The park renovation was funded through private donations raised by The Association of Former Students; the project cost about $45 million. Lead donor Wayne Roberts ’85 generously made an $8 million gift for the park in honor of his beloved late wife Shannon ’86. For those who visit, there may be a few new fixtures among the familiar. 

Standing across Throckmorton Street from the Sanders Corps of Cadets Center, the first landmark you see might be a familiar one. The likeness of J.V. “Pinky” Wilson, Class of 1920, stands proud, looking across the Freels Family Field toward Kyle Field. Wilson authored the Aggie War Hymn while serving in World War I. The hymn was adopted by the student body and is still sung over 100 years later by Aggies as they lock arms and sway, as depicted by the War Hymn Monument, which stands at the other end of the Freels Family Field, facing Wilson’s statue, and depicts 12 Aggies swaying as they sing the War Hymn. The likeness of Wilson was moved from the Sanders Corps Center to Aggie Park to look upon the monument that depicts his legacy at Texas A&M.

Along Throckmorton just a few yards off the sidewalk, the Class of ’78 honored their late Classmate, Andy Duffie ’78, by planting seedlings from the Century Tree. Duffie started the Aggie Century Tree Project in 2010 as a way to raise funds for a Texas A&M scholarship by selling seedlings sprouted from acorns from the iconic tree outside Bolton Hall. After the scholarship was fully funded, many Aggies still wanted their own Century Tree seedlings. From 2014 until his passing in 2020, Duffie grew hundreds more seedlings. As a sign of appreciation, the Class of ’78 donated three Century Tree seedlings to grow in Aggie Park.

Just west stands the Bonfire Memorial Statue, called The Spirit of Bonfire. Given by the Class of 1987, the statue depicts a bonfire stack being built and then burned, along with an axe, pliers, a chain and a helmet. The memorial statue originally stood about where the J.V. “Pinky” Wilson, Class of 1920, statue stands today; it was moved farther into the green space during the park’s construction.

A bronze Victory Eagle with a 14-foot wingspan that stands 9 feet tall joins the other Class Gifts; it was given by the Class of ’91. Class Gifts are donated to the university, or university-affiliated entity such as The Association, by each year’s graduating Class.

Continue down the sidewalk and see the Dallas A&M Club Food Truck Alley. Local food trucks can park here to serve on Texas A&M's campus during school days or events like Aggie Ring Day.

Just next door is the Anteater Field House and Moore Family Creamery. The Anteater Field House was a gift from three brothers and their spouses, Bobby ’81 and Janice ’82 Jenkins, Raleigh ’83 and Kimberli ’83 Jenkins, and Dennis ’85 and Jennifer ’85 Jenkins. The family owns and operates ABC Home & Commercial Services, which uses an anteater as a company mascot. This field house has lawn games and sports equipment for students and park visitors to borrow to enjoy in the green space. The new creamery serves Texas’ favorite ice cream (Blue Bell) and is a nod to the old campus creamery that was a favorite spot for many students. Air conditioned, permanent restrooms abut the creamery and field house.

Continuing through Aggie Park, passing the central garden and the Swaim Amphitheater, you’ll find ClayDesta Point and the Rudder Oak. Modesta Williams, wife of the late Clayton W. Williams, Jr. ’54, funded this area that now hosts the Rudder Oak. This tree was originally located in front of the President’s House on campus, about 350 feet from where the tree currently stands. The house was designed by Margaret Rudder, the wife of Maj. Gen. Earl Rudder ’32, a beloved past president of Texas A&M. When Gen. Rudder passed away in 1970, the Aggie Women's Club planted the tree near the President's House in his honor. The former President’s House, which had occasionally been used as an events space for several years, was removed during the park’s development. Bricks from the president’s home, which stood in the Aggie Park acreage for over 50 years, were used at ClayDesta Point, an area that stands next to the steel Plank Bridge overlooking the two-tiered lake. If you peek under the Plank Bridge from ClayDesta Point (derived from the names “Clayton” and “Modesta”), you might see some of the waterfowl that have made the lake their home. You can read more about the ducks in Aggie Park at tx.ag/AggieParkDucks.

The 102-foot Plank Bridge spans the lake and was specifically designed to be wide enough to accommodate the Corps March-in formation. The nearly 2-acre lake is stocked with largemouth and striped bass, and redfish in the warm months and rainbow trout during winter months for catch-and-release fishing; it’s restocked up to 10 times a year. The roof of the Wood Stage is made of copper, and will patinate over time, just like the now green dome of the Academic Building.

As you walk toward the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center, a stretch of turf leads to the Haynes Ring Plaza. This green expanse, called the Williams Ring Lawn, was given by Modesta and the late Clayton W. Williams, Jr. ’54 family and is lined with the Pillars of the Aggie Network. Each pillar tells a different Aggie’s story, imparting wisdom and inspiring generations of Aggies who visit the Williams Alumni Center.

Information about reserving space in Aggie Park for your event is available here.