HARLINGEN, Texas — A new city park under construction in the fast-growing western sector of Harlingen will bear the name of a legendary local veteran and civil rights advocate, a move city leaders say is a crucial step toward reflecting the cultural diversity and rich history of the community.
The Harlingen City Commission has voted unanimously to name the new 3.5-acre site off Stuart Place Road after the late Arturo “Treto” Garza, a highly decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served two tours in the Viet Nam War. Following his military service, Garza became one of the region's most formidable voices for marginalized communities and veterans before his passing in 2012 at the age of 68.
For District 5 City Commissioner Rene Perez, who recommended the name, honoring Garza is both a personal and civic mission.
“A lot of our parks... are named after worthy individuals from the city of Harlingen. But one thing I've noticed about the parks is that they don't really reflect the cultural diversity that we have here in our city,” Perez said, noting that Hispanics make up the vast majority of the local population. “Hispanics are the majority... and I think we need to do a better job in showing the young kids what we have in this community in terms of our heritage. We've had these heroes... they come from our community, and we need to celebrate them.”
The park is being developed on city-owned land adjacent to the fire station on Stuart Place Road to address a severe lack of green space identified in a recent comprehensive city plan. Funded through a combination of the city’s 4B economic development board, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), and the Keep Harlingen Beautiful Board, the park will feature a walking trail, a covered basketball court, a playground, and a splash pad.
While the booming western corridor is filled with new subdivisions and young families, Perez—a veteran himself—felt strongly that the park's identity should transcend standard geographical names like "Stuart Place Park."
Upon learning about Garza’s extensive legacy from a colleague, Perez said he was "hooked immediately."
Garza’s impactful advocacy touched multiple facets of life in the Rio Grande Valley. Beyond his military service, he fought tirelessly for the rights of migrant workers and successfully spearheaded the effort to bring running water and electrical utilities to Cameron Park, the sprawling colonia outside of Brownsville. He was also instrumental in establishing Su Clínica Familiar, a vital healthcare clinic for low-income residents in Harlingen.
To many across the Valley, however, Garza is best remembered for his unrelenting stance on veterans' healthcare. Writing his weekly Veteran’s Voice column for the Rio Grande Guardian, Garza wielded a powerful pen that became required reading for local, state, and federal officials. Working alongside grassroots organizations like America’s Last Patrol—who organized grueling awareness marches from Edinburg to San Antonio—Garza pushed continuously for equity in healthcare, laying the groundwork for the modern VA facilities operating in Harlingen today.
“Every single veteran here in Harlingen, and even outside the city across Cameron County, and some from even McAllen, we owe a debt to that generation—to Treto and to all the others from the Last Patrol,” Perez said. “The care that we get right now at the VA Coastal Bend Clinic that we have here in Harlingen, that would not have been possible without their advocacy.”
During recent city commission proceedings, officials noted that despite Garza’s profound influence, the passage of time had eroded some institutional memory at City Hall, making the naming dedication an important rediscovery of local history.
Mayor Norma Sepulveda expressed strong support for the initiative, suggesting that the Garza family collaborate with the Harlingen Public Library to ensure his history of advocacy is permanently preserved, furthering Hispanic representation in city archives. The move follows other recent naming initiatives aimed at recognizing local leaders, such as the naming of the Gloria Canales Auditorium.
Perez met with Genaro Garza, Treto’s son, to discuss the dedication—a gesture the family welcomed as long-overdue recognition for a man who spent his life speaking truth to power.
Construction on the playground has already been completed, with work on the covered basketball court and walking trail currently underway. The splash pad will follow later due to the complexity of the infrastructure.
Perez indicated that a grand opening ceremony is being targeted for the end of September. Rather than just a standard sign, the city plans to install an informational plaque detailing Garza's lifelong achievements to inspire future generations.
The upcoming dedication has already struck a chord with the community. Veteran organizations, the American Legion, and volunteers from the local VA have already reached out to offer assistance for the opening ceremony.
"I love the fact that for our veteran community, it is coming together to see what we can do to honor a fellow comrade," Perez said. "His story is one that has the possibility to inspire other people. It has already, so I want to make sure that it's remembered."
