City of Early turns 73: A closer look at the New Town Center Project

EARLY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – It’s been 73 years since the City of Early was officially incorporated on December 17, 1951. Tony Aaron, who’s been serving as the city administrator for about a decade, has seen the city undergo many changes. But the one he’s most excited about? The completion of the New

Town Center Project.

In 2019, the city purchased 60 acres of land adjacent to the Pecan Bayou located at 109 Kelcy Way.

“We bought this in 2019, and in 2021, we actually started the project, and this was just a pasture with cows in it,” Aaron shared.

Three years later, the vision for the new town center is coming to life. The park area of the project is nearly complete, featuring a walking path for residents and a batting cage. Although a playground and additional amenities are still needed for full completion, residents have already begun to enjoy the space.

“Early is a very young city. We’re in our seventies, so we don’t have that historic downtown that you see some of the areas in the Big Country have. So, we’re actually building that area, that meeting space, that community space. That’s kind of the heart of the community, right here, with this lake, with this boardwalk, and this park that’s going to be in it. Then the businesses and restaurants that are going to come to this area after we build the boardwalk just open up a new opportunity for growth for the next 20 to 30 years,” added Aaron.

The boardwalk is expected to be completed by 2025. It will be the focal point of the town center, with the park on the left side and businesses on the right.

“We are wrapping up the pier building and the pier construction, as you can see behind me. There are 222 piers that have been drilled. Most of them are somewhere between 15 to 25 feet deep. That is creating the foundation for the boardwalk. So, it’s a big step in getting this foundation set in. The next step, you’ll start running into putting in the steel construction on there, and the boardwalk will actually start taking shape,” added Aaron.

Once complete, Aaron said this project will generate tourism and jobs, but most importantly, it will serve as a valuable resource for the community.

“We have great amenities in the whole Big Country, and Early wants to do their part to try to bring another amenity to people who travel here from the Dallas-Fort Worth area or Austin, or even areas in the Big Country that come out here. By the time we’re celebrating our 100th birthday, you know, people will see this and be right here on this boardwalk celebrating that,” Aaron explained.

The project is designed with family-friendliness in mind. The space is already utilized for trout fishing and holiday events at the park.