On the day seven years ago when he learned he had pancreatic cancer, Bruce Hatter also decided to fight for a new Dallas city park.

It's a scratchy piece of land on the far northern tip of Dallas, choked off on one side by massive sound barriers lining the Bush Turnpike. But it was 4.5 acres waiting to be loved. Bruce loved it.

This is a story of one man's obsession to build a park, a strong drive that probably kept him alive longer than expected but also led to something beautiful that will benefit generations to come.

It's also a story of how you can force change at City Hall. When I looked through Bruce's extensive files this week, I saw the moves you can make to gain a city's attention, build community support, attract media attention and, most important, find money in a city budget.

This is a how-to guide on winning.

Bruce Hatter on the land he wanted to turn into a park (2014 photo). (Staff Photo / Julissa Trevino)

'Passionate'

For exercise, Bruce, a retiree, liked to walk his Bent Trail neighborhood, sometimes up to 4 miles a day.

One day seven years ago, he came home and mentioned to his wife, Betti Coffey, a forgotten piece of land a few blocks away.

"I'm going to do a park," Bruce announced. "I'm going to get a beautiful park on that land."

And so he began.

Bruce Hatter (Courtesy photo)

He began researching and visiting the Dallas Park and Recreation Board, Dallas City Council, Dallas Parks Foundation and the Collin County commissioners (the land is in the city of Dallas, but also in Collin County).

He visited other area parks for inspiration, finding it especially at Frisco's creative Hope Park.

He formed a committee, calling it Friends of Moss Glen Park, and tied it to the nonprofit Dallas Parks Foundation so the group could accept donations.

He ran "neighborhood awareness" community meetings at a local church.

He tried — without success — to persuade area businesses to contribute.

He organized an "It's My Park Day" with music, food and face painting to get people to come out. Several hundred did.

He organized a neighborhood garage sale, which raised $1,100.

On hot days, Bruce and Betti sold cold water bottles at the corner of Mossbrook and Bentwood Trails, closest to the park.

He partnered with Dallas City Council member Sandy Greyson as a key ally.

If you can't already tell, he was something of a micro-manager. When he printed flyers, he gave his volunteers a detailed map showing where exactly to hang them.

Brilliantly, he created a presentation packet with talking points and gave one to each committee member.

But in the files I examined, my favorite document among the hundreds is a handwritten speech he gave at a neighborhood meeting.

It begins: "Thank you. My name is ..." Underneath is a note to himself: "Passionate."

That he was.

Sometimes too passionate.

Betti warned Bruce that his tough-guy persona from his old days in corporate America wouldn't fly. But there was no stopping him.

Didn't stop fighting

All this time, his health was growing worse. Doctors told him his time was nearly up. But he wasn't done. That scratchy land needed to become an oasis.

Three years ago, he had to stop his neighborhood walks.

Two years ago, he began eating through a tube.

One year ago, he was connected to intravenous fluid full time.

Bruce never stopped fighting for the park.

He led the celebration after the 2017 Dallas city bond package included money for the park.

He celebrated further when Collin County chipped in an amazing $250,000. Adding it all up, more than a million dollars was raised through private and public sources.

Construction on a $700,000 park is set to begin in December, with a grand opening in May. The other day, I saw that trenches have already been dug for a sprinkler system.

The park will have a loop trail, playground, exercise stations, benches, drinking fountains and a small pedestrian bridge.

A rendering of the planned playground at Moss Glen Park. (Courtesy photo)

'Man on a mission'

Bruce died in March. He was 75. Although he'd never get to see his park, he knew it was coming. That's almost good enough.

He didn't get to know about his big honor.

In late October, the Dallas Parks Foundation awarded Bruce its Volunteer of the Year Award.

Betti Coffey with her dog Molly at Moss Glen Park in Dallas. She accepted her late husband Bruce's award on his behalf. (Carly Geraci / Staff Photographer)

At the ceremony at the swanky Crescent Club, council member Greyson said, "He so deserves this honor. ... He was a man on a mission. ... He was persistent."

In her acceptance speech on his behalf, his widow, Betti, told the banquet attendees, "He was focused and passionate." The park project allowed him to "concentrate on something other than himself."

Dallas City Council member Sandy Greyson (right) worked with Betti Coffey and her late husband Bruce Hatter to create a new city park. Here, Coffey holds her husband's Volunteer of the Year award. (Courtesy of Dallas Parks Foundation / Jonathan Zizzo)

There are few parks in North Dallas. Mostly there are shopping centers, homes and corporate buildings. During the building spree of a generation ago, parks were an afterthought in that part of town.

This volunteer did his best to fix that. Most people who are dying probably wouldn't throw themselves into a civic venture.

But picture Bruce walking to the park, in slow painful steps, holding his stomach tight so his stitches from surgery wouldn't fail. Never giving up. Not thinking of himself, but of others.

That's how you stand tall in the face of adversity. That's how you should live before you die.

The city's construction plan for new Moss Glen Park in far North Dallas.

How to win at City Hall

Here's how Bruce Hatter mobilized the neighborhood:

Form a committee. It doesn't have to be large. Bruce never had more than a dozen members, but they were active and dedicated.

Distribute a "presentation binder" for members to use to pitch the cause.

Run meetings efficiently and in a business-like manner.

Make allies. Bruce worked closely with Dallas City Council member Sandy Greyson and Samuel Stiles of the Dallas Parks Foundation.

Bruce Hatter, with Dallas City Council member Sandy Greyson at a community event at the future park. (Courtesy photo)

Get a phone line, a post office box and business cards.

Build a website and use social media.

Create a logo for your cause.

Tie your cause to a nonprofit so charitable donations can be accepted.

Hold community meetings and events.

Bruce Hatter (left) signs up volunteers at one of the community events. (Courtesy photo)

Use signs, banners and flyers to keep the neighborhood informed.

Gain media attention for activities.

Consider partnering with area women's clubs.

Always show appreciation and say thanks to allies.

Celebrate victories, large and small.

Tug at heartstrings.

Be passionate.

Only a handful of city parks have exercise stations. This is what's planned for Moss Glen Park.

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