The Richardson Parks and Recreation Department this weekend will celebrate the grand opening of Durham Park.

The grand opening will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday at Durham Park, 410 S. Weatherred Dr.

Funded by the 2010 Bond Program, the new $1.5 million, one-acre Durham Park includes a playground, pavilion, plaza, open play lawn and butterfly garden. Unique design characteristics consist of bricks from the four houses that were previously on the site for the construction of four of the five columns in the pavilion.

The Richardson Heights Neighborhood Association and the Cottonwood Heights Neighborhood Association are integral parts of the successful planning and development of the park.

Durham Park is named in honor of W.R. Durham, his daughter Jessie and their family. W.R. Durham began operating a farm in 1910 in the area that contains the park, and Jessie Durham inherited the farm house when her father died. She also operated a shop on Main Street, where she provided a service to the public with a library in Richardson in the back of her store.