Seguin took it upon themselves to plan and construct a recreational center to provide wholesome forms of recreation for its citizens and to attract visitors to the City. Then Seguin Mayor Max Starcke had fallen in love with property located near the historic and picturesque Guadalupe River with mature, towering pecan, cypress, and cottonwood trees. To bring the community’s dreams into reality, the City chose Robert Harvey Harold Hugman of San Antonio to develop a site plan and design for the new park. Robert Hugman later became famously known as the designer and architect of the San Antonio River Walk.

The park was financed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and constructed by members of the National Youth Administration (NYA) along with community volunteers. The original 43 acre park amenities included volleyball and tennis courts, shuffleboard, swimming pool, 9-hole golf course, riverside pavilion and picnic tables, canoe launching dock, Saffold Dam, and a scenic drive along the Guadalupe River. All original park amenities, with the exception of the pool, have been in use since the park opened in May of 1938.

Max Starcke Park has been a longtime gathering spot for the residents of Seguin, their guests, and tourists. The park has developed and evolved over the years similar to the City adapting to the changing culture of the times. Max Starcke Park opened during the days of segregation and was originally considered a white only park. When the park was constructed, separate pools and playgrounds were also constructed for the Hispanic and African American populations in other parts of town. Max Starcke Park was integrated entirely in the 1950’s, for the city to utilize the park as one community. Max Starcke Park is the driving force in what makes Seguin a great place to live, work, and play for all through both active and passive recreation.