[Press Conference: "50/50 Park Partners Ribbon Cutting at Nieto Park"]
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WELCOME TO NIETO PARK, RIGHT HERE IN THE DENVER HARBOR NEIGHBORHOOD.MY NAME IS TINA ORTIZ, AND I AM REPRESENTING THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US THIS MORNING, UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT, UH, HE IS HERE IN SPIRIT AND, UH, SURROUNDED BY ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT STAFF, UH, WHO ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PARK PROJECT.
UM, AND I AM THRILLED TO BE HERE AND TO KICK OFF OUR CELEBRATION OF YET ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR OUR MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER'S 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE.
SO, AS MAYOR KNOWS, UH, THE HOUSTON PARKS, AND, OOPS, THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, WE MANAGE AND MAINTAIN 382 PARKS, 167 GREEN SPACES, AND THIS TOTALS NEARLY 40,000 ACRES OF PUBLIC PARKLAND FOR OUR CITIZENS.
AND NIETO PARK WAS ACQUIRED IN 1951, AND IT WAS RENAMED IN 1978 FOR THE BELOVED FAMILY SANTOS AND ESTHER NIETO.
AND MANY OF YOU HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, OF COURSE, ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE NIETO FAMILY AS THEY WERE PROMINENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF MAGNOLIA AND THEIR RICH HISTORY HONORING CULTURE AND TRADITION WAS APPRECIATED BY SO MANY.
THE NIETOS ALSO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ADVANCE PARKS, YOUTH SPORTS, AND PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE IN THE MAGNOLIA AND DENVER HARBOR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THE REVIT REVITALIZATION OF NITO PARK TODAY IS SO SIGNIFICANT, AND WE ARE SO PROUD TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF THE, OF THE NITO FAMILY IN TODAY'S CELEBRATION.
AND WHEN MAYOR TURNER LAUNCHED THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS PROGRAM, IT WAS A CALL TO ACTION AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO BE DIRECTED TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ACROSS HOUSTON.
SO THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT JOINED UP WITH OUR 50 50 PARTNERS, AND WE TARGETED 22 INITIAL PARKS TO BENEFIT FROM THIS PROJECT.
AND, AND EACH OF THE 22 WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO OUR NEXT SPEAKER, YES, OUR NEXT SPEAKER CARRIES THE TORCH FOR THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS PROGRAM AND THE SIGNATURE NAME, AND HE'S BEEN A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF, OF PARK INITIATIVES DURING HIS ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME AND INTRODUCED TO YOU THE HONORABLE MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER.
LOOK, LET ME START OFF BY THANKING TINA REPRESENTING, UH, PARKS AND REC TODAY, AND DIRECTOR KEN ALLEN.
LET ME, LET ME SEE YOU ALL OUT THERE.
NO, WITHOUT YOU ALL THESE DAYS WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
SO THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
UH, AND THEN, UM, WE ARE RIGHT HERE IN DISTRICT EIGHT, DENVER HARBOR AREA.
UH, SO COUNCIL MEMBER CULL CISNEROS, THANK YOU FOR BEING AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER.
SHE DOES NOT MIND SPENDING THOSE DISTRICT SERVICE FARMS IN COLLABORATION WITH US, SO THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
AND THEN AT LARGE MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON, COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON IS WITH US ALL THE TIME FROM ONE END OF THE OTHER.
AND THEN THE GUY WITH THE COWBOY HAT AT LARGE MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL KNOX.
GIVE IT UP TO COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE KNOX.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE DIRECTOR OF COMPLETE COMMUNITY, SHANNON BUGS.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO DIRECTOR SHANNON BOX.
I KNOW STATE SENATOR CARROLL ABARA IS GONNA TRY TO MAKE IT HERE.
AND THEN, UM, I'LL BE THANKING SEVERAL
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FOLK.BUT LEMME JUST START OFF WITH, UH, UH, THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND BETH WHITE AND HER TEAM, PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, BETH, AND THEN THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP HAS ALSO BEEN ONE OF OUR PARTNERS COLLABORATING ON THIS PROJECT.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP AS WELL.
LOOK, WE GATHER TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE REVISED NIETO PARK, SERVING THE DENVER HARBOR COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO ARE COMMEMORATING THE SEVENTH PARK TO BE UPLIFTED AS PART OF THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE THAT DIRECTS RESOURCES AND INVESTMENT INTO NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
AND OF COURSE, I'M JOINED BY ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL PARTNERS BECAUSE WITHOUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WORKING TOGETHER, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND THEN LET ME ALSO RECOGNIZE, I THINK OUR SPECIAL GUEST, UH, INCLUDING SCROGGINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, WON BETH BERE.
OH, IT'S NO GOOD PARTY WITHOUT A PRINCIPAL BEING AT THE PARTY.
AND LOOK, UH, THIS IS THE START OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, SO WE WANNA WISH YOU, YOUR STAFF AND ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS, UH, ALL THE BEST IN THIS COMING YEAR TO HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
SO THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH, AND I'M SURE THEY WILL APPRECIATE AND ENJOY THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS SO CLOSE TO THE CAMPUS AS A PLACE TO RELAX AND PLAY AFTER SCHOOL.
ALSO, UH, IN ATTENDANCE, I MENTIONED, UH, SHANNON BUS WITH COMPLETE COMMUNITIES ON BEHALF OF WHAT WE ARE DOING, UH, IN THESE 10 MAJOR NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE ALSO GATHERED HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS THAT PARKS AND GREEN SPACES HAVE TO THE HEALTH AND BEAUTY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS PROGRAM REMAINS ONE OF THE KEY INITIATIVES WITH OUR ONE CRITICAL GOAL TO UPLIFT NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IN UNDER-RESOURCED AREAS.
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND HOW PARKS WILL BUILD COMMUNITIES.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS SERVE AS HUBS FOR COMMUNITY PRIDE AND OFFER A SAFE PLACE TO EXERCISE, PLAY, AND EXPLORE NATURE AS WELL AS THE OUTDOORS.
AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT EVERY COMMUNITY HAS ACCESS TO A THRIVING AND BEAUTIFUL PARK.
UH, LET US ALSO SAY THAT THIS EFFORT EVOLVES MANY PARTNERS, AS I SAID EARLIER, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WORKING TOGETHER ACROSS OUR CITY.
SO IF YOU'RE FROM DENVER HARBOR, IF YOU'LL RAISE YOUR HAND, IF YOU'RE FROM DENVER HARBOR, RAISE YOUR HAND.
LET ME THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, UH, FOR WORKING WITH US.
WE ARE ALSO TARGET, WE TARGET TO COMPLETE 22 PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS BY YEAR END, UH, THANKS TO THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS.
AND THIS GREAT EFFORT COULD ONLY BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A COLLABORATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT HELPING TO CARRY OUT AND LEAD THIS AMBITIOUS PLAN.
WE HAVE THE GREATEST HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD BOTH TAKING UP THE CHALLENGE.
AND I ALSO, AGAIN, LIKE TO THANK BETH WHITE AND HER TEAM AT THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO THIS EFFORT.
THE PARKS BOARD LEADERSHIP WITH PROJECT ADMINISTRATION, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, CORPORATE STEWARDSHIP, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR ALL OF OUR 50 50 PARKS ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
AND THEN OUR COLLABORATION ALLOWS US TO ACHIEVE MORE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, AND IN TURN CONTRIBUTES TO A STRONGER, EQUITABLE, AND MORE RESILIENT CITY.
AS A RESULT, WE HAVE INVESTED NEARLY $900,000 IN THE ETO PARK TO PROVIDE NEW PARK AMENITIES, INCLUDING NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND NEW EXERCISE STATION, IMPROVED PLAYGROUND SURFACE AND NEW PICNIC DECK, CONCRETE IMPROVEMENTS AROUND THE BASKETBALL COURT, AND INCREASED DRAINAGE FOR THE PARK.
THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ALSO ADDED NEW FENCING AROUND THE PARK, FRESHENING UP THE BASKETBALL PROVISION PAVILION WITH NEW PAINT AND COURT LINES, AND UPDATED THE SITE FURNITURE, INCLUDING BENCHES, PICNIC TABLES, AND TRASH CANS.
NIETO PARK IS A BELOVED COMMUNITY GATHERING SPOT THAT PROVIDES SO MANY RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH AND OUR ADULTS, WHETHER IT BE HOOPING AT THE COURT, ENJOYING FAMILY TIME AT THE PLAYGROUND, PICNICKING UNDER THE BEAUTIFUL NATURE MATURE TREES CANOPY ARE COOLING OFF AS WELL.
I WANT TO APPLAUD THE DENVER HARBOR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE CIVIC CLUB FOR ITS CONTINUED STEWARDSHIP OF NATO PARK.
AND SPECIAL THANKS TO MS. ANNA GONZALEZ, PRESIDENT OF THE DENVER HARBOR CIVIC CLUB.
WHERE IS MS. ANNA GONZALEZ AS SHE'S, THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH SO.
SPECIAL THANKS TO MS. ANNA GONZALEZ, PRESIDENT OF THE DENVER HARBOR
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CIVIC CLUB FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND WORK ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS OF DENVER HARBOR.SO AT THIS TIME, LET ME, LET ME PAUSE AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE YOUR DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER, CARLOS, IT CIRE, DISTRICT H COUNCIL MEMBER CIRE.
I JUST REALLY WANNA ADD MY, UM, MY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN PART OF THIS AND, AND, UM, TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MAYOR WHO HAS BEEN SUCH A, A, A GOOD CONVENER OF COLLABORATORS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN PEOPLE PULL TOGETHER AND CAN PULL IN THE SAME DIRECTION, YOU KNOW, AND LEVERAGE RESOURCES, SO MUCH HAPPENS.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS, UH, 50 BY 50 PARK INITIATIVE HAS BEEN.
UM, SO OF THE 11 PARKS, THIS IS THE FIRST ONE IN, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT'S IN DISTRICT H.
UM, AND WE'RE SO THRILLED THAT IT'S, IT'S HERE IN DENVER HARBOR.
UM, I WOULD JUST ALSO LIKE TO PUT ON YOUR RADAR, THERE IS A SECOND ONE IN DENVER HARBOR THAT WE'LL BE CELEBRATING IN OCTOBER, AND THAT'S, UM, A TU PARK.
SO STAY TUNED FOR THAT ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT THAT DATE.
BUT TWO, THE, OF THE 55 50 PARKS ARE COMING RIGHT HERE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE PROGRAM REALLY IDENTIFIED SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THAT, THAT, UM, WE'RE IN NEED OF MORE RESOURCES.
AND SO I'M JUST DELIGHTED THAT THAT'S COMING HERE TO DENVER HARBOR, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SERVING, UM, UH, ALL THE FAMILIES AND ALL THE CHILDREN THAT ARE, THAT ARE JUST WALKING DISTANCE TO HERE.
UM, AND JUST THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
AND, AND AFTER THE EVENT, IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN RUNNING THROUGH THE WATER LIKE I AM, YOU KNOW, I MAY, I MAY JUST DO THAT.
SO IF YOU WANNA JOIN ME, WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.
I THINK WE ALL SHOULD TAKE A LAP IN THE SPRAY GROUND.
UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR, YOUR LOVE OF PARKS AND ALL THE PARK INITIATIVES THAT YOU SUPPORT.
UM, AND I'M, I'M SURE THAT ON BEHALF OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS HERE IN DISTRICT H, THEY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO.
UH, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHERE PARTNERSHIP CULTURE, UH, THRIVES, UH, ESPECIALLY FOR, UH, GREEN SPACE, UH, FOR CHILDREN, UH, AND FOR, UH, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
AND WE HAVE A LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR, OUR NEXT, UH, UH, SPEAKER.
AND THE, THE PART, THE PARTNERSHIP AS PART OF OUR 50 50 PARK PARTNERS PROGRAM.
UM, IT'S, UM, WE WORK HARD, WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THIS AGENCY.
IT'S IT'S HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
UM, AND THEY, UH, ARE ARE ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION TO CREATE, IMPROVE AND ADVOCATE FOR PARKS FOR EVERYONE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR PARTNER IN THE MAYORS 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE.
AND WELCOME UP HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, BOARD MEMBER COLIN GEISELMAN.
UH, IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
AND AREN'T YOU ENJOYING THE LOW HUMIDITY? HAS ANYONE NOTICED THE LOW HUMIDITY? UM, IT'S ACTUALLY, UH, GETTING TO BE THAT TIME WHERE WE CAN REALLY GET OUTDOORS AND, UM, NOT OVERHEAT.
SO I AM SO PROUD TO BE A BOARD MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, WHICH IS AS WAS MENTIONED BY TINA, A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS DEDICATED TO CREATING, IMPROVING, PROTECTING, AND ADVOCATING PARKS, UH, FOR EVERYONE.
AND WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS, AND WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH, UM, HPRD AND COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU GUYS.
AND WE'RE THRILLED HERE TO BE CELEBRATING THIS PARK AND THE LOVELY IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN.
AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THIS PROCESS.
UM, THE NEIGHBORS, OUR PARK PARTNERS, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE SPOKEN HERE TODAY, UM, TO HAVE THIS TRANSFORMATIVE WORK IN PARTICULAR TO YOU, MAYOR TURNER, BECAUSE YOU WERE THE ONE THAT REALLY PUSHED US TO FOCUS ON PARK EQUITY AND ADDRESS THESE AND COME TOGETHER, UM, IN A, UH, I WOULD SAY THERE'S A PRETTY SPEEDY PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING TO GO 22 PARKS IN A, A PRETTY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
SO WE REALLY WANNA THANK YOU GUYS AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED AS WELL AS, UM, UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN, WHO IS NOT HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND, UM, EVERYONE THERE AS WELL AS LISA JOHNSON.
AND THEN, UM, OUR OTHER LOVELY COLLABORATORS FROM CLARK CONDON, ELIZABETH GILBERT AND MATT BUNK, AS WELL AS OUR FOLKS FROM LANDSCAPE ART INC.
UH, REBECCA AND KAREN AND HUGO.
THESE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
AND LASTLY, AND CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, UM, TO ALL MY FRIENDS AT THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, UM, PARTICULARLY BETH WHITE, OUR FEARLESS CEO AND BARON WALLACE, OUR BOARD CHAIR, OH, THERE
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HE IS.AND, UM, AND ALL THOSE THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
AND CAN I HAVE OUR, UH, HOUSTON PARKS BOARD STAFF RAISE THEIR HAND WAVE? THANK YOU ALL.
THIS IS A TIRELESS TEAM THAT IS ALWAYS WORKING AND ALWAYS SMILING.
UM, SO, UH, AS WAS MENTIONED, NIETO PARK IS THE SEVENTH OF THE 50 50 PARK INITIATIVES.
UM, UH, THEY'RE 22, AND SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING ADDITIONAL 15, INCLUDING ANOTHER ONE HERE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND, UM, REALLY THIS PROJECT, THIS, THIS INITIATIVE, THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE IS ABOUT IMPROVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
THESE ARE THE PLACES THAT PEOPLE GO TO EVERY DAY, UM, WITH THESE GOALS, THESE THREE GOALS IN MIND PARK EQUITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, TO FIND OUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY WANTS IN THEIR PARK AND LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE IMPACT.
WE WANT THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE ARE MAKING IN THESE PARKS NOW TO LAST.
AND, UM, WE WANNA LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY REALLY NEED TO, WHAT THEY REALLY NEED IN THEIR PARKS.
UM, SO THIS HAS BEEN AN, AN AMAZING, UH, THING FOR THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD TO BE THE PROJECT MANAGER AND WORK WITH ALL OF YOU ON THIS.
UM, WE WORK CLOSELY, AS WAS MENTIONED WITH DISTRICT H AND THE DENVER HARBOR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE CONDUCTED OUTREACH AND ENGLISH AND, AND SPANISH TO FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANTED, WHAT WERE THEIR WISHES TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK.
UM, AND SO THOSE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING TODAY ARE COMING FROM THEM.
THIS IS WHAT THEY WANTED IN THEIR PARK.
UM, AND WE THINK THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE GONNA BRING NEW LIFE TO THIS SPACE WHERE LOTS OF PEOPLE COME HERE, NOT JUST TO EXERCISE, BUT AS THE MAYOR WAS SAYING, ENJOYING THE TREES, JUST ENJOYING SITTING OUT IN A PUBLIC SPACE, MEETING WITH NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS.
UM, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE EVERYONE WORK WITH US ON THIS.
AND NOW I AM PARTICULARLY THANKFUL AND, UM, AND PLEASED TO INTRODUCE THE DENVER HARBOR CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT.
UM, UH, ANNA GONZALEZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THEY REALLY HELPED LEAD THIS EFFORT, SO COME ON UP.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK MY VICE PRESIDENT, RITA ROBLES OVER THERE.
UM, WE WERE AT CLIFF TUTTLE PARK.
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE THREE PARKS IN DENVER HARBOR.
WE HAVE THE DENVER HARBOR PARK, NIETO PARK IN CLIFF, TUTTLE PARK.
AND WHEN WE WERE SELECTED TO HAVE RENOVATIONS AT CLIFF TUTTLE AND HERE IN NIETO PARK, WE WERE EXCITED.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH MS. LISA JOHNSON FOR THE DENVER HARBOR PARK, WHICH IS GONNA BE A BIGGER, UM, RENOVATION THERE.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED AND BLESSED HERE AT DENVER HARBOR BECAUSE EACH PARK HAS ITS, UM, SPECIALTY.
THE CLIFF TURTLE HAS THE SKATEBOARD PARK, SO WE SEE KIDS THERE PLAYING WITH THEIR SKATEBOARDS, RIDING THEM HERE.
THEY PLAY BASKETBALL, THEY CONVERSE HERE AFTER SCHOOL.
SO IT'S A SAFE HAVEN FOR OUR CHILDREN.
AND THEN DENVER HARBOR, WE'RE NO NOTED FOR OUR LITTLE LEAGUE AND OUR FOOTBALL AND OUR SOCCER, SO THERE'S KIDS ALWAYS THERE.
AND SO WE WANTED TO BE PRETTY AND NICE.
SO IT COULD BE NOT ONLY FOR US, BUT FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME, FOR OUR CHILDREN TO COME IN, ENJOY.
SO WE THANK THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, WE THANK OUR COUNCILWOMAN AND SVE AND OUR MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER, ALSO FOR SELECTING US FOR TWO PARKS AND HOW LUCKY WE ARE HERE IN DENVER HARBOR TO HAVE TWO PARKS IN THE 50 50 PROGRAM.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE THAT LIVES HERE IN DENVER HARBOR WILL ENJOY IT AND APPRECIATE IT.
APPRECIATE ALL YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THIS COMMUNITY AND, AND EVERYONE IN THE CIVIC CLUB THAT DOES SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS.
UM, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AT ALL LEVELS IS INTEGRAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE MAYOR'S 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE.
UM, SO AS, UH, COLIN HAD MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE IS SO, SO IMPORTANT.
SO, UM, GET INVOLVED IN YOUR CIVIC CLUB AND YOUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, UH, TO HELP CONTINUE THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS AND MOVE THEM FORWARD.
UM, AND I WANNA THANK EVERYONE, UH, HERE TODAY FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO CONTINUE, UH, TO MAKE NATO PARK A A BETTER PLACE TO LOVE, PLAY AND WORK.
AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW PARK.
AND, UH, BEFORE WE CLOSE, I THINK MAYOR MAY HAVE A FEW MORE, UH, A FEW MORE COMMENTS.
THANKS TINA, AND, AND APPRECIATE ALL THE SPEAKERS.
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I'LL BE REMISS FOR US TO CLOSE WITHOUT HEARING FROM THE STATE SENATOR FOR THIS AREA.REALLY APPRECIATE HER SUPPORT ON MULTIPLE LEVELS.
AND LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR MAYOR TURNER.
HE'S DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB, AND IT'S TOO BAD WE HAVE THOSE DARN CITY TERM LIMITS.
AND I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CISNEROS TOO FOR HER PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND, UH, THE BOARD, THE STAFF, YOU KNOW, DIRECTORS COME AND GO, BUT WHAT'S ALWAYS BEEN CONSISTENT IS THIS WONDERFUL TEAM AT PARKS AND RECREATION.
THEY WORK SO HARD, AND MANY OF US PEOPLE, MANY OF THOSE OUT THERE DON'T KNOW THEIR NAMES, THEIR TITLES, BUT THEY DO SUCH A GOOD JOB, UH, KEEPING OUR PARKS BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE, AND LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET THE RECOGNITION THAT THEY DESERVE.
AND TO THE CIVIC CLUB, TO THE COMMUNITY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.
I WISH THAT MR. JOB, BY THE WE'RE HERE, WAS ALIVE WITH US TO SEE THIS.
AND I WISH MRS. PADILLA COULD, COULD GET OUT OF THE HOUSE SO SHE COULD SEE THIS, BECAUSE THEY'RE FEARLESS ADVOCATES, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY, A COUNCIL MEMBER ROBINSON MUST NIETO TO SIGNIFICANT GRANDSON.
SO THIS, UH, HOPEFULLY WILL BRING MANY FAMILIES AND GRANDKIDS COUNCIL MEMBER TO THIS PARK.
I REMEMBER WHEN THE, THEY FIRST PUT IN THE WATER PARK A LONG, LONG TIME AGO.
IT WAS A BIG THING HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THE IMPROVEMENTS TODAY ARE GONNA GO SUCH A LONG WAY FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME AND TO ENJOY.
AND MAYOR TURNER, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING SO MANY OF THESE.
WE WERE JUST AT DOW PARK NOT TOO LONG AGO, ALSO IN OUR SENATE DISTRICT, BUT FOR RECOGNIZING, UH, BRINGING, UM, EQUITY TO GREEN SPACE AND PARKS IN OUR CITY.
ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, ANNA HERNANDEZ.
HER STAFF IS HERE, RIGHT OVER THERE.
NICOLE IRVIN WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS IS SOMEWHERE.
UH, AS THEY REPRESEN, I SAY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, SNELL SAYS, THERE'LL BE ANOTHER, UH, RIBBON COVENANT CUTTING COMING UP VERY, VERY SOON.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE BASIS ACADEMY.
AND SO THE BASIS ACADEMY, THERE ARE FOUR OF THEM, UH, IN THE, UH, THAT ARE OPENING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, ONE IS ALREADY NOW AT DENVER HARBOR MULTI-SERVICE CENTER, UH, FREE HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER FOR CHILDREN, AGES THREE THROUGH FIVE.
UH, IT IS AT NO COST, UH, TO THE FAMILIES AT ALL, AND IT'S TOTALLY FREE AND IT'S ABOUT A MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT PER YEAR, UH, THAT WE ARE MAKING, UH, AT THIS FOR THE BASIS ACADEMY.
SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK THEM, UH, FOR PARTNERING, FOR PARTNERING WITH US.
HAVING SAID THAT, I KNOW, UH, DIRECTOR KENNEDY ALLEN WANTED TO BE HERE, JUST UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY AT A LITTLE BIT UNDER THE WEATHER, BUT CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HIS LEADERSHIP AND, AND REALLY APPRECIATE HIM.
AND AGAIN, I CAN'T SHOUT OUT ENOUGH TO PARKS AND REC TO ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES, THE STAFF, THE TIRELESS, TIRELESS WORKER, UM, WHETHER IT'S A HUNDRED DEGREES, 109 DEGREES OR WHATEVER, UH, THEY ARE OUT HERE GETTING THE JOB DONE.
AND THEN LET'S GIVE ANOTHER STRONG HAND.
LET'S GIVE A HAND TO, UH, HPD.
THEY ARE ALWAYS ON THE JOB, SO REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU, ALL ALL AND, AND WHAT YOU DO.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO REPRESENTATIVE HERE FROM CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA.
FRANK FRANKIE, YOU RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF ME.
SO PLEASE THANK THE, UH, THE CONGRESSWOMAN FOR EVERYTHING THAT SHE DOES AND THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT SHE HAS SENT BACK TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND, UH, TELL HER WE SAID KEEP IT GOING.
WE WOULD NEVER, WE NEVER GET ENOUGH.
HAVING SAID THIS, LET ME GIVE IT UP TO TINA THIS MORNING WHO JUST STEPPED IN AND BEEN AN AWESOME MC SO IT'S ONLY FITTING TO LET HER HAVE THE LAST WORD.
I THINK WE'RE READY TO CELEBRATE.
RIGHT? UM, JUST BEFORE THAT, I KNOW WE'VE MENTIONED OUR PARKS, DEPARTMENT, STAFF, GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING, ANY OF THESE LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE.
SO LISA JOHNSON, AGAIN, AND ALL OF HER TEAM, THANK YOU, AND EVERYBODY WHO HAD JUST A HELPING HAND IN THIS PROJECT AND ANY OF OUR 50 50 PARK PARTNERS PROJECTS, WE APPRECIATE YOU.
IT TAKES ALL OF US TO, TO MAKE THESE PROJECTS COME TO FRUITION.
AND I KNOW WE HAVE OUR URBAN PARK RANGERS HERE.
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A SHOUT OUT.SO I'M GONNA SHOUT OUT TO OUR, OUR RANGER TEAM AND ALL OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TEAM.