[Press Conference: "50/50 Park Ribbon Cutting - Grimes Park"]
[00:00:19]
SO I'M JUST THRILLED REALLY TO, UH, STAND IN DIRECTOR ALLEN'S, UH, SPOT AND WELCOME ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IT'S A GREAT SHOW OF SUPPORT OUT HERE.
UM, APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, PARTNERS, AND SPECIAL GUESTS THAT ARE HERE TODAY TO JOIN US IN THIS GRAND AND GLORIOUS CELEBRATION OF PARK IMPROVEMENTS FOR GRIMES PARK.
AND THIS, THIS PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE UNDER THE MAYOR'S 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE.
IT'S THIS, THIS INITIATIVE HAS BEEN SO IMPORTANT FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, FOR, UH, OUR PARTNERS THAT HAVE, HAVE LED THE WAY TO BRING ALL THESE IMPROVEMENTS TO FRUITION FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND RIGHT HERE IN GRIMES PARK, WE HAVE 9.72 ACRES OF GREEN SPACE THAT PROVIDE WONDERFUL RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMMING FOR THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY.
AND GRIMES PARK IS ONE OF 12, UH, SORRY, ONE OF 22.
SO THIS IS PARK NUMBER 12, MAYOR, THAT WE'VE COMPLETED, UH, AS PART OF YOUR, AS PART OF YOUR INITIATIVE.
WE'RE SO, UH, HONORED TO, TO CARRY THIS, UH, PROGRAM FORWARD.
AND IT IS, IT'S THANKS TO THE ONGOING COLLABORATIVE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND WITH SUPPORT FROM OUR CORPORATE AND PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY OUR CIVIC LEADERS WHO ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS WITH US TO VOICE THEIR NEEDS IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS HONORED TO HELP CARRY FORWARD THE VISION AND LEADERSHIP OF MAYOR TURNER, WHO SPEARHEADED THIS CAMPAIGN OF PARK EQUITY FOR ALL NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR GREAT CITY.
AND SO AT THIS TIME, I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE HOUSTON'S MAYOR, THE HONORABLE MAYOR, SYLVESTER TODA.
AND, AND WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, UM, WHEN THE DIRECTOR HAS BEEN OUT AND, AND THE DIRECTOR IS OUT FOR GOOD REASON.
UH, BUT IN HIS ABSENCE, WE MOVE FORWARD.
I GUESS, UH, IT IS GREAT TO BE IN SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY, UH, AND SHARING IN THIS SPECIAL DAY AS WE CELEBRATE THE REVITALIZATION OF GRAHAMS PARK.
UH, THIS MARKS, AS TINA SAID, UH, THE 12TH, 50 50 PARK PARTNERS PROGRAM COMPLETION FOR OUR GREAT CITY AND RESIDENT.
UH, WE HAVE 10 MORE THAT WILL GET DONE, UH, BY DECEMBER 31ST, 1159, UH, PM
AND, UH, WE ARE IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, DISTRICT D THIS MORNING WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS INITIATIVE AS WELL.
UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBER SUPPORT OF THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE AND HER EFFORTS THROUGHOUT DISTRICT D ARE VERY, VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
WE HAVE SEVERAL SPECIAL GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE, UH, THAT I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE FOR CHAMPIONING NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND THE CITY'S COMMUNITY RESILIENCY PROGRAM.
UH, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOLANDA JONES OF DISTRICT 1 47.
WE KNOW WHERE THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE IS, UH, THIS MORNING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UH, WE HAVE KOBE BEAVERS WITH THE OUTREACH LIAISON ON BEHALF OF CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN.
AND WE KNOW WHERE HE IS, UH, THIS MORNING, UH, LOOKING FOR SPEAKER IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE TRACY STEVENS, PRESIDENT SUNNYSIDE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, AND THE GOV GATE TUR EIGHT BOARD MEMBER.
SO I WANNA THANK MR. STEVENS GRIMES PARK.
OH, AND THEN WE HAVE THE MAYOR OF SUNNYSIDE, WHERE IS THE MAYOR OF SUNNYSIDE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME IN YOUR JURISDICTION.
UM, GRIMES PARK IS SITUATED CLOSE TO THE SUNNYSIDE GARDENS AND BAYOU AND STATE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE AREA LEADERS, UH, FOR THEIR INPUT ON PARK NEEDS AND RECOGNIZE TRAVIS MCGEE.
ONE, RECOGNIZE TRAVIS MCGEE, PRESIDENT OF THE WE, THE PEOPLE OF SUNNYSIDE
[00:05:01]
GARDENS BY US STATE CIVIC CLUB.IN FACT, IF YOU LIVE IN SUNNYSIDE IN THIS AREA, JUST RAISE YOUR HANDS SO WE CAN SEE YOU.
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT GREAT GREEN SPACES AND PARKS ARE ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING AN ATTRACTIVE, PROSPEROUS, AND INVITING COMMUNITY.
PARKS ARE VITAL TO THE HEALTH AND BEAUTY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND EVERY COMMUNITY NEEDS ACCESS TO A THRIVING PARK.
THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS PROGRAM REMAINS ONE OF OUR KEY INITIATIVE WITH ONE CRITICAL GOAL TO UPLIFT NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG, YOU WILL KNOW THAT THIS IS THE FOURTH PARK IN A WEEK.
IT'S TIME THAT WE HAVE RETURNED BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BETTER THAN EVER.
I'M A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK SERVICE, A HUB FOR COMMUNITY PRIDE, AND OFFER A SAFE PLACE TO EXERCISE, PLAY, AND EXPLORE, EXPLORE NATURE FROM THE OUTSIDE.
THE CITY'S PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN THE 50 50 INITIATIVE IS NOW UPWARDS OF $14 MILLION.
AND THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS, UH, AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR VOTING ON THAT.
I HAVE A FEW MORE THINGS THAT ARE COMING TO YOU IN A FEW WEEKS.
AND THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF 50 50 IS MATCHING PUBLIC FUNDS WITH PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT.
I APPRECIATE THE TEAM LEADERS LEADING THIS EFFORT AND THROUGH THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, BETH WHITE, THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.
AND THE BOARD, THEY JUST HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER, UH, JUST THIS WEEK.
UH, THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, HOUSTON PARKS, IF YOU ARE AN, AN EMPLOYEE OF STAFF WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS AND REC, UH, PLEASE WAVE, SHOW YOUR HAND, ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF.
NOW, WE'LL TELL YOU, IN TWO AND A HALF MONTHS, I'M GOING TO MISS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL.
YOU ALL HAVE BEEN, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN SIMPLY A DELIGHT.
UH, I ASK YOU, DO YOU GET IT DONE AND YOU DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
AND, UH, YOUR LOVE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IS SIMPLY OUTSTANDING.
I KNOW WE HAVE SIGNATURE PARKS OUTSTANDING.
UH, BUT YOUR LOVE AND DEDICATION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, I SIMPLY WANNA SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AND FOR EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU DO, VERY MUCH APPRECIATED IT.
UM, AND I HOPE THE NEXT MAYOR WILL LOVE YOU AS MUCH AS I DO.
HAVING SAID THAT, LET ME GET BACK TO MY SCRIPT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU HAVE ONLY TWO MONTHS, YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANNA SAY.
YOU KNOW, I AM UNCHAINED UN UNLEASHED THESE DAYS.
HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, LEMME GET IT.
HOUSTON PARKS BOARD SERVES AS OUR 50 50 PARK PARTNERS PROJECT MANAGER, AND OVERSEES CORPORATE STEWARDSHIP AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND, UH, THE 22 PARKS THAT YOU ARE DOING IN ONE, IN ONE YEAR IS SIMPLY AMAZING.
THE GREATEST HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP BRINGS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND FACILITATES CONNECTIONS BETWEEN BUSINESS, COMMUNITY AND PARKS.
WE ALSO TAPPED INTO THE RESOURCES AND LEADERSHIP OF THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES OFFICE TO SUPPORT THE CITYWIDE INITIATIVE.
IS SHANNON BUGS HERE TODAY? SHANNON.
THE STAFF FROM COMPLETE COMMUNITIES.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, OF COURSE, DIRECTOR SHANNON BUGS AND HER STAFF FOR IMPORTANT, UH, ROLE WITH, UH, SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS IN THE SUNNYSIDE COMPLETE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE NEW CENTER POINT ENERGY YOUTH FOOTBALL FIELD IN SUNNYSIDE PARK AND THE SUNNYSIDE SOLAR FORM, THE LARGEST BROWNFIELD SOLAR INSTALLATION IN THE NATION.
AND IN FACT, I BELIEVE THAT MORE WORK HAS BEEN, AND MORE INVESTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN SUNNYSIDE UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION THAN THE LAST 100 YEARS GROUND.
I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF NOTE THAT THINGS JUST DON'T HAPPEN ON THEIR OWN, AND YOU HAVE TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT IT.
AND, UH, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF YOU DON'T SAY IT, IT DOESN'T GET SAID.
SO, LET ME SAY, WE'VE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING INVESTMENTS IN SUNNYSIDE AND MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE GRAMS PARK 50 50 PROJECT.
WE HAD TWO KEY CORPORATE PARTNERS WHO ENABLE US TO MAKE TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, IN THE PARK.
CIGNA GENEROUSLY PLEDGED $500,000 TOWARDS THE 50 50 PARK PARK INITIATIVE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK TIM VESSEL, THE CIGNA GENERAL MANAGER FOR THIS TREMENDOUS SUPPORT.
IT IS TIM HERE, THERE, I'M LOOKING RIGHT AT YOU.
UH, THE $500,000 AND IF IN THE, WITHIN MY, UH, TWO MONTHS LEFT, IF YOU GOT ANY MORE, I'LL TAKE THAT TOO.
[00:10:01]
WELLS FARGO CONTRIBUTED $175,000.AND THE EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATED IN A PART AND THE, AND THEIR EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATED IN A PARKS VOLUNTEER CLEANUP DAY.
JP, THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
THIS GUY JUST FINISHED WRITING HIS BOOK, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, THANK YOU.
UH, I'LL THANK THEM FOR THEIR, UH, SWEAT EQUITY, WHICH HELPED PREPARE THE PARK FOR OUR OPENING.
IN TOTAL, WE HAVE INVESTED OVER $1.5 MILLION TO UPLIFT GRIND PARK FOR THE SUNNYSIDE COMMUNITY.
GRIMES PARK IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE A NEW FOOTBALL FIELD AND BLEACHERS, NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND SWING SET FOR AGES FIVE THROUGH 12, A BASKETBALL PAVILION, UPGRADES WITH THE NEW ROOF, FRESH PAINT, RESURFACE COURT, AND BACKBOARDS TENNIS COURT RESURFACING AND ADDED LINES FOR PICKLEBALL.
THAT'S ZENA GAS YOU UP TO ZENA, A NEW WALKING TRAIL LOOP AND IMPROVED TRAIL CONNECTIONS, IMPROVED SITE LIGHTING, PARKING LOT RESURFACING, AND NEW PARK FURNISHINGS SUCH AS BEACHES, TRASH CANS AND GRILLS, PAVILION PAINTING, INSTALL NEW BALLARDS AND SORTING ENHANCEMENTS.
GRIMES PARK IS A WELL LOVED COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE THAT PROVIDES A, A VARIETY OF BENEFICIAL RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I KNOW THAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL ADD TO THE ENJOYMENT OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK FOR YEARS TO COME.
LEMME THANK, UM, YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND US GETTING IT DONE.
I WANNA THANK ALL THE PARTNERS BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, IT HAS TAKEN A VERY COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, UH, TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND NOW AT THIS TIME, LET ME BRING UP THE COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION, UH, THE CITY SECRETARY FOR THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL.
AND THAT IS DONE OTHER THAN YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN EVANS SHABAZZ.
UH, I'M SO VERY HONORED TO BE HERE.
LAST WEEK I WAS AT THE DOG PARK, UH, ON THIS DAY ACTUALLY.
AND SO THESE PARKS ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO, PARTICULARLY TO DISTRICT D.
AND SO I WANNA THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN IN HIS ABSENCE, CERTAINLY TINA FOR STEPPING IN AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND COMMUNITY PARTNER, CIGNA AND WELLS FARGO FOR FUNDING AND BRINGING THESE MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR BELOVED DISTRICT D PARK.
I AM COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN, EVAN SHABAZZ, A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT D, WHAT I CALL THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
THESE PLACES ENHANCE DISTRICT D.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE OUR PROBLEMS, BUT WE HAVE GREEN SPACE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW, COME AND LET YOUR HAIR DOWN.
I HEARD THAT MUSIC, I WANTED TO SHAKE A LITTLE TAIL FEATHER, BUT I, THEY CUT THE MUSIC OFF SO I DIDN'T GRACE Y'ALL WITH ALL THAT.
BUT ANYWAY, UM, IN OCTOBER OF, UH, 2021, THESE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS WERE THAT WERE MOST NEEDED, WERE IDENTIFIED THROUGH A DETAILED ASSESSMENT PROCESS TO ENSURE INVESTMENTS ARE ECHOED EQUITABLY TARGETED.
AND I'M ALWAYS GLAD TO BE A PART OF POSITIVE PROGRESS IN DISTRICT D.
AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR ALL OF YOUR WONDERFUL COMMENTS.
UM, I ALSO, EPE HILL AND GRIMES PARK WERE IDENTIFIED AS RECIPIENTS OF THIS EFFORT IN DISTRICT D TO BRING POSITIVE SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE TO THIS SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE MAYOR, UH, SANDRA MASSEY HINES AND, AND ZENA GARRISON.
ACTUALLY, WE USED TO HIT A FEW BALL, I'M NOT GONNA LIE.
UH, ZENA'S AN OLD FRIEND OF MY SISTER'S.
AND SO I'VE KNOWN HER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
UH, COULD NEVER GET THE BALL ACROSS, UH, IN MY CASE.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. TRAVIS MCGEE, PRESIDENT OF WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE SUNNYSIDE GARDENS ESTATE CIVIC ASSOCIATION, AND ALL OF THE NEIGHBORS FOR ENGAGING IN THE DESIGN OF THIS BEAUTIFUL PARK.
AND COLLABORATION IS IMPORTANT IF WE ARE TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOAL OF PROVIDING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN DISTRICT D, THE DISTRICT OF DESTINATION.
AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK FORWARD TO, THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS IN EDGEWOOD PARK THAT ARE COMING FORWARD, AS WELL AS WE'RE GONNA GET A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER IN SUNNYSIDE PARK.
THAT IS SOMETHING YOU REALLY OUGHT TO CHEER ABOUT BECAUSE WE HAVE GOTTEN CONSTANT COMPLAINTS.
UH, CERTAINLY MR. TRACY STEVENS HAS BEEN ON TOP OF THAT, AND WE HAVE TRIED TO MAINTAIN IT, BUT I'M CERTAIN THAT THIS NEW PARK WILL BE A WONDERFUL THING.
AND SO I WANT TO SAY, IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE NEWSLETTER, THE MAYOR SAYS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN SUNNYSIDE.
AND I WAS ACTUALLY BORN IN SUNNYSIDE AND I WORKED AT WORTHING HIGH SCHOOL FOR MANY YEARS.
AND SO I WANT YOU TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE DISTRICT D NEWSLETTER.
THERE ARE, THERE IS SO MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN GIVEN AND DONE IN SUNNYSIDE WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS.
[00:15:01]
BECAUSE IT'S YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO HELP US TO MOVE FORWARD.AND SO I'M JUST SO VERY THANKFUL TO BE HERE.
I, I SEE, UH, THE COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS, I'M SURE HE CAME ON HIS BICYCLE
OKAY, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT ANOTHER TIME.
BUT AT ANY RATE, I REALLY THANK THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS FOR YOU, FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO GO OUT.
AND ON SUNDAYS, YOU CAN HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.
AND WE HAVE ATVS AS WELL THAT WERE DONATED SO THAT IF WE HAVE ANY BAD BEHAVIOR THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO CARRY ON IN THIS PARK, YOU PLEASE LET US KNOW BECAUSE THE ATVS WILL RIDE AROUND AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ALLOWING YOU TO ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL GREEN SPACE.
AGAIN, COUNCIL MEMBER, CAROLYN AND MS. SHABA, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AND WE'RE GONNA CUT THIS RIBBON AND WE ARE GONNA MAKE IT, LIKE I SAY, DO THE, DO.
AND WELCOME COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
UM, SO PARTNERSHIP CULTURE THRIVES IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ESPECIALLY, UH, FOR OUR GREEN INITIATIVES.
AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE NETWORK OF SUPPORTERS WHO ALIGN WITH OUR BELIEF THAT PARKS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE, A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE HEALTH, HAPPINESS, AND ECONOMY OF OUR CITY.
THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD HAS CHAMPIONED OUR 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE ACROSS THE CITY.
AND AT THIS TIME, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE BETH WHITE, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
IT'S A WONDERFUL DAY TO BE CELEBRATING OUR 50 50 PARKS INITIATIVE HERE IN GRIMES PARK.
AS TINA SAID, I'M BETH WHITE, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS REGION EXPANDING, IMPROVING AND PROTECTING GREEN SPACE FOR NEARLY 20, UH, 50 YEARS, 20 YEARS, 50 YEARS.
UM, WE'RE THRILLED TO BE HERE WITH YOU AT THIS NEW, UH, NEWLY REENERGIZED PARK.
AND WE, WE TOO APPRECIATE ALL THE NEIGHBORS, THE PARK PARTNERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE TODAY WHO MAKE THIS TRANSFORMATIVE WORK HAPPEN.
BUT I WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO MAYOR TURNER.
HE IS THE ONE WHO CHALLENGED ALL OF US TO DO EVEN MORE TO INVEST EQUITABLY IN OUR PARKS.
AND AS YOU JUST SAID A FEW MOMENTS AGO, YOU HAVE TO HAVE INTENTIONALITY WITH THIS WORK AND YOU REALLY KEPT US FOCUSED, UM, AND QUITE BUSY
UM, WE DO THIS HAND IN HAND WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEIR TEAMS, UM, OBVIOUSLY DIRECTOR ALLEN AND HIS TEAM.
AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR ARRIVING ON YOUR BIKE IN STYLE WITH THE PINK UH, SHIRT AND FOR ALL YOU DO TO HELP US WITH PARKS IN THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL.
UM, I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, THE FULL TEAM AT HOUSTON PARK TECH.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING PARTNERSHIP, UH, WITH ALL OF YOU, AND WE'RE SO APPRECIATIVE FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND ALSO LISA JOHNSON WITH THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHO, UH, IS A WOMAN BEHIND THE SCENES, GETTING IT ALL DONE AND JUST AN AMAZING PARTNER.
I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR CONTRACTORS 'CAUSE WE COULD NOT GET THIS WORK DONE WITHOUT THEM.
UH, MATT FUNK FROM CLARK CONDON IS HERE FROM OUR GENERAL CONTRACTOR TIMES CONSTRUCTION, JB WHITE AND CARLOS MACIAS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GUYS ARE OUT IN THE CROWD, BUT THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US ON TIME, ON BUDGET.
AND I SEE A COUPLE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS HERE TODAY, UH, SHEILA CONDEN WITH THE GREAT HAT, UH, THANK YOU SHEILA FOR BEING WITH US.
AND SIS JOHNSON, UM, WHO'S, UH, THE LEADER OF OUR RECENT STRATEGIC PLANNING EXERCISE AND A AND A REAL PARK PARK SUPPORTER.
AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR HOUSTON PARKS BOARD TEAM.
AND IF YOU'RE A STAFF MEMBER, WOULD YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS SO PEOPLE KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
IT'S A MIGHTY, IT'S A MIGHTY TEAM.
I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT, UM, FOR THEIR PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE.
THEIR COMMITMENT TOWARD INCREASING PARK EQUITY ACROSS HOUSTON IS REALLY HELPING ALL OF US TRANSFORM PARKS ACROSS THE CITY.
THEY COULDN'T BE HERE WITH US TODAY, BUT I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
SO LED BY THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, THE OFFICE OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY, THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
UM, JUST SO YOU CAN SEE, I WANTED TO LIST ALL OF THOSE PARTNERS WHO ARE WORKING HAND IN HAND IN THIS INITIATIVE.
AND THIS IS REALLY FOUNDED ON THREE GOALS, PARK EQUITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE IMPACT.
AND WE'RE SO PROUD TO BE A PRIMARY PARTNER IN THIS EFFORT.
WE, WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH DISTRICT
[00:20:01]
D AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY'S VOICES WERE HEARD IN TERMS OF WHAT GOES IN THIS PARK, HOW THEY WANNA USE THE PARK WITH HAR.WE CONDUCTED OUTREACH THROUGH A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSION THAT WAS HOSTED BY THE COMPLETE COMMUNITY STAFF.
AND WE ALSO VISITED THE PARK TO GATHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK WHICH RESULTED IN THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
THEY BRING NEW LIFE TO THIS COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN COME TOGETHER AND ENJOY TIME OUTDOORS.
BUT I ALSO WANNA COMMENT THAT PARKS ARE REALLY THE LAST TRUE DEMOCRATIC SPACES IN OUR COUNTRY WITH A SMALL D AND IT'S WHERE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER IN COMMON PURPOSE AND WORK THROUGH ISSUES.
KIDS LEARN HOW TO NEGOTIATE, UM, WHEN THEY'RE PLAYING ON A SPORTS TEAM OR PLAYING ON A PLAYGROUND.
SO I JUST WANNA EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT THAT SPIRIT IS WHAT GUIDED THIS WORK.
AND AGAIN, MAYOR TURNER REALLY HELPED US FOCUS AND STAY TRUE TO THE METHODOLOGY FOR HOW WE SELECTED THE PARKS.
AND AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO INTRODUCE TIM VESSEL, WHO'S THE MARKET GROWTH LEADER AND GENERAL MANAGER FOR SOUTH TEXAS FOR CIGNA.
AND BEFORE HE COMES UP, I WANNA REITERATE AND THANK HIM FOR THE GENEROUS $500,000 CONTRIBUTION TO THE 50 50 PROGRAM.
BUT I ALSO WANNA SAY HOW CIGNA HAS BEEN A LONG STANDING PARK PARTNER AND A CIVIC LEADER IN THIS ARENA.
UM, IN PARTICULAR, IF ANY OF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN TO THE CIGNA SUNDAYS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SPONSORING SINCE 2014, THEY ARE REALLY JOYFUL OCCASIONS.
THAT'S WHERE I MET MELINDA, UH, AT HIDALGO PARK AND SAID, OH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS OTHER INITIATIVE, MELINDA, WHAT DO YOU THINK? AND, UH, SHE REALLY CHAMPIONED IT.
AND WE'RE JUST SO PROUD TO PARTNER WITH CIGNA.
AND TIM, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND COMING AND TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY YOU MADE THIS COMMITMENT.
I'M TIM BESSEL, GENERAL MANAGER WITH CIGNA.
AND, UH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
CONGRATULATIONS ON REALLY THE COMPLETION OF A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PROJECT.
UH, OUR ORGANIZATION, UH, ORGANIZATION.
OUR ORGANIZATIONAL MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND VITALITY OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.
AND AND WE VIEW THIS AS, UM, A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THAT COMMITMENT TO OUR MISSION AND, UH, TO PARTNER WITH, WITH THE MAYOR AND THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVES AND THE 50 50 PARKS PARTNERS, UH, IS REALLY A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO INVEST BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, IT'S REALLY A WAY TO, UH, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT HEALTHCARE IS CRITICAL.
IT'S CRITICAL TO ALL OF OUR LIVES.
AND THAT, UH, WE ALSO KNOW THAT, THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR HEALTH STATUS AND OUTCOMES IS REALLY DRIVEN BY ACTIVITY, NUTRITION, EXERCISE, SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT.
AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, OF COURSE, ARE FACILIT BY, FACILITATED BY SPACES LIKE THIS.
UH, SO AGAIN, IT ALIGNS WITH OUR MISSION.
WE'RE ABSOLUTELY HONORED AND, AND JUST VERY, VERY PROUD TO, UH, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS CONTRIBUTION AND TO PLAY EVEN JUST A, A SMALL ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS WONDERFUL SPACE.
AND, UH, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT, UH, AND WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE.
AND, AND, AND JUST IMAGINE ALL OF THE, THE CHILDREN, THE FAMILIES, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL LEVERAGE THIS SPACE AND UTILIZE IT OVER TIME AND, UH, HAVE WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES AND ENJOY THE, THE OPPORTUNITY.
SO, UH, ON BEHALF OF OUR ORGANIZATION, WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
UH, WE'RE APPRECIATIVE TO PARTNER WITH THE MAYOR AND THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE.
AND, UH, WE'RE VERY THRILLED TO CONTINUE TO BE A, A CRITICAL CONTRIBUTOR TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, WE TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY VERY SERIOUSLY, AND WE'RE, WE'RE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO DOING SO FOR THE LONG TERM.
AND, UH, WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT BACK TO BETH.
WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR HOUSTON.
AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE JEFF POWELL.
HE IS THE DIRECTOR LEAD COMMERCIAL MIDDLE MARKET BANKER FOR WELLS FARGO.
AS YOU HEARD FROM MAYOR TURNER, WELLS FARGO MADE A VERY GENEROUS COMMITMENT OF $175,000 TOWARD THESE PARK IMPROVEMENTS, AND ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A VOLUNTEER DAY AND HAVE BEEN REALLY ACTIVE CIVIC LEADERS AND CONTRIBUTORS TO SO MANY GOOD CAUSES AROUND HOUSTON.
SO, WITH NO FURTHER ADO, PLEASE JOIN US.
UM, IF YOU DON'T SAY IT, IT WON'T BE SAID.
I THINK I'M GONNA USE THAT ONE
SO I'LL GIVE YOU CREDIT THREE TIMES AND THEN IF I CAN OWN IT, UM, THAT'D BE OKAY.
UM, IT'S A GREAT DAY, HOUSTON.
IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SHARE THE STAGE WITH MAYOR TURNER, CITY LEADERS AND COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS.
IF YOU LOOK AROUND, I THINK EVERYONE HERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION AND A COMPLIMENT OF THE
[00:25:01]
COMMUNITY AT LARGE.WE ARE HERE TODAY TO UNVEIL THE NEWLY RENOVATED, REVITALIZED GRIMES PARK.
LAST MONTH, WELLS FARGO VOLUNTEERS GATHERED TO TRIM TREES TO HELP BEAUTIFY THE PARK THROUGH OUR WELCOME HOME INITIATIVE.
IF YOU LOOK AROUND IN RED SHIRTS, IF YOU'RE VOLUNTEER FROM WELLS, WAVE YOUR HANDS.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF JOINING THIS TEAM TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP PREPARE THE PART FOR TODAY.
IT WAS A REFLECTION MOMENT FOR ME PERSONALLY, BECAUSE I RECALL AS A KID, THIS IS WHERE I LEARNED TO FLY.
MY MOM PUSHING ME ON THE SWING.
SHE TELLS ME, SON, KEEP PUMPING.
AND SO I'M PUMPING AND SON KEEP PUMPING.
AND AS I'M PUMPING AND I GO UP FOR THE THIRD OR FOURTH PUMP, I LET THE CHAINS GO BY ACCIDENT.
AND TRUE INDEED, I TOOK OFF AND STARTED FLYING.
AND IT WAS MY MOM WHO CAUGHT ME ALONG WITH MOTHER EARTH.
THIS IS WHERE I LEARNED TO FLY.
THIS IS WHERE I LEARNED TO TAKE RISK.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS WHERE I LEARNED TO BE A KID.
AND THIS IS WHY WE DO PARKS, RIGHT? IT GIVES KIDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LITTLE RISK, TO HAVE FUN, AND TO REMEMBER THAT THEY'RE KIDS.
THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, WELLS FARGO EMPLOYEES VOLUNTEERED ACROSS THE GLOBAL FOOTPRINT ON PROJECTS THAT WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO HELP CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE HOMES IN COMMUNITIES.
WHILE THE FOCUS OF WELCOME HOME HAS HOUSING ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY AT ITS CORE, WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITIES WE CALL HOME ARE BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE.
THIS IS WHY WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH HOUSTON PARKS, HOUSTON PARK BOARD, HOUSTON PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, AND THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR.
THE GOAL IS TO CREATE THRIVING PUBLIC PLACES.
I'M PROUD TO WORK WITH A COMPANY THAT TRULY IS COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE, AND MAKING A REAL IMPACT THROUGH OUR ACTIONS.
WE CONTINUE TO SHOW UP, ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES, AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE, RIGHT IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE CALL HOME, IN A PLACE WHERE WE WORK.
AND NOW IN A PLACE WHERE WE PLAY AT THE BANK, THE BANK OF DOING WELLS FARGO TAKES ACTION TO PUT PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES FIRST, USING OUR FINANCIAL AND INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL TO HELP BRIDGE GOALS AND BRIDGE THE GAP.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT DOING GOES BEYOND JUST A CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
THE SUM OF THE IMPACT WE HAVE.
WHEN WE COME TOGETHER WITH A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION TO TACKLE EVERYDAY CHALLENGES, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WORK.
WE BELIEVE IN THIS UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP AND A COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
I DIDN'T SAY I, BECAUSE WE COLLECTIVELY WILL COME TOGETHER AND CONTINUE TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS THAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES WHAT THEY ARE.
THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEFF, FOR THOSE INSPIRING WORDS ABOUT LEARNING TO FLY IN A PARK.
AND NOW I AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE TRAVIS MCGEE.
HE IS PRESIDENT OF WE THE PEOPLE OF SUNNYSIDE GARDEN BIO ESTATE CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
AND, UH, MY OUTREACH TEAM TELLS ME THAT DR. MCGEE, ALONG WITH SUNNYSIDE CIVIC CLUB PRESIDENT TRACY STEVENS, HAVE ADVOCATED FOR CHANGES TO THIS PARK FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THAT GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY IS WHAT HELPS DRIVE THIS INITIATIVE FORWARD AND IMPROVES OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY.
AND I, UM, REALLY AM EXCITED TO BRING YOU TO THE PODIUM TO OFFER REMARKS.
I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT.
I AM TRAVIS MCGEE, THE CIVIC LEADER FOR 19 YEARS OF SUNNYSIDE GARDENS BY YOUR STATE CIVIC AREA.
SO WE HAVE NEVER SAW THIS PARK LOOK AS GOOD AS IT LOOK RIGHT NOW.
I THINK, I THINK EVERY COMMUNITY DESERVE A PARK TO LOOK LIKE THIS.
UH, WE HAVE A LEAGUE FOOTBALL TEAM THAT BEEN OUT HERE FOR 20 PLUS YEARS AND THEY DESERVE THIS NEW FOOTBALL FIELD.
THIS PARK ACTUALLY KEPT ME OUT OF TROUBLE.
UH, I WENT TO BH GRIMES ELEMENTARY, CHRISTMAS ATTICS, BUT WHEN I CAME FROM WHERE AND I PLAYED BASKETBALL, WE WENT TO STATE IN 92.
JUST SO Y'ALL KNOW, THAT
I USED TO DUNK ON THOSE GOALS OVER THERE.
I PROBABLY CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE, BUT I USED TO DO THAT.
AND THIS IS A REAL GOOD THING OUT HERE.
UH, BUT IT'S GOING THE COMMUNITY JOB AS WELL AS THE CITY HOUSTON, TO HELP US PROTECT OUR PARK.
WE DON'T NEED VEHICLES, WE DON'T NEED HORSES,
[00:30:01]
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.DRIVING ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
UH, 'CAUSE THEY WILL TRY TO DO IT, YOU KNOW, AND WE WILL NEED A STEADY PRESENCE OF THE PARK RANGERS AROUND HERE ALSO TO PROTECT THIS INVESTMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE A LONG TIME FOR IT, AND WE ARE GOING TO USE IT TO THE BEST.
WE, WE SAT PRETTY SATISFIED WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT SO FAR.
SO I AIN'T GOT TOO MUCH TO SAY, BUT THANK Y'ALL FOR EVERYTHING.
WELL, THAT'S A MAJOR STATEMENT COMING FROM TRAVIS MCGEE.
I'M GONNA
YOU KNOW, I'M GOING Y RECORD THAT STATEMENT FOR TRAVIS HT VI MAKE SURE Y'ALL PUT IT ON A LOOP OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
UH, I USED TO DUNK ON SOME OF THOSE PARKS MYSELF.
WE DID FIX UP A PARK IN, YOU KNOW, ACRES.
SO WE FIXED UP A PARK IN ACRES.
SO SOMEBODY DO THIS, AND, UM, WE WOULD, WE WOULD PASS.
I PASSED THE PARK FROM WHERE I LIVE EVERY DAY.
AND, UM, I SAW THE, I SAW THESE HORSES RIDING ON THE, ON THE PARK.
YOU AND I TOLD 'EM TO STOP, TOLD MY DETAIL, STOP.
HOW ABOUT THE TRUCK? AND START CHASING THOSE HORSES.
SAID, WHAT THE HELL,
HE SAID, MAN, YOU CAN'T BE CHASING AFTER THE HORSES.
I SAID, WELL, THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE PARK.
I SAID, WELL, YOU CALLED THE PARK RANGERS, BUT WE THOUGHT YOU WAS, YOU WERE GOING TO WALK OUTSIDE.
BUT HELL, YOU LOOK UP ME, CHASE, YOU GET IN A SUIT CHASE.
BUT I DO WANT TO, I WANNA BRING UP, UM, UH, COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS.
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH HIM, UH, VERY, VERY CLOSELY.
HE'S BEEN A VERY COLLABORATIVE PARTNER, VERY COLLABORATIVE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, UH, WE, WE GREW UP ON DIFFERENT, WELL, HE GREW UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE HERE.
BUT, UM, TO BE SERVING IN SIMILAR CAPACITIES AT THE SAME TIME HAS JUST BEEN MONUMENTAL.
I CANNOT THANK HIM ENOUGH, UH, FOR THE RESOURCES THAT HE HAS USED AS THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN PRECINCT ONE AND PUTTING THOSE RESOURCES BACK IN THE COMMUNITY ITSELF, UH, IT JUST MADE A HUGE, HUGE DIFFERENCE.
AND SO IT'S MY HONOR TO, TO BRING UP TO THE PODIUM, UH, YOUR COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER.
UH, I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU.
UH, IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT SOMEBODY WHEN YOU HAVE POWER AND YOU USE IT TO HELP SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEEDED IT FOR SO LONG.
SO THANK YOU MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER AND, UH, BETH FROM THE PARKS BOARD.
YOU'VE JUST DONE A, A GREAT JOB TO ACCEPT HIS CHALLENGE.
UH, IT HAS REALLY DONE SO MUCH AND, AND ALL OF THE CORPORATE DONORS, IT MEANS SO MUCH.
I'M GLAD TO SEE, UH, UH, MAYOR TURNER, ZENA GARRISON OUT HERE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I AM FROM SUNNYSIDE AND, UH, TRAVIS A LITTLE OLDER.
SO MY SISTER, MELODY ELLIS MIGHT BE HERE.
SHE SAID MELODY ELLIS, SHE USED TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
SHE'S TWO YEARS OLDER THAN ME.
IF I LOSE WEIGHT, THAT'S HOW I'M GONNA LOOK YOUNG AGAIN,
AND, UH, WE STILL OWN THAT HOUSE.
MY DAD LIVED TO BE NINE, NINE AND A HALF.
I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME THAT WE GOT STRONG GENES IN THIS FAMILY.
AND I, I HAVE A, A GREAT STAFF AS YOU DO.
I WAS TELLING FOLKS AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT, I COULD STILL BE HERE AND NOT EVEN KNOW I'M HERE
SO COULD YOU, WELL, MY FRATERNAL LIMITS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM.
I WANNA THANK YOUR TEAM MAYOR TURNER FOR THE, THEY HAVE DONE, UH, OVER THESE YEARS, SHE COULD BEEN IN OFFICE.
ZENA GREW UP RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SAY THEY PLANNED A, A, A NAME FOR ME.
BUT TRUTH OF THE MATTER WAS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OUT HERE WERE JUST HAVING BABIES AND GOING TO WORK.
SO THEY SAID, WELL, MS. GARRISON HAD A BABY.
AND I'M TOLD THEY SAID, WELL, WHAT DID SHE NAME HIM? RODNEY? UH, SO THAT'S HOW I GOT THAT NAME.
I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THE TENNIS COURTS, UM, BECAUSE IF THEY'D BEEN HERE, ZENA WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO GO TO MCGREGOR PARK TO, TO, TO, TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY TENNIS.
BUT, UH, MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW APPRECIATIVE, UH, WE ARE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
AND I DID RIDE MY BICYCLE HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER I AT ANOTHER EVENT AT TOM BASS.
THIS IS A HEALTH AND WELLNESS EVENT FOR MY STAFF.
'CAUSE I KNOW THE RULE IS 80 20, YOU KNOW, 80% OF, UH, OUR HEALTH COMES FROM, UH, UH, WHAT WE EAT OR DON'T EAT.
[00:35:01]
THAT 20% WAS ME RIDING THE BIKE.SOMEBODY ON THE BEST STAFF SAW ME.
SOMEBODY WAS YELLING, I'M RIDING DOWN MLK, CARS BLOWING.
AND THEY WENT, WHO IS THIS CRAZY OLD MAN OUT HERE RIDING THIS BICYCLE THIS EARLY IN THE MORNING WITH THE LIGHTS BLINKING THAT GOING ON? SO I WAVED AND TRYING TO GET TO TOM BASS PARK, 15.5 MILES YOU'RE SAYING, AND AIN'T BAD MAN FOR 69 YEARS OLD.
UH, BUT LOOK, IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONNECT THESE COMMUNITIES AS YOU HAVE DONE UNDER YOUR ADMINISTRATION.
AND I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PART.
I MEAN, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SECURITY MAYOR THAT ANY CITY COUNTY PARK PATROLS CAN DO.
PEOPLE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD DETERMINE WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO SUNNYSIDE.
AND WE'RE JUST SO HAPPY YOU MADE IT HERE SAFELY AND OUR BEAUTIFUL CONNECTIONS FROM PARK TO PARK.
SO, UM, SINCE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE FAMOUS, WELL-KNOWN BELOVED ZENA GARRISON, IT'S MY HONOR TO, UH, BRING UP YOUR HOMETOWN GOLD MEDALIST, ZENA GARRISON, THEN THE MAYOR, BRINGING UP PEOPLE I LOST TO IN THE FINALS.
BUT I FIRST JUST WANNA SAY, MAYOR TURNER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THIS CITY, HAS BEEN AMAZING.
UM, I REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST WENT IN AND I SAID TO YOU, UM, AS I'M ALWAYS TEXTING HIM AND CALLING HIM, BUT I SAID TO HIM, THANK YOU FOR BEING THE MAYOR THAT CARES ABOUT THE CITY AND THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT OTHERS.
AND I GAVE YOU THAT NAME BACK THEN, AND YOU HAVE DEFINITELY HELD TO IT.
AND, UH, HOPEFULLY YOU'LL STAY AROUND AND STAY ON THE NEXT MAYORS TO KEEP THIS KIND OF STUFF MOVING ON,
UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA SAY TO EVERYONE THAT'S SITTING UP HERE, THANK YOU FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL PARK.
AND AS TRAVIS SAID, WE KNOW WE GREW UP RIGHT HERE.
I ACTUALLY LOVED, I ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY BASEBALL FOR THE FIRST TIME, RIGHT AT THAT, AT THE CORNER, UH, ON THIS, ON CARMEN STREET.
THAT'S WHERE I FELL IN LOVE WITH SPORTS.
AND THAT'S WHERE I GOT, YOU KNOW, I WAS WITH PEOPLE WHO ASKED ME ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW JUST, JUST GO TO WIMBLEDON AND LEARN TO PLAY ON GRASS? SO WELL, AND I WAS LIKE, MY BROTHER PLAYED BASEBALL
HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE TO PLAY WITH.
I WAS, YOU KNOW, 12 YEARS YOUNGER THAN HIM.
AND HE WAS JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, COME OUT HERE.
AND THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED SHORTSTOP.
I LEARNED HOW TO GET DOWN, I KNOW TO LEARN HOW TO GET UP.
AND THAT HELPED ME WHEN I WENT TO WIMBLEDON.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PARKS.
AND I CAN'T SAY THIS ENOUGH, YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW THE, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT A PARK AND GIVE A KID AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST LITERALLY GO ACROSS THE STREET AND BE ABLE TO LEARN SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, FROM THE PEOPLE THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT OLDER THAN YOU, THE LITTLE WISER.
UH, AND IT JUST BRINGS SO MUCH BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEN I CAME HERE TODAY, THE FIRST THING I DID WAS DROVE BY OUR FAMILY HOME
UM, SO THE FIRST THING THAT I SAID TO MYSELF WAS LIKE, WOW, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
AND TRAVIS, THE FOOTBALL FIELD, IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU FOR KEEP, YOU KNOW, KEEP PLUGGING AND MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
AND THEN THE TENNIS COURTS IS THE NEXT THING I WENT TO.
AND A MEDIA, I WAS LIKE, OH, WOW.
BUT TOM, I SAID, OH, THE PICKLEBALL LINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE OTHER COURT, BUT IT'S OKAY,
AND MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR ONCE AGAIN GETTING THESE KIND OF PARTS AND HOW MANY MORE.
YOU SAID THAT GOT 10 MORE TO GET DONE.
AND YOU GUYS, THIS YEAR, YOU GUYS DO NOT KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS BECAUSE SOMEBODY LIKE ME THAT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT PRESIDENTS TO MEET KINGS, QUEENS, AND QUEENS, ALL OF THE ACROSS THE WORLD.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE I LEARNED HOW TO PLAY BASEBALL RIGHT AT THE CORNER HERE.
I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE MONICA SHAW WITH, UH, SENATOR BORIS MILES' OFFICE, AND I SEE A LEGEND OVER HERE, MR. RALPH COOPER.
AND SO JUST, I THINK, I THINK THAT GETS ALL OF THE ELECTED PEOPLE.
AND ZENA, I DON'T KNOW IF WE, UH, IF EVERYONE KNOWS, KNOWS THIS, BUT, UH, ZENA IS NOW PART OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TEAM UNDER DEBORAH LATHAN, WHO IS, UH, HERE WITH US TODAY.
ALSO, UH, OUR, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR RECREATION AND WELLNESS.
UM, SO SHE CONTINUES TO, UH, COACH AND MENTOR YOUTH, UH, COMING UP THROUGH PARKS AND, UH, CONTINUING HER TENNIS LEGACY.
SO WE JUST TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE, YOUR
[00:40:01]
PHENOMENAL TENNIS SKILLS THAT YOU HAVE, UM, CARRIED ON WITH YOUTH HERE IN HOUSTON.UM, AND ALSO JUST A ANOTHER SPECIAL THANKS TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TEAM, EVERYBODY THAT WORKS WITH US, WHO HELPS PUT ON THESE EVENTS.
10 MORE TO GO KEEP, KEEP UP THE KEEP, KEEP UP THE STRENGTH
UM, ALSO WANNA SHOUT OUT AGAIN, LISA JOHNSON, GENERAL SERVICES AND ALL YOUR STAFF.
UM, WE COULDN'T DO THIS, THIS, UH, WITHOUT YOU.
SHE MANAGES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR PARKS.
UM, THANK YOU TO, UH, CJ AS WELL, DIRECTOR MESSIAH.
UM, AND THEN WE MIGHT BE NEAR THE END.
MAYOR TURNER, ARE YOU READY TO CUT A RIBBON? YES.