[Press Conference: “50/50 Park Ribbon Cutting – Scenic Woods”]
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WE ARE, WE ACQUIRED THIS PARK IN 1959.UM, MAYOR TURNER, HE DEFINITELY UNDERSTANDS THE VALUE OF PARKS, NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITIES, WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOES IN TERMS OF HEALTH, WELLNESS FOR SOCIAL, MENTAL, PHYSICAL, ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND WE'RE GLAD YOU GUYS WERE HERE TO SEE THE TRANSFORMATION THAT'S HAPPENED TODAY.
THIS MARKS OUR 15TH, 50 50 PARK PARTNERS PARK THAT WE'VE COMPLETED THIS YEAR.
ALL A PART OF MAYORS
22 PARKS BY THE END OF DECEMBER, WE'LL HAVE COMPLETE.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'D JUST LIKE TO CALL UP OUR HONORABLE MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER.
THANK YOU, UH, DIRECTOR ALLEN, AND, AND CERTAINLY TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT AN EXCITING DAY AND A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
LOOK, THANK YOU DIRECTOR ALLEN.
I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP OF HOUSTON PARKS AND REC AND THEN, AND THEN ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES, THE STAFF, UH, HOUSTON PARKS AND REC.
UH, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WITH US ON EVERY SINGLE ONE BECAUSE YOU SPEARHEADED EVERY SINGLE ONE.
AND SO IF YOU ARE, IF YOU ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, JUST RAISE YOUR HANDS.
GIVE IT UP TO ALL THE, ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES.
LOOK, THIS IS A, THIS IS A LONG AWAITED OCCASION TO CELEBRATE THE REVITALIZATION OF SCENIC WOODS PARK, AND I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER TO BE SHARING IT TODAY WITH ALL OF YOU.
I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS IS, AS DIRECTOR ALLEN SAID, OUR FIFTH, 15TH, 50 BY 50 PARK PARTNERS PROGRAM COMPLETION FOR OUR GREAT CITY AND RESIDENT.
UH, AND I'M JOINED AND, AND I KNOW I'M JOINED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER, TASHA JACKSON OF DISTRICT B.
GIVE IT UP TO YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER JACKSON.
SHE HAS HAD SEVERAL OF THESE PARKS IN DISTRICT B FROM THE NORTHEAST TO THE NORTHWEST.
UH, AND SO I APPRECIATE HER SUPPORT AND HER LEADERSHIP, UH, IN THIS INITIATIVE.
UH, I ALSO WANT TO JUST RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OF SCENIC WOOD.
IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF SCENIC WOOD, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND, SHOW YOUR HAND.
LET THANK, LET ME THANK ALL OF ALL OF YOU, UH, FOR BEING PATIENT WITH US.
UH, BUT QUITE, QUITE FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE TODAY, UH, IS FOR YOU, IT'S FOR THE RESIDENTS OF, UH, SCENIC WOODS.
IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE A PARK, UH, BUT YOU WANT THE PARK WITH ALL OF THE, THE, THE QUALITY FEATURES THAT MAKES IT ATTRACTIVE FOR FAMILIES AND KIDS TO BE IN THE PARK, RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, UM, THAT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
UH, I CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, OUR TRUSTEE ON THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
YOU KNOW, AND THEN AS MONICA SHAW HERE, THE COMMUNITY OF LIAISON ON BEHALF OF SENATOR BORIS MILES.
MONICA, THAT'S
AND WHAT ABOUT, UH, KATIE SHELDON, THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS LIAISON ON BEHALF OF A LARGE MEMBER, SALLY
SENIOR WOOD PARK, SCENIC WOODS PARK LIVES, UH, WITHIN THE EAST LITTLE Y HOMESTEAD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE AREA LEADERS AND RESIDENTS FOR THEIR INPUT ON WHAT THIS PARK NEEDED, AS WELL AS THEIR CONTINUED STEWARDSHIP OF SCENIC WOODS PARK.
SPECIAL THANKS TO CHARLES NOBLE, WEST CHARLES NOBLE, PRESIDENT OF THE FUNTA PLACE AND ST.
UH, I APPRECIATE ALL THAT, UH, YOU DO IN SERVICE TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COLLABORATION.
OUR COMMUNITY LED ORGANIZATION HELP FOSTER NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS, BUILDING GOODWILL AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT, WHICH LEADS TO A MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY.
THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS PROGRAM
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REMAINS ONE OF OUR KEY INITIATIVES WITH ONE CRITICAL GOAL TO UPLIFT NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND UNDER, UH, RESOURCE AREAS.OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, UH, SERVE AS HUBS FOR COMMUNITY PRIDE AND OFFER A SAFE PLACE TO EXERCISE, PLAYING AND EXPLORE NATURE AS WELL AS THE OUTDOORS.
THE CITY'S PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND THE 50 50 PARK INITIATIVE IS NOW UPWARDS OF $14 MILLION.
CERTAINLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONGRESSWOMAN OF THE 18TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
AND THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF THE 50 50 IS MATCHING PUBLIC FUNDS WITH PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT.
I APPRECIATE THE TEAM LEADING THIS EFFORT, INCLUDING THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP AND HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
EACH PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN UNDERLYING THE FIRST 22 PROJECTS OF THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS INITIATIVE TO THE FINISH LINE.
TOGETHER, WE HAVE INVESTED OVER $1.1 MILLION TO IMPROVE SENIOR WOOD PARK, UH, FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I MIGHT, IF I MIGHT ADD TOO, TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT HAPPENING, UH, THE HOUSTON PARKS AND REC, ALONG WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
UH, I MEAN, WE ARE, WE ARE UP SIGNIFICANTLY UPGRADING 22 PARKS IN ONE YEAR.
SO THES WOOD, THE UPGRADES HERE, ATS WOOD PARKS, A PARK INCLUDES NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FOR AGES TWO THROUGH 12 WITH INTEGRATED SHADE.
COVERS A NEW SWING SET, SPINNERS ENGINEERED WOOD FIBER SURFACING, AND A PAINTED SEAWALL.
NEW EXERCISE STATIONS WOULD POUR IT IN PLACE.
RUBBER SURFACING BASKETBALL COURT UPGRADES WITH FRESH PAINT, NEW, NEW BACKBOARDS, AND A DA ACCESSIBLE WALKWAY, BLEACHER AND WALKWAY ENHANCEMENTS NEAR THE BASE BASE, UH, BASEBALL FIELD.
NEW A DA ACCESSIBLE PARK ENTRANCES ON LAKEWOOD DRIVE AND GLEASON ROAD.
A FRESHLY PAINTED PLACEBO INSTALLED BALLARDS AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE PARK, REPAIRS TO THE ASPHALT TRAIL, ADDED NEW LIGHTS, FENCING AND RES STRIPING OF THE TENNIS COURT AT A DETENTION AREA FOR IMPROVED DRAINAGE AND REFURBISHED PICNIC TABLES AND BENCHES.
I MAKE IT, WE MAKE IT A POINT AT EVERY PARK RIBBON CUTTING TO LIST OUT THE NEW PARK AMENITIES.
EACH SWING, UH, BENCH AND PLAY AREA.
IT'S MORE THAN JUST A STRUCTURE.
IT'S A SOURCE OF JOY AND CHERISH MEMORIES FOR THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO WILL MAKE THIS PARK A PART OF THEIR LIVES.
AND ONE THING WE'VE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, WE DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE PEOPLE COMMUNITIES WITH A SECONDHAND PARK.
UM, IF YOU DO THAT, PEOPLE ARE TREATED IN SUCH A SECONDHAND WAY, RIGHT? BUT WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS PROVIDE UPGRADES TO THE PARK THAT WOULD BE REFLECTIVE OF THE QUALITY, THE FIRST CLASS QUALITY THAT THE PEOPLE IN EVERY COMMUNITY RIGHTFULLY EARNED, UH, DESERVE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO HERE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW PARK COMMUNITIES.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE PARK FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT WE ALSO RELY ON THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE THEIR STEWARDSHIP OF THIS WELL LOVED GATHERING PLACE.
WE RECENTLY LAUNCHED OUR KEY PARKS SAFE AND CLEAN CAMPAIGN, FOCUSING ON DETERRING CRIME AND REDUCING LITTER IN HOUSTON PARKS.
AND YOU WILL SEE OUR MESSAGE POSTED AROUND THE CITY TO HELP REMIND RESIDENTS WE NEED EVERYONE TO PITCH IN, REPORT ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, PROPERLY DISPOSE OF TRASH, AND AS A COLLECTIVE HELP KEEP OUR CITY PARKS CLEAN AND SAFE.
WITH YOUR HELP IN THIS EFFORT, SHEENA WOOD PARK WILL CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND SERVE AS A PLACE FOR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS TO CONNECT AND PARTICIPATE IN VARIETY OF RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR YEARS TO COME.
UH, WE'LL GET ALL 22 DONE, UH, BEFORE, BEFORE THE YEAR IS OUT.
AND AS I PREPARE TO SEGUE OFF STAGE, UH, AT THE, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, UH, LET ME JUST THANK PARKS AND REC AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES AGAIN FOR YEOMAN'S JOB IN GETTING THE JOB DONE.
IT'S NOT THE MAYOR OUT HERE DOING IT.
IT'S, UH, YOUR EMPLOYEES AND QUITE FRANKLY, YOUR NEIGHBORS, BECAUSE MOST OF OUR APART REC EMPLOYEES LIVE RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO A SPECIAL THANKS TO THEM AT THIS TIME.
YEAH, GIVE IT UP TO 'EM ONE MORE TIME.
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AT THIS TIME, LET ME BRING UP, UH, YOU A COUNCIL MEMBER, THE COUNCIL MEMBER OF DISTRICT B TAR JACKSON, WHO WILL TAKE IT FROM HERE.IT IS A GREAT DAY IN CENIC WOOD AND DISTRICT B, AND I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THESE GROUNDBREAKINGS
UM, I MEAN, IT'S JUST BEEN A GREAT, UM, UM, TIME.
I HAVEN'T HAD A GREAT TIME WORKING WITH MAYOR TURNER.
I MEAN, HE HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY GET EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED.
AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IS PARKS WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, YOU KNOW, ILLEGAL DUMPING.
AND I WANT TO JUST GIVE IT UP TO OUR MAYOR.
HE HAS LIKE ANSWERED THE CALL AND IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU, HONESTLY OVER THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
AND ALL OF A, ALSO THE LEADERSHIP, UM, IN S WOOD, MR. CHARLES NOBLE, UM, IT'S BEEN A BLESSING TO WORK WITH YOU.
UM, PARKS DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, ALLEN, WE, UM, ACTUALLY DID TOURS OF THE PARKS AND DISTRICT B AND, AND ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND WE OUTLINED WHAT WE WANTED.
AND THANK YOU FOR JUST MAKING SURE THAT OUR VISION IS BEING REALIZED THROUGH SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.
AND ALL OF YOU, YOU KNOW, ALL OF YOU, I SEE THE CAI FAMILY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND JUST FOR BEING HERE.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PARKS AND COMMUNITY AND YOU KNOW, JUST, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, THIS IS WHERE WE GREW UP, RIGHT? AND THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE.
AND WE NEED LEADERSHIP THAT SHARE OUR VISION AND OUR VALUES OF HAVING PARKS WHERE OUR KIDS CAN COME PLAY TENNIS, YOU KNOW, AND BASKETBALL AND, AND HAVE SWINGS.
UM, WHEN I CAME IN OFFICE, WE HAD SOME PARKS THAT DIDN'T MUCH HAVE BASKETBALL GOALS AND SWINGS.
AND THANKS TO OUR LEADERSHIP, WE NOW HAVE THAT IN OUR PARKS.
AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR, YOU KNOW, YOUR SUPPORT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE BUILD ON WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WHICH HAS BEEN A LOT, WE HAVE HAD MORE INVESTMENT IN DISTRICT B THAN ANY TIME.
I MEAN, UNDER THE MAYOR ADMINISTRATION, I'M GONNA SAY THAT WE HAVE HAD SO MANY.
SO I MEAN, JUST INVESTMENT AFTER INVESTMENT, AFTER INVESTMENT, WE HAVE HAD HIS EAR.
I APPRECIATE HIM AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD, UM, TO CONTINUE WITH HIS WORK WITH ALL YOU.
IF I MISS YOU, FORGIVE ME FOR MISSING YOU.
OKAY, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
IT'S CERTAINLY A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU AND WALKING WITH YOU AND THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE SHE'S RIGHT.
WE TOOK A TOUR ON ALL THE PARKS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT NEEDED SUPPORT AND THROUGH THE MAYOR'S INITIATIVE WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU AGAIN AND YOUR STAFF.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE HAVE CONGRESSWOMAN WOMAN, SHEILA JACKSON LEE HERE.
WANNA RECOGNIZE HER AND BRING HER UP TO THE PODIUM.
ALRIGHT? SHE'S ANOTHER STUNT SUPPORTER OF PARKS, NOT JUST TODAY, BUT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
SO YOUR UNDYING SUPPORT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE PARKS'.
WHAT A BRIGHT AND SHINING DAY WE HAVE THIS MORNING.
THE ONLY WAY WE COULD HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY AFTER A CLOUD COVER YESTERDAY, MAYOR, IS JUST TO SHOW UP IN SCENIC WOODS.
I JUST THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED, BECAUSE I WONDERED WHAT WAS GOING ON YESTERDAY.
I WAS MOVING AROUND, BUT I WOULD SAY THIS S SURE IS A DREARY DAY.
BUT I SAID TOMORROW, TOMORROW I WILL BE IN SCENIC WOODS.
AND AS I CAN SEE, SCENIC WOODS SAID, IT WILL BE NO CLOUDS, ALL SUNSHINE IN SCENIC WOODS.
UH, I AM I BELIEVING MORE AND MORE, NOT ONLY IN THE MAYORS THAT SUPPORT AN ENDORSEMENT OF ME, BUT HIS WORD.
BECAUSE AM MAYOR KEEPS TALKING ABOUT HE'S GONNA FINISH THESE PARKS AND HE IS KEEPING HIS WORD.
WOULD YOU APPLAUD MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, A MAN THAT KEEPS HIS WORD THANK YOU TO OUR PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF AND ALL OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES.
YOU ARE THE ENGINE, UH, THAT GIVES BACK TO OUR, UH, RESIDENTS, OUR CITIZENS, UH, WHAT BASIC SERVICES ARE ALL ABOUT.
I WANNA SAY HELLO TO THE NEIGHBORS BACK THERE THAT WERE SITTING IN THE BACK, THE BACKBONE.
UH, THEY NEED TO WAVE THEIR HANDS.
ALL THE LADIES AND SISTERS THAT WERE BACK THERE, GIVE YOURSELVES A BIG SHOUT OUT.
UH, REPRESENTATIVE FROM SENATOR MILES OFFICE IS HERE, OUR WONDERFUL TRUSTEE WHO'S NOT GONNA LET HCC DO ANYTHING BUT DO THE BEST.
AND THAT IS TRUSTEE JOHNSON, DELIGHTED TO SEE YOU.
AND OF COURSE, UH, UH, BROTHER, NO BROTHER CHARLES IS CLEARLY, UH, THE, UH, THE ANCHOR AND HE MUST HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SUNSHINE
UH, MY, MY MANY YEARS AGO ON CITY COUNCIL, UH, I WAS A PARKS AND REC AFICIONADO.
I JUST LOVE THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, UH, BECAUSE THEY BRING BEAUTY
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TO THE CITY.THEY BRING PEACE, THEY BRING CALM.
AND ISN'T IT WONDERFUL TO SEE THESE BEAUTIFUL TREES? AND THE YES, UH, NEW, UM, UH, GRASS THAT HAS BEEN PUT THAT WILL BE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
WE WEATHERED SOME STORMS AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY.
AND YOU ALL NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WE WERE PREYING ON OUR TREES, PRAYING ON THE GRASS.
WE HAD A DROUGHT THIS PAST SUMMER.
IT WAS SO HOT, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT, WHETHER WE WERE GOING OR COMING
AND IT IS A REFLECTION OF THE COMBINATION OF, UH, GOVERNMENTAL DOLLARS, SOME FEDERAL DOLLARS IN THE MIX, UH, UH, BUT A COMMITMENT OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY, UH, MARVALETTE CHIEF OF STAFF.
LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UM, IT IS A COMBINATION OF THE MAYOR WORKING WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER, WORKING WITH THEIR DISTRICTS TO SAY THAT IT IS OUR NEIGHBORS THAT COUNT.
UH, IT'S OUR NEIGHBORS THAT ARE PART OF HOUSTON.
WE'RE NEIGHBORHOODS AND NEIGHBORS WITH HISTORIC NEIGHBORS LIKE THE COSSI FAMILY.
AND WE ARE RECOGNIZE YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD I'VE BEEN IN.
YOU MAY REMEMBER THE LATE MRS. FRAZIER, UH, WHO MAY GOD REST HER SOUL, WHO I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH LATE AT NIGHT, GETTING THINGS FIXED LIKE YOUR HAIR
BUT IN ANY EVENT, UM, THIS WAS A, A VERY SPECIAL, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ME.
AND I'M JUST VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU.
I AM GRATEFUL TO THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOVE IN YOUR HEART.
IT IS NOT A JOB THAT YOU HAVE, IT IS A COMMITMENT AND A PROFESSION.
SO IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO COME.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, I'M GONNA ALWAYS BRING RECOGNITION AND GOODIES.
UH, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT MAYOR AND YOU ALL CAN JOIN US.
AND I JUST WANT THE KASI FAMILY, MR. NOBLE, YOU TO JOIN US AS WELL.
UM, I'M GONNA GIVE THIS FOR REALLY ALL OF THE, UH, STAFF, UH, OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION.
AND, UH, YOU CAN JUST HAVE IT IN, IN YOUR, UH, MAIN OFFICES.
GET IT FRAMED, UH, AND KNOW THAT THIS FLAG IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE, UH, VETERANS, UH, THEY'RE, UH, HARDWORKING AMERICANS AND THEY DO GOOD WORK, UH, TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY BETTER.
YOU GET A FLAG BLOWN OVER THE UNITED STATES, YOU CAN JUST STAND HERE.
WHY DON'T YOU COME UP AND GET THIS ONE.
UM, AND DO YOU HAVE A, OKAY, OKAY.
YOU NEED, YOU ALL NEED TO STAND IN THE STAND.
AND THEN I'M GONNA HAVE THE, UH, CAI FAMILY COME AND RECEIVE ONE.
HOW ABOUT THAT? YOU LOOKING SO LOUD AND CONSPICUOUS? I'M GONNA LET YOU DO THAT.
WHO APPROPRIATELY LOUD, OLDER SIBLINGS COME FROM.
MAYOR, YOU CAN STAND WITH THIS.
ANYONE COME STAND WITH? COME STAND UP THERE.
WHERE'S THE BIG, ALL RIGHT THERE.
ALRIGHT, LET'S OPEN THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.
OKAY, Y'ALL READY? Y'ALL READY? ALL CAN'T DO WITHOUT CIVIC LEADERSHIP.
UH, SOME OF YOU WILL NEED TO COME FORWARD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND, UH, IF YOU CAN'T SEE MUCH IN FRONT OF YOU, THEN WE CAN'T SEE YOU.
ARE YOU THE GUY WE'RE FOCUSING ON? UH, I AM ONE OF THEM ALL.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE, AT LEAST RIGHT HERE FOR ME.
OKAY, ANYBODY ELSE OVER HERE? 1, 2, 1, 2, 3.
I'D LIKE TO CALL OFF AT THIS TIME PASTOR NOVA FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO WILL HAVE A FEW WORDS AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT.
PASTOR, LET ME THANK THE PARK RANGERS AS WELL.
UH, I WANT TO FIRST THANK THE MAYOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND FOR THE 50 50 PROGRAM AS A WHOLE AND HELPING PARKS LIKE OURS.
I WANT TO THANK THE, UH, GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP AS WELL AS, UH, THE HOUSTON PARKS, UH, BOARD AND RECREATION AND HOUSTON PARKS.
I WANTED TO SAY THAT ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT
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YOU'RE DOING FOR US AND COMMUNITIES LIKE US ALL OVER THE CITY.I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA FINISH IN 22 PARTS AND BEFORE THE YEAR CLOSES.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL, UH, UH, MEMBER JACKSON FOR YOUR, UH, HELP.
UH, WHEN WE WERE ALL ON ZOOM CALLS AND EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT PARKS AND YOU WERE HELPING US INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING ALL OF THE AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS TOGETHER, AND WE WENT ON A PARK TOUR MM-HMM
TO THE DIFFERENT PARKS TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT RESIDENTS WERE SAYING SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT MESSAGE TO YOU.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR GETTING THAT MESSAGE TO THE MAYOR AND TO OTHERS ON THE STAFF.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
I WANNA ALSO THANK, UH, THE CONGRESSWOMAN.
I, I HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART FOR HER BECAUSE AS A SOLDIER WHO SERVED 20 YEARS IN THE MILITARY, BORN RIGHT HERE ON HOMESTEAD AND GREW UP HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY, SHE MADE SURE THAT SOLDIERS LIKE ME WERE TAKEN CARE OF.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE AND WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA DO GREATER THINGS, UH, IN YOUR NEXT ROLE.
I ALSO WANT TO, UH, THANK, UM, I KNOW COMMISSIONER ELLIS WASN'T HERE, BUT HE SENT A REPRESENTATIVE HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AS WELL AS OUR STATE REPS IN FRONT OF YOUR THOMPSON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, A CC TRUSTEE CHARLENE WARD JOHNSON, I THANK YOU SO MUCH IN SALLY ALCORN'S OFFICE.
RIGHT? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I WANNA SAY THOSE THANK YOUS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE'RE ALL GRATEFUL.
I WANT TO ALSO THANK THE LEADERSHIP THAT'S WITH THE CIVIC CLUB.
THERE'S SO MANY THAT COULDN'T BE HERE.
I KNOW THAT MS. LIGHTFOOT, UH, Y'ALL MAY KNOW HER.
I THINK SHE HAD 10 CHILDREN, SO, YOU KNOW, AND THEY STAYED DOWN THE STREET HERE.
UH, NO, AROUND THIS CORNER HERE.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER LARGE FAMILY.
BUT I SAY THIS, DON'T MATTER IF YOU COME FROM A LARGE FAMILY OR YOU COME FROM A SMALL FAMILY, OR MAYBE YOU COME FROM A BROKEN HOME LIKE MINE WHEN YOU GET TO THIS PARK, WE ARE ALL JUST KIDS.
THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE WE DREAM DREAMS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HOPE IS GIVEN TO US.
SOME PEOPLE COME TO THE PARK JUST FOR, YOU KNOW, THERAPEUTIC RE REASONS.
BUT WHEN WE GET HERE, THIS IS WHERE WE SEE THE NATURE AND GOD MOVING INTO SUCH A MIGHTY WAY.
SO I THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR VOICES BEING HEARD.
SPECIAL THANKS TO HOUSTON PARKS BOARD BECAUSE THEY HONORED MY REQUEST THAT ALL VOICES BE HEARD.
YEAH, FROM THE LITTLE SMALL VOICE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM TO THE LOUD VOICE IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.
WE ALL WERE HEARD AND WE ALL HAD EQUAL VALUE IN OUR COMMENTS.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR STAFF AND EVERYONE WHO DONE THAT FOR US.
AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS REPRESENTED.
EVERYONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE VOICE TO THIS PROGRAM.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT.
I CONTINUE TO ASK FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THIS CIVIC CLUB.
AND SO I'M ASKING YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT, UH, AND BE PRESENT AND VOICE YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLECTIVELY, NOT INDIVIDUALLY, BUT COLLECTIVELY.
UH, I HOPE I DIDN'T FORGET ANYONE, BUT I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I WANT, AGAIN, THANK EVERYBODY AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WAS MENTIONED, ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, IT TAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO DO A LOT OF GOOD.
IT'S NOT JUST ONE ORGANIZATION.
AND I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WORK WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND HOUSTON PARKS FROM AN ENGAGEMENT STANDPOINT.
WITHOUT THAT, WE CAN'T JUST BUILD THINGS AND NOT CONSIDER WHAT YOU GUYS THINK.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK.
I WANT TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE MATT NELSON, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, OUR PARTNER IN THIS PROCESS.
MATT, KINDA HARD TO FOLLOW UP SOME OF THE REMARKS FROM BEFORE, BUT I'LL KEEP 'EM BRIEF AND ON, ON BEHALF OF, UH, OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO BETH WHITE, MY NAME'S MATT NIELSEN, COO AT HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, AND WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY AT SCENIC WOODS AND JUST SEE THIS LOVELY WORK THAT'S ALL BEEN DONE AND HAVE SUCH A GREAT, WONDERFUL DAY TO DO IT.
AND REALLY WANT TO ECHO, UM, WHAT, UH, MR. NOBLE SAID IT WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU WITH, UH, TRUE PARK CHAMPIONS THAT REALLY MAKES, UH, MAKES THE WORK THAT WE DO, UM, REALLY BE BENEFICIAL AND MEANINGFUL TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND JUST SEEING EVERYONE IN THE PARK, THE CAI FAMILY, I GUESS YOU'RE THE PARTY HOUSE HERE, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AND I BELIEVE THERE'S A LITTLE FELLOWSHIP AFTERWARDS.
AND WE JUST ALSO WANT TO THANK THE TEAM AT HOUSTON PARKS BOARD WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
SO IF YOU COULD ALL RAISE YOUR HANDS, WOO WOO WOO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE, UM, LAUREN GRIFFITH, WHO IS THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT WHO'S HERE TODAY.
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LAUREN, IF YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR HAND.AND COREY AND JENNIFER FROM, UH, CRAFTSMAN, THEY WERE THE CONTRACTORS.
JUST WANNA GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT.
ALSO, KENNETH, WE WANT TO ALSO PRAISE YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
SUCH A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU AND DO THIS GOOD WORK THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY.
AND ALSO, UM, DON'T KNOW IF LISA JOHNSON IS HERE TODAY FROM, UH, GENERAL SERVICES, WHO'S ALSO VERY HELPFUL IN MAKING THIS WORK HAPPEN.
UM, ALSO PRAISING OUR BOARD AND OUR BOARD CHAIR, BARON WALLACE, UM, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, JUST TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THIS GREAT WORK AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RIBBON CUTTING.
AND, UM, MAYOR 15 DOWN SEVEN MORE TO GO.
UM, I WANNA MENTION, UM, DIRECTOR CJ MESSIAH FOR THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THOMAS MC, WHERE ARE YOU, THOMAS? HE'S RIGHT, RIGHT OVER HERE.
OKAY, SO IN THE BACK RIGHT HERE.
SO GSD THEY'RE THE OVERSEER OF ALL OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
SO WHETHER IT'S WORKING INTERNALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OR WORKING WITH PARTNERS, YOU KNOW, THAT WHOLE PROCESS OF PERMITTING, CONSTRUCTION, UM, THEY'RE THE OVERSEERS.
SO I DEFINITELY WANNA RECOGNIZE THEM.
UM, THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH, SOMETIMES TUG OF WARS, BUT GUESS WHAT? THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING IT DONE WITH US.
AND THEN I'LL BE REMISS IF I DID NOT TAKE JUST ONE SECOND TO GIVE A PERSONAL THANKS TO ALL THE PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF AND EMPLOYEES.
I GET THE PLEASURE AND THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH THESE GENTLEMEN AND LADIES DAY TO DAY.
AND TRUST ME, THIS JUST, NOT JUST, IT DOES NOT JUST HAPPEN.
THERE'S A LOT OF PROCESSES INVOLVED AND MAYOR FROM 22 IS ACTUALLY 24 BECAUSE WE HAVE ANOTHER INITIATIVE CALLED MAYORS LOVE OUR PARKS THAT WE'VE BEEN CHARGED TO COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE YEAR AS WELL.
AND THEY'LL BE DONE ALSO, SIR.
SO, UM, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
LET'S GET TOGETHER AT THE RIBBON CUTTING AND, UH, CELEBRATE THIS PARK.