Mesquite, TX – Oct. 24, 2022 – The City of Mesquite officially opened Latimore Park, 1025 N. Bryan Ave, on Saturday, Oct. 22, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Latimore Park was built to meet the needs of children living in the Mesquite Square neighborhood. Prior to Latimore Park, the closest park to the neighborhood was more than a mile away, a distance out of reach for young children to play.
Latimore Park is named after Officer Jon Latimore, the first African American police officer to serve in the Mesquite Police Department. Officer Latimore was hired in 1985 and for 28 years made a lasting impression on our community, receiving numerous commendations from citizens and coworkers. Officer Latimore retired from the Police Department in 2013 and sadly passed away in 2018 at the age of 61.
“This park honors a great leader in our Police Department who brought people together,” said Mesquite Mayor Daniel Alemán Jr. “Latimore Park serves as a fine example that in Mesquite, we are better together.”
The park offers a full-size basketball court with lights, a playground for multiple ages, and open space for kids to safely run and play. The City acquired funding through a land sale in 2019 that the Council dedicated to spending on parks. This provided funding for several planned projects including Latimore Park.