[Press Conference: "50/50 Park Ribbon Cutting - Tanglewilde Park"]
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YOU KNOW, I, I, LAST NIGHT IT RAINED QUITE A BIT.I DECIDED TO TURN THE KNOB AND TURN IT OFF FOR THIS MORNING.
AFTER WE GET DONE, I'LL TURN THE KNOB AND TURN IT BACK ON.
HOW ABOUT THAT,
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND WELCOME TO TABLE WILD PARK.
SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME IN THIS CELEBRATION WITH MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER'S 50 50 PARK PARTNERS, WHICH IS A COLLABORATION OF INVESTMENT AND IMPROVEMENT IN HOUSTON'S NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
SO, AS DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE THIS PARK GO THROUGH A TRANSFORMATION WITH THE HELP OF ALL THE PARTNERS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF 382 PARKS THROUGHOUT THIS CITY, AND TANGLEWOOD PARK WAS ACTUALLY ACQUIRED IN 1966.
IT'S A 2.5 ACRE GREEN SPACE FOR THE RESIDENTS TO ENJOY AND HAVE.
HOW ABOUT THIS TRANSFORMATION? OUR MAYOR IS VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT TARGETING PUBLIC FUNDS AND LEVERAGING PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO BENEFIT HOUSTON'S NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, WHICH ARE THE HEART OF MANY COMMUNITIES.
THERE ARE LOCATIONS THAT RESIDENTS CAN ACTUALLY WALK TO ENJOY, RECREATE, AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.
THE MAYOR'S 50 50, UM, INITIATIVE UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF STEWARDING COMMUNITY PARK SPACE, WHICH MEETS THE NEEDS OF SURROUNDING RESIDENTS IS SO NEEDED THROUGHOUT THIS CITY.
SO, I JUST WANNA LET YOU GUYS KNOW I LOVE OUR PARKS, OUR MAYOR OF OUR PARKS, AND I KNOW YOU GUYS LOVE OUR PARKS TOO.
SO THIS IS THE 14TH OF 22 PARKS THAT WE, THAT WILL BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
HOW ABOUT THAT? WE ARE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A MAYOR AND A LEADER THAT ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND HOW PARKS BRINGS TOGETHER THE COMMUNITY, HOW IT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY, HOW IT, IT IS VERY, VERY, THE THERAPEUTIC.
AND I AM, I'M JUST, I'M JUST EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY.
SO, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
I WANNA CALL YOU UP TO THE MIKE, UM, HONORABLE MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER.
LOOK, LET ME, LET ME THANK DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN AND, UH, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND REC FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.
AND CERTAINLY WANNA APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR, UM, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND REC, THE STAFF, THE EMPLOYEES.
UH, SO IF YOU ARE, IF YOU ARE WITH HOUSTON PARKS AND REC, UH, PLEASE KIND OF RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU, WITH PARKS AND REC RAISE YOUR HAND.
WANNA THANK THEM FOR THEIR ENTIRELY EFFORTS AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO ALL, ALL OF OUR PARKS IN THE CITY.
AND, UH, LOOK, UH, LET JUST SAY GOOD MORNING.
UH, UH, EVERYONE, THIS IS A LONGER WAY VACATION TO CELEBRATE THE REVITALIZATION OF TANGA WILD PARK, AND I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT, AS KENNETH HAS SAID, UH, THIS IS OUR FOUR, UH, 14TH, UH, 50 BY 50 PARK PARTNERS PROGRAM, UH, COMPLETION FOR OUR CITY AND THE RESIDENCE.
AND WE ARE JOIN, WE ARE IN DISTRICT F, COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS, AND SHE SAID THE WEST SIDE IS THE BEST SIDE
SO I WANT TO THANK HER AND I WANT THANK HER FOR HER STEADFAST SUPPORT OF PARKS AND REC AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY INITIATIVE.
SHE HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE, AN INCREDIBLE MEMBER ON CITY COUNCILMAN AND A VERY SUPPORTIVE, UH, PERSON, UH, TO THIS ADMINISTRATION.
SO PLEASE GIVE IT AGAIN TO COUNCIL MEMBER TIFFANY THOMAS.
LET ME ALSO RECOGNIZE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS, UH, COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS.
THERE'S YOU,
BUT, BUT THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR YOUR STEADFAST SUPPORT, UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE JEAN WOO.
HE'S BEEN IN AUSTIN ALL THIS WEEK UNTIL 4:00 AM UH, THE OTHER MORNING.
[00:05:01]
DAN ROLLINS, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF CADENCE BANK.UH, SPENCER GUTIEREZ, THE FIELD DISTRICT DIRECTOR ON BEHALF OF CONGRESSWOMAN LIZZIE F FLETCHER DOUGLAS.
MONICA SHAW, COMMUNITY LIAISON ON BEHALF OF SENATOR BORIS SMILE.
YES, I GOT, I'M COMING BACK TO A FEW OTHERS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE AREA LEADERS AND RESIDENTS FOR THEIR INPUT ON WHAT THIS PARK NEEDED, AS WELL AS THEIR CONTINUED STEWARDSHIP OF TAN WIDE PARKS.
IF YOU LIVE OUT IN THIS AREA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT OF THE AREA.
HERE WITH US TODAY IS JO CRAFT, THE CITIZEN PATROL CAPTAIN FOR THE TANGLE WHILE IN WESTMONT NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHERE'S JO CRAFT? THANK, THANK YOU.
AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THIS GREAT COMMUNITY.
OUR COMMUNITY LED ORGANIZATIONS HELP FOSTER NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS, BUILDING GOODWILL AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT, WHICH LEADS TO A MORE RESILIENT TANG.
WILD COMMUNITY PARKS AND GREEN SPACES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTH AND BEAUTY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND EVERY COMMUNITY NEEDS ACCESS TO A THRIVING PARK.
THE 50 50 PARK PART OF THIS PROGRAM REMAINS ONE OF OUR KEY INITIATIVES WITH ONE CRITICAL GOAL TO UPLIFT NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND UNDER RESOURCE AND AREAS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS SERVE AS HUBS FOR COMMUNITY PRIDE AND OFFER A SAFE PLACE TO EXERCISE, PLAY, AND EXPLORE NATURE OUTDOORS.
THE CITY'S PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN THE 50 50 INITIATIVE IS UPWARD NOW OF $14 MILLION, AND THE KEY TO SUCCESS OF 50 50, IT'S MATCHING PUBLIC FUNDS WITH PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DIRECTOR, UH, OUR CITY LEGAL ATTORNEY, ARTUR MICHELLE.
I APPRECIATE THE TEAM LEADING THIS EFFORT, INCLUDING THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, UH, BETH WHITE, THANK YOU, BETH HOUSTON, OF COURSE, HOUSTON PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, AND THE GREATEST HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.
EACH PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN DELIVERING THE FIRST 22 PROJECTS OF THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE.
TO THE FINISH LINE, WE ALSO MUST HAVE THE SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND HERE AT TANGO WILD PARK, OUR PARK PARTNER IS CADENCE BANK, WHO PLEDGED $500,000 TO THE OVERALL 50 50
ADDITIONALLY, COMMISSIONER, UH, LESLIE BROWNNESS HAS STEPPED UP, UH, TO PLEDGE PRECINCT FOR SUPPORT THROUGH A CONTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN 342,000.
AND LEMME JUST ADD, UH, SHE HAS REALLY, UH, BEEN A KEY SUPPORTER ON MANY INITIATIVES.
THIS HAPPENS TO BE ONE, BUT SHE HAS REALLY PUT BOTH, UH, FEED IN AND WE CAN'T THANK HER ENOUGH FOR THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.
THESE ALLIANCES ARE FOR THE GOOD OF ALL THE CITIZENS WHERE WE SERVE.
AS WE WORK TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY THROUGH EQUITABLE GREEN SPACES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
TOGETHER, WE HAVE INVESTED OVER $740,000 TO IMPROVE TANGA WILD PARK AMENITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY, WHICH INCLUDES REPLACED PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FOR AGES FIVE THROUGH 12, ALONG WITH NEW SWINGS AND FENCING, UPDATED THE PICNIC, ILION ROOF LIGHTING, AND INSTALLING NEW BENCHES, PICNIC TABLES, GRILLS AND TRASH RECEPTACLES, LEVELED THE MULTIPURPOSE ATHLETIC FIELD SURFACE AND ADDED A NEW BACKDROP, INSTALLED NEW BIKE RACK, UH, BIKE RACK AND WATER FOUNTAIN, AND ADDED DETENTION FOR IMPROVED DRAINAGE.
I'M GOING TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE FOR HELPING US PARTICIPATE IN THESE NEW PARK AMENITIES.
CAN'T SAY ENOUGH FOR YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HAS BEEN HANDS ON AND A STUDY ADVOCATE.
SHE TELLS YOU WHEN YOU'RE RIGHT.
SHE'LL ALSO CALL YOU AT HOME AND TELL YOU WHEN YOU'RE WRONG.
AND SHE REMINDS THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THOUGH THE WEST SIDE IS NOT INSIDE THE LOOP, THE WEST SIDE IS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND THE WEST SIDE IS THE BEST SIDE.
SO THE, HE'S GONNA MISS ME WHEN HE OH, YES.
I'M, I'M GONNA MISS THOSE LATE NIGHT PHONE CALLS.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE PARK FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND WE ALSO RELY ON THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE THEIR STEWARDSHIP OF THIS WELL LOVED GATHERING PLACE.
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LASTLY, UH, JUST LAST WEEK, UH, WE LAUNCHED OUR KEY PARKS SAFE AND CLEAN CAMPAIGN, FOCUSING ON DETERRENT CRIME AND REDUCING LITTER IN HOUSTON PARKS.YOU WILL SEE, UH, THESE MESSAGES, UH, POSTED AROUND THE CITY TO HELP REMIND RESIDENTS THAT WE NEED EVERYONE TO PITCH IN, REPORT ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, PROPERLY DISPOSE OF TRASH, AND AS A COLLECTIVE, HELP KEEP OUR PARKS CLEAN AND SAFE.
AND WITH YOUR HELP IN TO EFFORT TANGLE WHILE PARK WILL CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND SERVE AS A PLACE FOR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, TIFFANY THOMAS, REPRESENTING DISTRICT A.
HE'S GONNA MISS THOSE LATE NIGHT PHONE CALLS.
UH, I HAVE TO SAY, AND I HAVE TO REPEAT IT TO, UM, UH, SO EVERYONE IS AWARE THAT WE ARE IN DISTRICT F ON THE WEST SIDE, THE BEST SIDE.
ALRIGHT? AND SO LEMME JUST TALK ABOUT THE GENESIS OF WHERE THAT CAME FROM, BECAUSE IN THE PAST, DISTRICT F WAS, UH, KNOWN PASSIVELY AS THE FORGOTTEN DISTRICT.
AND, UM, WE WERE FORGOTTEN IN TERMS OF INVESTMENT IN OUR PUBLIC SPACES.
UH, WE WERE FORGOTTEN IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND AT LEAST THAT WAS THE SENTIMENT OF MANY OF THE RESIDENTS.
UM, SO, UH, US BEING ON THE BEST SIDE OF TOWN, UM, IS REALLY A SIGNAL TO CHANGE THE STORY ABOUT WHO WE ARE.
SO, MAYOR TURNER TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBERS AND OUR PARTNERS.
I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT USE THIS PARK.
MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T, WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD EVEN EXIST BECAUSE IT'S A POCKET NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND MANY OF YOU PROBABLY WORK AND PLAY, UM, UP AND DOWN RICHMOND AND WEST PARK AND GESNER AND PROBABLY NEVER REALIZED THAT THERE'S A SUBDIVISION HERE WITH LITTLE OVER 600 DOORS.
THE INDIVIDUALS, AS I GOT TO MEET THEM AND TALK TO THEM, UH, AND SIMILARLY MAYOR, UH, LATE NIGHT TEXT MESSAGES AND PHONE CALLS FROM SEVERAL OF THEM, UM, ABOUT THE PRIORITIES OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE ALWAYS REMAINED AT THE TOP.
NONE OF THIS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE INFLUENCE AND COMMITMENT OF THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I KNOW I'M GOING TO FORGET SOME NAMES, BUT I DO WANNA CALL THEM OUT.
JOLIE, WHO'S HERE WITH US THIS MORNING? CALLIE, BARBARA, JEAN KELLY, KEVIN, PAM MORRIS, PAMELA ULMER, AND MR. STEVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE'S HERE AND IF I HAVE NOT LISTED YOUR NAME, PLEASE FORGIVE ME.
BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND ACKNOWLEDGE THINGS.
I ALSO WANNA THANK THE PARKS BOARD FOR SENDING US LISA.
BETH, YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD STAFF MEMBERS.
UH, LISA HAS WALKED WITH US HAND IN HAND, UM, I BELIEVE 2021.
WE STARTED THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AROUND THIS AREA.
UM, AND EVERYTHING YOU SEE, AND PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE WAS INFLUENCED AND DIRECTED BY THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY LIVE AND PLAY HERE.
UM, WE HAVE TOWN HOMES, APARTMENTS, SUBDIVISIONS AROUND THIS AREA.
AND MAYOR TURN TO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING TANGO WILD IN THE VISION.
UH, BECAUSE IT IS A SMALL PARK, MOST PEOPLE WOULDN'T PAY ATTENTION TO IT, BUT THE INVESTMENT IS DEFINITELY NEEDED.
I ALSO WANNA TALK ABOUT, UH, THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
AS WE SAY ALL THE TIME AT CITY HALL, WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
AND AS MANY OF THOSE MIDNIGHT CALLS FROM MAYOR TURNER, UM, SOMETIMES MY VOICE IS RAISED, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT.
UH, MAYOR TURNER, I AIN'T GOT THE MONEY.
HOW WE GONNA DO THIS? RIGHT? AND, UM, HE IS ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE PRIORITIES, OFTENTIMES OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE PRESENT TO HIM AND ENGAGE WITH PRIVATE FUNDERS, UH, THAT FIND VALUE IN THE CITY'S, IN THE CITY'S PRIORITIES.
SO, KATE BIG, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR OVERALL COMMISSION, UH, COMMITMENT TO OUR PUBLIC SPACES.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN, UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP.
THIS IS MY LAST 50 50 PARK IN HIS ENTIRE PARKS TEAM.
I HAVE SEVEN CITY PARKS WITHIN DISTRICT F AND THEY'VE MADE SURE THAT EVERY INVESTMENT FROM CUTTING THE TREES, FROM MAINTAINING OUR POOLS, FROM PICKING UP THE TRASH AT THE PARKS, ANYTIME THAT THERE'S A REQUEST, THEY MEET IT AND THEY MOVE VERY QUICKLY.
SO WE WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR YOUR WORK BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU HAVE A WHOLE TEAM BEHIND YOU DOING THIS.
AND ALSO I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS IMMEDIATELY FINDING VALUE IN PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND THE COUNTY AND WITHIN THE CITY THAT NEEDED JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE FUNDING TO GET US TO THE EDGE.
AND SO THIS IS HOW YOU DO PARTNERSHIP IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THIS IS HOW WE DO PARTNERSHIP IN DISTRICT F.
I WANNA THANK EACH OF YOU FOR FINDING THE TIME TO SUPPORT.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT WILL FIND, UH, DEEP PLEASURE, DEEP EXCITEMENT.
THEY'LL TAKE THEIR DOGS OUT HERE, THEY'LL, THEIR KIDS WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY.
UH, PARENTS CAN LET THEIR CHILDREN PLAY AT THE PARK AND WALK HOME.
WE HAVE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT WE'RE DOING WORK IN.
SO ALL OF THIS MATTERS IN COMMUNITY.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU, UM, AND THIS IS, IT'S BEEN AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND REPRESENT YOU AT CITY HALL.
THANKS FOR KEEPING THE WEST SIDE THE BEST SIDE.
[00:15:05]
I DO WANT TO NOTE SHANNON BUGS, THE DIRECTOR OF COMPLETE COMMUNITY.SHANNON, THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
SHE LEAVES ALL OF THIS INITIATIVES, UH, IN MANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES, 10 OF THEM TO BE EXACT.
THANK CAM MAYOR, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THE MAYOR GET CALLS, I KNOW WHERE IT COMES FROM BECAUSE I GET IT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT MORNING.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, LISTEN, IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT SERVICE, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DELIVERING AND RESPONDING.
AND, UM, FROM MY ENTIRE TEAM THAT'S HERE AND ALL THE PARTNERS, WE KNOW WHAT THAT REALLY IS ALL ABOUT, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE STANDING HERE TODAY.
SO I'M SO APPRECIATIVE OF A TEAM THAT I CAN GO TO DAY TO DAY AND I DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO TELL THEM WHAT AND HOW TO DO.
THEY TELL ME THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.
HOUSTON IS A PLACE WHERE PARTNERSHIP CULTURE ACTUALLY THRIVES, ESPECIALLY FOR GREEN INITIATIVES.
AND ULTIMATELY WE'RE LEVERAGING ALL THE RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A GREATER IMPACT.
YOU KNOW, I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FORD WITH THIS MAYOR 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE.
I HAVE TO CALL UP A VERY SPECIAL PERSON, NOT ONLY WITH THE MAYOR'S 50 50 INITIATIVE, BUT WITH OTHER PARKS THROUGHOUT HER AREA.
AND I'M MENTION TOO THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW, BURNETT BAYLIN AND FREE FOR OPERATION AND MAINTAINING.
COMMISSIONER, COULD YOU PLEASE COME UP? THANK YOU, DIRECTOR ALLEN.
LET'S PLEASE GIVE DIRECTOR ALLEN AND ALL OF HIS TEAM ROUND TO THE CLASS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR SERVICE.
AND TO MAYOR TURNER AND MY PARTNER AND DISTRICT F COUNCIL MEMBER THOMAS REPRESENTATIVE JEAN WU FIGHTING FOR US AT THE STATE LEVEL.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM CONGRESSWOMAN FLETCHER'S OFFICE, HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, CADENCE BANK, ALL OF THE PARTNERS HERE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN WHO ARE HERE.
YOU ARE OUR Y SO I'M GRATEFUL TO BE YOUR HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR PRECINCT FOUR.
WE HAVE BEEN THRILLED TO DIVE IN AND PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE OTHER CITIES IN OUR PRECINCT.
THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT PARTNERSHIP CAN DO TOGETHER.
PRECINCT FOUR LAUNCHED IN VERY COMPLIMENTARY TO THE 50 50 PARKS PLAN.
WE LAUNCHED PLACES FOR PEOPLE ACROSS PRECINCT FOUR ASKING CITIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, NONPROFITS, MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, MUDS TO SUBMIT PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS THAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD MOST IMPACT THE COMMUNITY.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE PROJECTS MY TEAM AND I SELECTED.
WE ARE PROUD TO BE A 40% PARTNER IN THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE MADE.
WE'RE SO THANKFUL AND I WANNA ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE LUIS SUDO, WHO IS HERE, WHO REALLY LED THE PLACES FOR PEOPLE WHO'S STILL LEADING IT.
AND ELISA GARRETT'S ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS ON INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL.
WE WILL BE INVESTING THROUGH THIS YEAR'S PLACES FOR PEOPLE $170 MILLION.
IN PARTNERSHIP, 88 MILLION OF OUR PRECINCT FOUR FUNDS AND 82 MILLION FROM OUR PARTNERS FUNDS.
AND THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD IS A HUGE PARTNER IN MANY OF THE INITIATIVES.
AND THREE OF THE PROJECTS ARE CITY OF HOUSTON PARKS THAT WE PICKED BECAUSE WE BELIEVE DEEPLY THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND THE OTHER CITIES WERE SERVING THE SAME PEOPLE.
SO THE MORE WE WORK TOGETHER, THE MORE WE CAN GET DONE.
SO I AM PARTICULARLY THRILLED ABOUT THIS PARK BECAUSE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD REMINDS ME VERY MUCH OF WHERE I GREW UP AND I GREW UP A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM A PARK.
AND MY BEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES ARE ME PLAYING AT THE PARK WITH MY PARENTS, MY SIBLINGS, MY NEIGHBORS.
THAT SENSE OF PLACE, THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS JUST PRICELESS AND TIMELESS AND ARE MEMORIES YOU CARRY WITH YOU ALWAYS.
SO THE MOM IN ME OF THREE LITTLE GIRLS, THE FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER IN ME, AND NOW YOU'RE COMMISSIONER, IT GIVES ME SO MUCH PRIDE AND PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY.
AND WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.
WE WELCOME THESE CONTINUED IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE AND INVEST BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
AND I WAS PARTICULARLY ENERGIZED TO LEARN.
6,000 PEOPLE LIVE WITHIN HALF A MILE OF HERE, 6,000 PEOPLE.
SO THANK YOU TO OUR VERY GENEROUS PARTNERS, HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, CADENCE BANK, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, EVERYONE WHO IS INVOLVED, THINK
[00:20:01]
OF THOSE 6,000 PEOPLE AND BEYOND.ALL OF THOSE MEMORIES THAT WILL BE CREATED HERE CONTINUE TO BE CREATED HERE BECAUSE OF YOU.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND LET'S GIVE A FINAL ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO ALL OF THE WONDERFUL RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA AND THE BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES THAT WE'RE CREATING TOGETHER.
SO WITH THAT, BACK TO DIRECTOR ALLEN.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BRI ON THIS.
LET'S GIVE HER ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
ANOTHER LONG, LONG-TERM PARTNER THAT IS DEDICATED TO CREATING, IMPROVING AND ADVOCATING FOR PARKS, PARKS FOR EVERYONE.
QUALITY PARKS IS THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR EFFORT IN WORKING WITH US TOGETHER TO COMPLETE 22 PARKS BY THE END OF 23.
VERY AMBITIOUS
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET ME INTRODUCE CULLEN.
ALWAYS MESS THIS UP, BUT I'M GONNA GET IT RIGHT.
WELL, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU GUYS TODAY AND I'M GONNA REITERATE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED, UM, BUT WE'RE ALL JUST SO EXCITED.
AND, UM, AND IT IS FEELING A LITTLE LIKE SUMMER, BUT I HEAR WINTER'S COMING SUNDAY NIGHT.
Y'ALL WINNERS GONNA BE HERE FOR A COUPLE DAYS.
UM, AND UH, AS, UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN SAID, MY NAME IS COLLEN GEISEL MUSE AND I'M THE CHAIR ELECT OF THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, WHICH IS NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT'S BEEN WORKING TO IMPROVE, EXPAND, AND PROTECT PARKS IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA FOR A NEARLY 50 YEARS.
SO WE ARE YOUR PARTNERS IN ALL THINGS PARKS, AND WE ARE THRILLED TO BE HERE TO CELEBRATE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR PARK PARTNERS AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE HELPED TRANSFORM THIS PARK.
AND, UM, AND PARTICULARLY TO MAYOR TURNER, WHO, WHO, UH, CHALLENGED US TO REALLY BRING EQUITY AND FOCUS ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IN OUR PROJECTS.
UM, AND AS WE'VE ALREADY THANKED DIRECTOR ALLEN AND HIS AMAZING TEAM AT HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS LISA JOHNSON, WHO'S NORMALLY AROUND.
AND THERE SHE IS AT THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT THEM.
AND THEN OUR CONSTRUCTION FIRM, ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT, AND CODY HAWTHORNE, RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND OUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FIRM, UH, KIMLEY AND HORN AND ASSOCIATES IN THERE.
AND MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, UM, UH, THAT ARE HERE TODAY, DEBORAH CANNON, WHO'S IN THE ORANGE OVER HERE AND IS, UM, ALSO RELATED TO CADENCE BANK.
SO THE WORLD IS ALL VERY, UH, INTERTWINE AND OBVIOUSLY TO MY HOUSTON PARKS BOARD STAFF.
I SEE SOME OF THEM OVER THERE.
THEY'RE ALL AROUND, UM, WHO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
AND ALSO WE AS THE, UM, PROJECT, UM, UH, COORDINATOR FOR ALL OF THIS IS, UH, ENGAGING IN EVERY SINGLE LEVEL.
UM, I ALSO HAVE TO THANK A GROUP THAT IS NOT HERE, BUT HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, UM, EQUITY AND PARKS, AND THAT'S THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING ALL OF THE, SO MUCH OF OUR WORK AND, AND WE REALLY, AND THEIR FOCUS ON EQUITY THESE DAYS IS AS TRULY, UM, TRANSFORMATIVE.
AND THEN A SECOND THANK YOU TO THOSE, TO ANOTHER GREAT FUNDER THAT IS ACTUALLY HERE IS CADENCE BANK FOUNDATION.
AND THEY, AS THE MAYOR, UH, SAID, THEY PROVIDED HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERSHIP AND THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY THE PARK THAT THEY HAVE INVESTED AND PUT SOME SWEAT EQUITY INTO.
I THINK MAYBE SOME OF YOUR TEAM HAS COME OUT, NOT JUST THE SWEAT FROM TODAY,
UM, AND SO, UM, AND THEY'LL HAVE A MOMENT TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY COMMISSIONER BRIANIS, UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE COUNTY INTO, UM, INVESTING IN OUR CITY.
AND SO JUST TO, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS HEARD THE NUMBERS, BUT, UH, PRECINCT FOUR IS INVESTING $864,000 IN OUR, UH, 50 50 PARK PARTNERS PROJECT.
AND, UH, 300 AND MORE THAN 342,000 HAS GONE, HAS GONE INTO THIS PARK.
AND SO, UM, THE PLACES FOR PEOPLE INITIATIVE IS AMAZING AND, UM, AND, UH, THANK YOU DISTRICT FOUR.
AND, UM, AND SO OUR OVERALL PARK PROJECT, THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERSHIP PROJECT, UM, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RAISE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD WITH OUR PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS, $10 MILLION, UM, TO MATCH THE $14 MILLION THAT THE CITY HAS PUT IN.
AND IT WOULD NOT, AND THIS IS OUR 14TH PARK OF 22 THAT WE'RE GONNA COMPLETE BY 2023, THE END OF THE YEAR FOR THE MAYOR.
AND THIS WHOLE INITIATIVE IS A HUGE, A GROUP OF PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER, THE,
[00:25:01]
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, THE OFFICE OF COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY, THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.AND SO WE ALL CAME TOGETHER TO FOCUS ON THREE MAIN THINGS, AND THAT'S PARK EQUITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE IMPACT IN THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN THESE, IN THE INVESTMENTS IN THESE PARKS.
AND, UM, AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD HAS BEEN YOUR PROJECT MANAGER AND, UM, AND WE ARE THRILLED TO BE HERE AND DISTRICT F WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE WILD AND WESTMONT NEIGHBORHOODS TO ENSURE THE COMMUNITY VOICES WERE HEARD AND, AND THAT LISA'S ALREADY BEEN CALLED OUT FROM THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, THAT SHE IS, COMES AND ENGAGES WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
AND WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU WANT IN YOUR PARKS.
AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE TANGO WILD AND WESTMONT NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ALLOWING US TO BRING, TO BRING THIS PARK INTO OUR 50 50 PARK PROJECT.
AND NOW WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I AM EXCITED TO, UM, BRING UP DAN ROLLINS, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFER TO SERVE A CADENCE BANK TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MAKING THE WEATHER FOR US SO NICE OUT TODAY.
I PROMISE I'LL STOP TALKING BEFORE IT STARTS RAINING.
HOW'S THAT? UH, THANK YOU CULLEN FOR THE NICE INTRODUCTION.
UH, EVERYONE HAS BEEN INTRODUCED, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK MAYOR TURNER FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, COMMISSIONER VARONIS NEEDED TO LEAVE DIRECTOR SCOTT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DONE.
KENNETH, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORT ON OUR BEHALF.
YOU KNOW, I, I GREW UP IN HOUSTON, MOVED AWAY FOR A WHILE.
NOT EVERYBODY IS A NATIVE YOUTH.
BUT I WAS BORN HERE AND IT'S NICE TO BE A PART OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS DOING FOR US.
YOU KNOW, OUR OUR BOARD MEMBER DEBORAH CANNON, SERVES ON THE BOARD OF PARKS BOARD ALSO.
AND SO, UH, SHE DID NOT HAVE TO TWIST OUR ARM VERY HARD HERE.
UH, SHE, SHE DID CALL AND SAY THERE'S THIS GREAT PROGRAM GOING ON AND I THINK IT'D BE GOOD FOR US TO BE INVOLVED WITH.
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR BANK, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL PARKS ON THE 50 50 PROGRAM ARE NEARBY SOME OF THE MANY, UH, CADENCE BANK BRANCHES ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
BUT THIS ONE SITS VERY CLOSE TO A BRANCH, UH, RIGHT HERE ON ON WESTHEIMER.
UH, OUR FOUNDATION IS INTENTIONAL IN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO BE INVOLVED AND BECAUSE OF, WE LIKE TO INVEST WHERE OUR CUSTOMERS AND OUR TEAMMATES LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BANKING, UH, SOMETIMES THAT SCARES PEOPLE BECAUSE WE WANNA TALK ABOUT DOLLARS, BUT REALLY BANKING IS ALL ABOUT PEOPLE.
AND WITHOUT PEOPLE WE WOULDN'T BE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND SO BEING A PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
FOR 140 YEARS, CADENCE BANK HAS BEEN ABIDED BY OUR PRINCIPLES OF NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT HERE TODAY.
FOR OUR PART, WE FOLLOW THOSE SAME VALUES TODAY.
WE WANT TO DO RIGHT BY OTHERS.
WE WANNA VALUE RELATIONSHIPS, AND WE REALLY VALUE EMBRACING INCLUSIVITY.
AND SO THIS IS ANOTHER PART OF WHAT WE CAN DO IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SERVE, WHETHER IT'S OFFERING ACCESSIBLE FINANCIAL SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OR HELPING TO RENOVATE BEAUTIFUL GREEN SPACES LIKE THIS.
WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE, COMPANIES, AND COMMUNITIES PROSPER FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR LETTING US BE A PART OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
TANGLE WAD IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HOUSTON MARKET AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
I HAVE ONE MORE, ONE MORE PERSON TO CALL UP AND THAT'S JOLLY CRAFT FROM THE, UM, CITIZEN CITIZENS PATROL CAPTAIN FOR TANGLEWOOD IN THE, UH, WEST MOUNT NEIGHBORHOODS.
I'VE LIVED IN THE TANGLE WILD NEIGHBORHOOD FOR 20 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN, UM, PARTICIPATING IN THE CITIZEN PATROL PROGRAM FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS NOW.
UM, EVERYBODY THINKS SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO A COMMUNITY AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PARTICIPANTS HERE TODAY FOR MAKING NOT JUST THIS PARK, BUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, A SABRE PLACE TO LIVE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR, UM, HAVING THAT LISTENING SESSION.
BEFORE THE DESIGN EVEN BEGAN, UH, WE, WE GOT ON A CONFERENCE CALL AND WE WERE ABLE TO, TO GIVE SOME IDEAS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT WORK FOR THE PARK.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, I POINTED OUT THERE WAS SOME, SOME BEATEN PASS WHERE THE HIGH TRAFFIC VOLUME IS, THEY WENT AHEAD AND PAVED THOSE AREAS, SO THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA.
UM, SO BACK TO CITIZEN PATROL, WE, WE JUST SIMPLY DRIVE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S A, IT'S A EASY BUT VERY IMPORTANT WAY TO VOLUNTEER IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME AFTERWARDS.
[00:30:01]
OBSERVE AND REPORT, IF ANYTHING LOOKS FISHY, WE CALL OUR PARTNERS AT HPD.I WANT TO THANK HPD FOR HELPING US WITH THAT PROGRAM.
I'VE JUST HEARD FROM OFFICER BRISSON THAT CRIME IN THE TANGLE WILD NEIGHBORHOOD IS DOWN 21.6% OVER THE LAST YEAR.
I WAS JUST READING IN, UH, ONLINE MAGAZINE CALLED SCIENCE DAILY STUDIES SHOW THAT MAINTAINING GREEN SPACE ACTUALLY LOWERS CRIME RISK.
THEY DID A STUDY OF 301 CITIES WITH OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND POPULATION AND ALL IN ALL, BUT ONE CITY, WHICH WAS IN FLORIDA, THE CRIME RATES WENT DOWN, UH, PROPORTIONATELY WITH THE AMOUNT OF GREEN SPACE THEY HAVE.
AND THEY'RE NOT SURE WHAT THE REASONS ARE, BUT I THINK, I KNOW, I THINK HAVING GREEN SPACE NEARBY REDU REDUCES YOUR STRESS.
YOU COULD COME TO THE PARK, DECOMPRESS.
NOT TO MENTION YOUR HEALTH IMPROVES IF YOU WALK AROUND THE, THE LOOP LIKE I DO WITH MY DOGS EVERY DAY.
I FOUND THIS, UH, COOL APP ON MY PHONE.
IT'S CALLED THE MERLIN BIRD ID APP.
YOU CAN HIT A BUTTON AND IF YOU HEAR A BIRD CHIRPING LIKE THIS TREE, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO SEE THE BIRD.
YOU JUST HOLD YOUR PHONE UP AND IT LISTENS AND IT WILL TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF BIRD THAT IS AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.
AND SO YOU'LL FORGET ABOUT YOUR WORRIES FOR A FEW MINUTES.
AND, UM, NOT JUST ME, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY CHILDREN THAT LIVE AROUND HERE THAT ARE REALLY GONNA ENJOY THIS NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CHILDREN BECAUSE I GET 500 TRICK OR TREATERS EVERY YEAR,
THERE'S ALSO SOME PRETTY SERIOUS SOCCER PLAYERS THAT USE THE FIELD OVER THERE.
I BET THEY'RE REALLY ANXIOUS TO GET BACK TO IT.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE OFFICIALS TODAY AND THE PARTNERS FOR BEING HERE.
IT'S SO NICE TO BE ABLE TO, TO SEE YOU FACE TO FACE.
WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO GET EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS EVER HEAR US SAYING BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME NOT WITHOUT US ASKING THE COMMUNITY FIRST.
AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK AGAIN, PARKS BOARD FOR THE ENGAGEMENT PIECE.
IT'S JUST A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF ANY PROJECT, WHETHER IT'S DEVELOPMENT OR PROGRAMMING.
SO THAT REALLY CONCLUDES OUR PROGRAM, BUT I'LL BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION CJ MESSIAH'S NAME.
HE'S A DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES, UH, WORKING WITH LISA JOHNSON.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S RIP.