What Could Have Been a Tragic Event at Chambers Park in Lufkin

I have worked at KICKS 105 for over 30 years, and every day for most of those years I pass by Chambers Park on my way to work, and when I'm heading home from work. I've gone there on many occasions just to sit and enjoy my lunch.  I like the numerous huge shade trees and the serenity that the park offers.

During the weekends and on most summer days, that serenity is usually replaced by the sounds of scores of people and kids taking advantage of all the amenities that Chambers Park has to offer. The park features a large pavilion, several picnic areas, a community center, tennis courts, a playground, a spray play pad, and more.  There's even a creek that runs through the center of the park.  Most of the time, it's only a slow trickle of water that flows, but I've seen it overflow its banks as indicated in the video below (go to about the 1:08 mark in the video).

Chambers Park can get rather crowded with birthday parties, reunions, field trips, and numerous kids trying to stay cool in the spray pad.  This is why things could have been devastating if what happened earlier this week had happened when numerous people were at the park.

As I mentioned earlier, huge oak trees provide shade throughout the park.  A few days ago, a huge part of one of the trees broke off.  It wasn't a branch, it was an extended part of the trunk.  If you look at the photos below, it looks like this large limb then hit a nearby tree bringing part of it crashing to the ground.

I don't recall any recent storms or high winds that would have been responsible for causing the tree to snap.  I guess that the tree was rotting and finally gave out. If you know exactly when the trees came down, let us know. Whatever the cause, if this had happened during peak hours...well, I shudder to think what the outcome could have been.

I would imagine crews will be coming soon to cut up and remove the debris left by the trees.  It looks like a good clearing out of the creek is also in order.