[Press Conference: "50/50 Park Ribbon Cutting - Briarbend Park"]
[00:00:19]
GOOD MORNING.IT IS DEFINITELY A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
IT'S LIKE A CRISP MORNING, BUT IT'S AFTERNOON.
SO WELCOME EVERYONE TO BROADBAND PARK.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S CERTAINLY A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS PROJECT AND THE RENOVATION OF BROADBAND PARK.
I WANNA THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR JOINING US.
YOU KNOW, AS PART OF THIS CELEBRATION, THE MAYOR, UH, HONORABLE MAYOR HAS MADE IT A POINT TO IMPROVE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF 22 THAT WE'LL COMPLETE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
IT'S ALL PART OF MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER'S 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE.
AND TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, WE'RE TALKING ONE PARK AND THEN 22, BUT JUST SO EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE KNOW, WE HAVE OVER 383 PARKS.
I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF MAKING THOSE PARKS LOOK AS, AS WELL AS WE CAN MAKE 'EM LOOK.
I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU GUYS THAT WE HAVE A HUGE INVENTORY.
SO BROADBAND PARK WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1958.
THIS IS, UH, 1.27 ACRES OF LAND.
IT'S GREEN SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'M EXCITED BECAUSE THIS SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD AND THOSE THAT FREQUENT THIS PARK, THEY HAVE A QUALITY NICE PLACE TO JUST RELAX, TO PLAY, TO JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME RIGHT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THESE ARE PARKS THAT PEOPLE CAN WALK TO AND IT'S THEIR, AS OUR MAYOR WOULD SAY, IT'S THEIR MEMORIAL PARK.
SO WE'RE HAPPY FOR THE FACT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE THIS SPACE UNIQUE AND INVITING AND ENJOYABLE.
I KNOW THE MAYOR'S ON A TIGHT TIMELINE, SO I'M NOT GONNA GO ON AND ON.
I KNOW YOU GOT SOME PLACE TO BE.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR HONORABLE MAYOR.
I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR ALL HIS HARD WORK AND EVERYTHING THAT HE'S DOING FOR THE PARK SYSTEM.
AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, ESPECIALLY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ARE PLACES THAT RESIDENTS CAN WALK TO AND ENJOY.
MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DIRECTOR ALLEN.
AND, AND THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS THAT I WOULDN'T MIND JUST BEING IN THE SUN
UM, BUT LOOK, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
AND, UM, THIS IS A PART OF OUR 50 BY 50 INITIATIVE TO SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE, UH, 50 PARKS.
UH, THIS YEAR ALONE, WE ARE DOING 22 OF THEM, AND ON SATURDAY WE WERE TOGETHER, UH, DOING TWO, AND THEN TODAY AND THEN ANOTHER ONE THIS COMING FRIDAY.
SO THE, THE GOAL IS TO FINISH ALL 22.
THAT'S RIGHT, UH, BY THE, BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO I WANNA START OFF BY THANKING DIRECTOR ALLEN FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF PARKS AND RECS AND ALL OF THE PARKS, UH, STAFF MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES.
IF YOU'RE HERE, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND.
UH, THANK YOU ALSO VERY, VERY MUCH.
WE'RE ALSO HERE, UH, THIS IS A LONG AWAITED OCCASION TO CELEBRATE THE REVITALIZATION OF BRIA BEND PARK, AND I COULDN'T BE HAPPY TO BE SHARING THIS MOMENT WITH YOU.
I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT BRIA BEND PARK IS THE 11TH OF THE 50 50 OF PARK PARTNERS PROGRAM COMPLETION FOR OUR GREAT CITY AND OUR RESIDENCE.
AND OF COURSE, I'M HONORED TO BE IN DISTRICT G, UH, WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARY NAN HUFFMAN WOO WOO.
IN FACT, BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT, I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE BACK IN DISTRICT G AGAIN, UH, FOR ANOTHER ONE OF THESE, UH, RIBBON CUTTINGS.
SO THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HUFFMAN, UH, FOR SUPPORTING THE 50 50 PARKS PROGRAMS INITIATIVE.
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL SPECIAL GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THEM AS WELL FOR CHAMPIONING NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND THE CITY'S COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PROGRAM, UH, AT LARGE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, DAVID ROBINSON, AS I KNOW IS ON HIS WAY.
AND THEN MICHAEL, MY KNOX OFFICE IS ALSO REPRESENTED.
UH, DINA HARRINGTON, THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR ON BEHALF OF REPRESENTATIVE IS THAT, UH, MAIN DALA IS ALSO PRESENT.
I DISTRICT 1 33 AND BRI BEND PARK IS SITUATED BETWEEN CHUNG WOOD AND BRI BEND NEIGHBORHOODS.
[00:05:01]
ALL OF THE AREA LEADERS FOR THEIR INPUT ON PARK NEEDS AND RECOGNIZE ALICE REGGIE, UH, IS THAT FRA SINGER? IS SHE HERE? OKAY.PRESIDENT OF CHUM WOOD CIVIC CLUB AND CONER, PRESIDENT OF THE BRIAR BE HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION.
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT GREAT GREEN SPACE AND PARKS, OR ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING AN ATTRACTIVE, PROSPEROUS, AND INVITING COMMUNITY IS, UM, UH, MY BELIEF THAT PARKS AND GREEN SPACES ARE VITAL, UH, TO THE HEALTH AND BEAUTY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND EVERY COMMUNITY NEED ACCESS TO A THRIVING PARK, THE 50 50 PARK PROGRAM PARTNERS.
THE PROGRAM REMAINS ONE OF OUR KEY INITIATIVES WITH ONE CRITICAL GOAL TO UPLIFT NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, WHICH SERVES AS HUBS FOR COMMUNITY PRIDE AND OFFER A SAFE PLACE TO EXERCISE, PLAY IN, EXPLORE NATURE AND THE OUTDOORS.
THIS GREAT EFFORT COULD ONLY BE ACCOMPLISHED DURING COLLABORATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENTS AND SUPPORT.
I APPRECIATE THE TEAM LEADING THIS EFFORT, INCLUDING THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, REPRESENTED BY BETH WHITE AND OF COURSE RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.
THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD SERVES AS OUR 50 50 PARK PARTNERS PROJECT MANAGER, AND OVERSEES CORPORATE STEWARDSHIP AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP BRINGS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND FACILITATES CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE BUSINESS, COMMUNITIES AND THE PARKS.
AND WE ALSO TAP INTO THE RESOURCES AND THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR COMPLETE COMMUNITIES OFFICE.
UH, THAT'S HEADED BY SHANNON BUGS, RIGHT THERE.
I WANNA THANK SHANNON FOR HER LEADERSHIP.
I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE WHEATLEY FAMILY, A, A, A KEY PARTNER INTEGRAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT.
THEY CONTRIBUTED $500,000 TO THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE, AND I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL THAT THEY VALUE PARKS AND GREEN SPACES LIKE THIS ONE.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO THE WEEKLY THOUSAND HERE IN BROADB BEND PARK, WE INVESTED NEARLY $650,000 TO UPLIFT THE PARK EXPERIENCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THIS INCLUDES $153,000 PLUS CONTRIBUTION FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS ON BEHALF OF PRECINCT FOUR.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO COMMISSIONER BRIANIS.
THE COMMISSIONER IS SUPPORTING TWO OTHER PARKS IN THIS INITIATIVE, SO WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT HER CHIEF OF STAFF ALICE LEE, IS ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY.
BROADBAND PARK IMPROVEMENTS WILL INCLUDE A NEW WOODLAND THEMED PLAYGROUND FOR AGES TWO THROUGH 12.
IMPROVE WALKIN TRAILS, UPDATING THE EXISTING GAZEBO AND ADDING NEW LIGHTING, ADDING NEW LIGHTINGS THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
INSTALLED, UM, BENCHES, REBUILT THE EXISTING PERIMETER FENCING AROUND THE PARK AND THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
REFURBISHED EXISTING PICNIC TABLES AND BENCHES, REPLACED THE KIOSK ROOF AND POWER WASH THE GAZEBO, AND REPLACED THE PET, UH, WASTE STATION AND TRASH CANS AND PAINTING THE DRINKING FOUNTAINS.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN, UH, THE PARK FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
BROADBAND PARK IS A WELL LOVED COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE THAT PROVIDES A VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
AND LOOK, THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
THE GOAL IS 50 BY 50, UH, THIS YEAR.
UP TO THIS YEAR, WE WILL HAVE DONE ABOUT 27 OF THESE 50 LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, UH, WITH ANOTHER 23 TO GO.
UH, FUNDING HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR FIVE MORE GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.
THEY WON'T GET DONE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, BUT THEY WILL TAKE PLACE ON NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN THE GOAL IS TO FINISH OUT THE REST.
AND SO AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO THANK, UM, MARY NAN HUFFMAN, THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S VERY HANDS-ON, I MIGHT ADD, UH, IN GETTING THE JOB DONE, AND CERTAINLY WHAT'S ON OUR CASE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO IT'S MY PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
COUNCIL MEMBER MARYANNE, UH, HUFFMAN.
I'M HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MARYANNE HUFFMAN, AND WELCOME TO DISTRICT G.
DOESN'T THIS GRASS MAKE YOU WANNA TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES AND PUT YOUR TOES IN IT? UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT A DIFFERENCE THESE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE MADE TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, AND WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED TO FINALLY CUT THE RIBBON AND, YOU KNOW, GET PLAYING.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, NONE OF THIS WOULD'VE BEEN, WOULD'VE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE COMMITMENT FROM OUR MAYOR,
[00:10:01]
FROM THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, FROM PRECINCT FOUR, FROM THE WEEKLY FAMILY, AND FROM ALL OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS THAT SHOW NOT JUST A COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT A COMMITMENT TO GREEN SPACES THROUGHOUT HOUSTON.AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SO HANDS ON.
UH, IT'S NICE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT YOU IN PARTICULAR ON MANY PROJECTS IN THE DISTRICT, SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT.
UM, AT THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED BECAUSE WE'RE KNOCKING PROJECTS DOWN.
WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, AND THEN ANOTHER ONE SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY.
SO, UH, SOMEONE ONCE SAID, WE HAVE A SMILING DIRECTOR, AND THAT'S WHY I'M SMILING BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS BENEFITING FROM ALL THE HARD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.
SO, UH, HOW ABOUT A ROUND OF, ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR EVERYBODY WANTS MORE.
I WANNA BRING UP OUR NEXT GUEST AND REPRESENTING PRECINCT FOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, EXCUSE ME, LESLIE.
WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON MANY PROJECTS AND SHE TOOK OFFICE AND WE HAVE REPRESENTING HER TODAY.
AND EXCUSE ME, I'M GOING THROUGH MY NOTES.
MS. ALICE LEE, COMMISSIONER BUREAU'S CHIEF OF STAFF.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MS. BETH WHITE AND THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, THE WEEKLY FAMILY AND MAYOR TURNER, AND ALL THE INCREDIBLE STAFF THAT'S HERE ON YOUR BEHALF.
ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIAN, I ALSO HAVE A FEW TEAM MEMBERS HERE FROM PRECINCT FOUR.
BRIAR BEND PARK IS ONE OF THE THREE CITY OF HOUSTON PARKS THAT HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR IS INVESTING IN.
AS PART OF OUR PLACES FOR PEOPLE INITIATIVE IMPROVEMENTS TO BRIAR BEND PARK INCLUDE A PLAYGROUND WITH A DA PLAY ELEMENTS IMPROVED ACCESSIBILITY THROUGH ADDED SIDEWALKS AND UPGRADED LIGHTING FOR SAFETY.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT CREATING SAFER, MORE ACCESSIBLE AND VIBRANT PARK THAT BRINGS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR RECREATION AND ENJOYMENT.
THESE PARK ENHANCEMENTS ARE THE RESULT OF A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND ALL OF YOU WHO CONTRIBUTED THROUGH OUR PLACES FOR PEOPLE INITIATIVE.
WE ARE INVESTING A TOTAL OF $170 MILLION FOR 32 PROJECTS WITH 20 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.
CONNECTION IS AT THE HEART OF THRIVING COMMUNITIES, PLACES FOR PEOPLE, CONNECTS PLACES, PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD A BRIGHTER, MORE RESILIENT FUTURE FOR RESIDENTS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
PARKS HAVE THE ABILITY TO STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL TIES AND INCREASE WELLBEING.
I HOPE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN CONTRIBUTE AND TO FIND AN, AN INNOVATIVE APPROACHES AND SOLUTIONS SO EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE THAT COMMUNITY PARKS CAN BRING.
THANK YOU AGAIN AND CONGRATULATIONS.
KNOW ANOTHER GREAT PARTNER THAT'S ALIGNED WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
OUR BELIEF IS THAT EVERY COMMUNITY DESERVES A QUALITY PARK IS OF COURSE A HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM ON MANY PROJECTS AND I'M, I'M HAPPY THAT WE HAVE OUR CFO BETH WHITE SITTING HERE, UH, WITH US TODAY.
SO THANK YOU, BETH, FOR ALL YOU GUYS DO AND ALL THAT YOUR STAFF IS DOING TO IMPROVE OUR PARKS ACROSS THE CITY.
I WANNA INTRODUCE CULLEN GEMAN MUSE, UH, CHAIR ELECT FROM THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
IT'S A HUGE PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY AND ALSO BE IN THIS WEATHER.
I FEEL LIKE I FOUND MY NATURAL HABITAT RIGHT HERE.
AND, UM, ANYHOW, AND AS, UH, UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN HAD SAID, MY NAME IS CULLEN GUYMAN MUSE AND I'M THE CHAIR ELECT, UH, THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, WHICH HAS BEEN IMPROVING AND PROTECTING AND EXPANDING PARKS IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.
SO WE'RE THRILLED TO BE THE PARTNERS, UM, THAT ARE HELPING TO IMPLEMENT THESE PROJECTS.
AND I HAVE TO SAY, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL PLACES.
'CAUSE WE HAVE THIS CITY, THE COUNTY NOT-FOR-PROFITS, NEIGHBORHOODS ALL COMING TOGETHER, AND IN ALSO OUR, UM, BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE THIS PARK.
SO IT JUST, UM, WE HAVE TO DO IT ALL TOGETHER.
UM, SO WE ARE SUPER APPRECIATIVE OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR PARK PARTNERS, AS I MENTIONED, AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST, UM, SAY A FEW EXTRA THANK YOUS.
[00:15:01]
COURSE, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO START WITH THE MAYOR.THIS WAS HIS BRAINCHILD AND WE ARE THRILLED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HIM.
THIS IS THE 11TH PARK, AS HE MENTIONED, OF 22 THAT WE WILL BE, UM, SETTING IN ON A NEW COURSE, UM, THIS YEAR.
AND UM, AND OBVIOUSLY DIRECTOR ALLEN, WHO'S BEEN A FANTASTIC, HE'S JUST A GREAT PARTNER WITH HAR AS WELL AS LISA JOHNSON FROM THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AND ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF BOB AND ISSA AND CODY HI, ARE ALL HERE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK HERE.
AND, UM, KIMLEY HORN ASSOCIATES WITH JIM PATTERSON.
AND SHANNON MUNDY AND YING ZANG.
UM, AND LASTLY, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, THE, THE PARKS BOARD.
AND I SEE TWO OF MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS ARE HERE, DEBORAH CANNON AND SIS JOHNSON, AND WHO ELSE IS HERE? YES, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT.
WE SEE ALL DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN AND THEN, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, OUR WONDERFUL STAFF AND THE STAFF CAN RAISE THEIR HANDS.
THERE ARE A BUNCH OF THEM HERE.
UM, AND WE'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOUGH THEY'RE NOT HERE, THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT HAS BEEN PIVOTAL IN, UM, SUPPORTING THE 50 50 PARK INITIATIVE.
AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR FOCUS ON EQUITY AND PARK EQUITY IN PARTICULAR ACROSS OUR CITY.
AND, UM, AS I MENTIONED AS THE 11TH PARK THAT WE HAVE, UM, BEEN ABLE TO, UH, REFURBISH AND, UM, AND WE'VE TAKEN ALONG WITH THE MAYOR AND H BAR, A ROLE OF REALLY LOOKING AT, AT THE PARKS.
WE CAN'T DO ALL 383, SADLY, IN ONE YEAR THAT WOULD BE THAT
BUT WE HAVE A REAL FOCUS ON PARK EQUITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE IMPACT.
WE WANT THESE IMPROVEMENTS TO LAST FOR A LONG TIME.
AND, UM, AND, AND SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
WE'RE ALSO REALLY APPRECIATED WORKING WITH DISTRICT G, VERY HANDS-ON, AS WE SAID, AND, UM, AND WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO BRIAR BEND NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CHAR WORLD NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, WE'VE HAD LISTENING SESSIONS AND REALLY GOT THEIR WONDERFUL FEEDBACK TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WANTED IN THEIR PARK.
UM, AND SO WE ARE THRILLED TO, UM, TO WE'LL HEAR FROM THEM IN JUST A MOMENT.
UM, BUT ALSO OUR GREAT SUPPORTERS HAVE FUNDED THIS WORK BESIDES THE, THE, UH, PUBLIC DOLLARS.
WE HAVE MANY PRIVATE, UM, INVESTORS IN THIS INCLUDING, UM, THE DAVID WEEKLY HOMES.
AND WE HAVE CHRIS WEEKLY HERE TO COME AND GIVE US A FEW, UH, REMARKS AFTER THEIR, UM, TRANSFORMATIONAL GIFT OF HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
I DO NEED, NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ONE PERSON IN THE AUDIENCE, BONNIE WEEKLY, MY MOM OVER THERE.
UH, SHE'S REALLY THE PERSON THAT MADE THIS ALL POSSIBLE.
I'M JUST GET TO GET UP HERE AND SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU ALL.
SO, UH, LISTEN, SO HAPPY TO BE HERE.
UH, JUST PROUD TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS WONDERFUL GROUP.
UH, AND YOU CAN SEE THIS IS VERY LIKE HOUSTON, RIGHT? A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TO GET TOGETHER ON ONE COMMON INITIATIVE AND JUST GO GET IT DONE.
I WISH WE COULD GET ALL THOSE PARKS DONE IN ONE YEAR CALLING.
I THINK THAT MIGHT BE KIND OF TOUGH, RIGHT?
UH, WHAT A GREAT IDEA TO BRING TOGETHER PUBLIC DOLLARS AND PRIVATE DOLLARS THAT WANNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR CITY.
WANNA THANK YOU AS HER 62ND MAYOR.
UH, VERY PROUD TO KIND OF WORK ALONGSIDE YOU ON THIS PROJECT.
UM, AS A FAMILY, WE'RE HONORED TO BE HERE.
I CONSIDER MYSELF AN EXPERT ON PARKS.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT PARKS.
UH, I WAS GONNA BRING MY TWO LITTLE BOYS.
LOGISTICS DIDN'T WORK OUT, BUT THEY STARTED CRYING WHEN THEY COULDN'T COME TO THE PARK TODAY.
I SAID, DON'T WORRY GUYS, WE WILL GET BACK HERE.
THIS IS ONLY A FEW MILES FROM OUR HOME, AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL JOB, UH, RIGHT, LOOK AROUND US IN A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SECOND TO HONOR THE VALUES THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER, RIGHT? COLLABORATION, TRANSFORMATION, AND COMMUNITY.
THIS 50 50 INITIATIVE BRINGS TOGETHER THOUGHTFUL, GOOD HEARTED HOUSTONIANS, UH, BRINGING TOGETHER CITY OF HOUSTON PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, EVERYONE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE AND NURTURING SPACES THAT INSPIRE GROWTH AND INSPIRE BUILDING COMMUNITY, UH, BEYOND THE DOLLARS AND CENTS, WE'RE ENRICHING THE HEART OF THIS COMMUNITY, RIGHT? THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK IS KINDA THE HEARTBEAT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND MEMORIES ARE BORN, BIRTHDAYS ARE CELEBRATED.
UM, AND WE'RE GET TO BE TOGETHER IN THE MIDST OF THE CITY.
BUT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS REALLY KIND OF OUR OWN CITY, UH, THIS IS MORE THAN RECREATION.
IT'S A CATALYST FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, FOR SOCIAL CONNECTION,
[00:20:01]
COMMUNITY IDENTITY AND CULTURAL EXPRESSION.UH, AND AS IT STANDS TODAY, IT'S A VIBRANT HUB OF GROWTH FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO TODAY WE'RE NOT REALLY DEDICATING A PARK, RIGHT? IT'S ABOUT THE VALUES AND ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP THAT ALL GOT US HERE, UH, AND ALL THE MEMORIES THAT WILL BE MADE INTO THE FUTURE.
SO WE'RE OPENING OUR HEARTS TO THE PROMISE OF A BRIGHTER AND MORE INTERCONNECTED COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, ALL THE, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT FUEL THIS TRANSFORMATION.
WE'RE JUST HAPPY AS A FAMILY TO BE A VERY SMALL PART OF THAT.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA GIVE IT BACK TO MS. GWIN MUSE OR AS I KNOW HER.
AND, UM, ANYWAY, WHAT A GREAT DAY TO CELEBRATE.
UM, I'M ALSO NOW PLEASED TO INTRODUCE, UM, CONNOR SHERRY FROM HE'S PRESIDENT OF THE BRIAR BEND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION.
AND WE'RE JUST THRILLED TO, UM, OF ALL THE ENGAGEMENT WE'VE HAD TO, FOR YOUR COMMUNITY TO TELL US WHAT THEY WANT IN THEIR PART.
UH, YES, I'M CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE BRIER BEND, HOA.
UM, BUT THAT STARTED SIX MONTHS AGO AND WE'VE GOT QUITE A FEW OF THE OLD BOARD MEMBERS HERE THAT DID THE REAL WORK.
SO THANK YOU, RENEE, TOM, AND ALL THE CURRENT AND FORMER BOARD MEMBERS.
A LOT OF HARD WORK WENT INTO THAT, UM, AND LIAISING WITH THE CITY.
UM, UH, AS PART OF THE PRESIDENT OF HOA, YOU GET TO HEAR AND SEE THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD COME, UH, WITH THEIR SUGGESTIONS.
UM, SOME OF THEM ARE HARDER TO ACHIEVE THAN OTHERS.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE HARDER ONES.
SO PRETTY AMAZING THAT, UH, EVERYBODY ON THIS, UH, IN THIS GROUP GOT IT DONE.
UM, SOME OF THOSE STORIES WE HEAR FROM, UH, ORIGINAL HOMEOWNERS, UH, THAT THERE USED TO BE FIELDS AROUND HERE WITH CUBBIES OF QUAIL.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS ARE THAT OLD, THE, THE ONES THAT GOT REPLACED, BUT, UH, THEY WERE PRETTY AGED.
SO, SO WE, WE REALLY DO THANK Y'ALL.
UM, UH, CHRIS, YOUR MOM, BONNIE, THANK, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH.
UM, MAYOR'S OFFICE, EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY UP HERE.
I'VE GOT MY TWO OF MY FOUR KIDS OVER HERE CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO COME UP AND PLAY ON THE PLAYGROUND.
THEY'VE BEEN ASKING WHEN IT OPENS AND, AND I GET TO TELL 'EM TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CITY ATTORNEY, ARTURO MICHELLE, CHIEF OF STAFF WALTER HENDRICK.
I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK CHRIS AND CONNOR FOR YOUR, UH, INVESTMENT FOR THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, UH, WITHOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
IT'S CRITICAL TO EVERY PROJECT, AND I ALREADY GOT A EARFUL ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO AFTER TODAY,
SO, UH, CERTAINLY, UH, I'M GRACIOUS.
UH, WE BUILT THIS PROJECT TODAY.
WE CONTINUE, UM, TO HONOR THIS PLACE AND PRESERVE THIS PLACE.
AND WE DO NEED HELP FROM THE COMMUNITY AS A WATCHFUL EYE AND CARETAKER.
I MEAN, WE HAVE TO DO THIS TOGETHER.
WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER AND I'LL BE GLAD TO MEET WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEXT WEEK.
NO, BUT, UH, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.
UH, I KNOW WE THOUGHT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK GSD, CJ MESSIAH, THE DIRECTOR OF GGSD, AS WELL AS LISA JOHNSON, UH, WHO'VE MANAGED ALL OF OUR CIP PROJECTS.
AND I WANT TO EXTEND ANOTHER HAND TO H PARK STAFF WHO NOT ONLY PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THIS PART, BUT WHO WORK HARD DAY TO DAY IN ALL THE ELEMENTS, UH, KEEPING OUR PARK SAFE AND, UM, AND WELL MAINTAINED.
SO WITH THAT, I LIKE TO CALL EVERYBODY HERE TO THE RIBBON CUTTING SO WE CAN GET TO MAYOR, MAYOR TO HIS NEXT STOP.