Richmond Mayor Hilmar Moore is now believed to be the longest-serving mayor in the United States.

For his almost-six decades of service to the city, Moore will soon be immortalized with a 600-square-foot park adjacent to city hall. A statue of the colorful Moore will be erected at the northwest corner of the park, which will be bounded by South Fifth Street to the west and Morton Street to the south.

Just north of the statue will be an informational plaque telling about Moore's unique service, with a similar plaque at the southwest corner of the park.

At the southeast and northeast corners will be benches donated by the Richmond Garden Club.

The park will take advantage of existing parking on the west and north sides. Pedestrian access will be available from all sides, and landscaping will be featured in all four corners.

Dean Carpenter of Houston Landscaping Unlimited and landscape architect Bob Deforest are providing their services at cost, according to Mary Doetterl, president of the Historic Richmond Association.
Greeting visitors at the far northeast corner will be a renovated historic water trough that has been located at city hall for years, and waving proudly on its east side will be a flag symbolizing Moore's 60 years of service to the city.

“We're real excited about this,” said Doetterl. “We're getting letters out to businesses and residents, not just in the city of Richmond, but also in its (extra-territorial jurisdiction), inviting them to take part in purchasing the pavers and to also take part in the dedication ceremony that we're hoping to hold in mid-October.”

Working on the design of the park have been members of the HRA, including Mary Doetterl, vice president Art Wesp, secretary Rachel Steele, Chuck Littlepage, Lori Littlepage, Libby King, Rick Taylor and Kim Lytle.
Moore's reign began in September 1949, when he was asked to fill the remainder of a two-year term left vacant when Mayor Bert Ansel resigned.

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