[Press Conference: "Sharpstown Trail Groundbreaking"]
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I'M GONNA GET STARTED AND OUR CELEBRATION HERE AND, UM, WHAT AN AMAZING DAY.
FIRST OF ALL, 80 DEGREES IN FEBRUARY.
I'M BETH WHITE, I'M PRESIDENT, AND CEO OF HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND IT IS SUCH A PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU HERE TODAY FOR THE SHARPSTOWN TRAIL GROUNDBREAKING EVENT.
WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL AND UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE CREATION OF A NEW HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL ALONG A CENTER POINT ENERGY EASEMENT.
THE FIRST PHASE OF THE SHARPSTOWN TRAIL.
THIS TRAIL IS PART OF A LARGER VISION THAT WAS CREATED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON'S COMMUNITY DESIGN RESOURCE CENTER STUDENTS IN COORDINATION WITH THE SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION TO CONNECT COMMUNITIES NORTH OF THE WEST PARK TOLLWAY WITH COMMUNITIES TO THE SOUTH ALONG THE BRAYS BIO GREENWAY.
THE VISION WILL ALSO CONNECT PEOPLE TO A BROADER NETWORK OF PARKS SUCH AS WESTCHASE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, WOODCHASE PARK, AND BRADBURN GLEN PARK, ALONG THE BRAYED BIO GREENWAY.
THIS VISION DOVETAILS PERFECTLY WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD'S VISION OF A BROADER INTERCONNECTED TRAIL SYSTEM ACROSS THE GREATER HOUSTON REGION.
THE NEXT PHASE OF WORK EXTENDING THE TRAIL FROM BEACH NUT STREET SOUTH TO THE BRAISE BIO GREENWAY WILL START CONSTRUCTION AFTER REVIEW OF THE PROJECT BY OUR FRIENDS AT THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
AS COMPLETE, I'M SEEING SO MANY OF OUR PARTNERS HERE TODAY AND I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK THEM FOR BEING HERE.
BEFORE I DESCRIBE THE PROJECT WE'RE CELEBRATING TODAY, JOINING US IS PRO MAYOR PRO TIM CASTEX, TATUM REP, YEAH.
REPRESENTATIVE JEAN WU, REPRESENTING DISTRICT 1 37 HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOR COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS
DISTRICT J COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD.
SOUTHWEST REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TOURS 20 CHAIRMAN, WELCOME WILSON, JR.
ALICIA DIXON AND MANAGER OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS.
GLORIA BOUNDS, SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION, PRESIDENT MATTHEW COWEN, ALONG WITH BOARD MEMBER AND FORMER PRESIDENT CHARMAINE LEBLANC AT LARGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN AT LARGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIE DAVIS AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER RAMIREZ AND HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR KENNETH ALLEN.
AND I WANNA NOTE THAT SUSAN ROGERS IS HERE, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY DESIGN RESOURCE CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, ALONG WITH KARA MURRAY, FORMER STUDENT OF THE CDRC AND ADJUNCT FACULTY WITH THE, UH, ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN DEPARTMENT.
ALL OF OUR PROJECTS, INCLUDING THIS ONE, ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR PHENOMENAL TEAM AT, UH, HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, INCLUDING OUR INCREDIBLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
WE HAVE HERMAN STU HERE IN THE FRONT ROW SUPPORTING US TODAY.
AND IF EVERYONE ON OUR STAFF COULD RAISE THEIR HANDS, UM, IT'S AMAZING WHAT THESE FOLKS DO.
THEY'RE MOSTLY IN THE BACK, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DO ASK THEM.
UH, WE ARE A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE, PROVE, AND PROTECT, EXPAND GREEN SPACES IN THE HOUSTON REGION.
AND WE ARE REALLY PROUD TO BE SERVING AS THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE SHARPSTOWN TRAIL.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE CELEBRATING TODAY THE START OF CONSTRUCTION ON THIS NEW 1.8 MILE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL BETWEEN SANDS POINT DRIVE AND BEACH NUT STREET WITHIN CENTER POINT'S EASEMENT.
THESE EASEMENT TRAILS ARE MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CENTER POINT THAT ALLOWS THE CITY TO BUILD TRAILS IN THE UTILITY CORRIDORS.
AND I WANNA THANK JIM MURPHY AND RODNEY ELLIS AND OTHERS WHO LED THE CHARGE AND, AND, UH, MR. WU AS WELL TO GET THIS LEGISLATION PASSED.
VOTING IS IMPORTANT AS WE KNOW, RIGHT.
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SO ONCE COMPLETED, THIS TRAIL IS GONNA BECOME, UH, PART OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND REC INVENTORY NEIGHBORHOOD TO CONNECTIONS TO THE TRAIL AT BENU OLA LANE, SOUTH GESSNER, NEFF STREET, BEL AIR CLEARWOOD DRIVE AND SANDS POINT DRIVE WILL GIVE LOTS OF CONNECTIVITY THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS WHERE THE TRAIL CROSSES NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS WITH PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE CROSSWALKS AND SIGNAGE.
A MIDBLOCK PEDESTRIAN HYBRID BEACON CROSSING AT SOUTH GESNER ROAD THAT WILL BE COORDINATED WITH A FUTURE METRO BOOST CORRIDOR BUS STOP, A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT TO REMOVE A LEFT TURN ONLY LANE THAT SHORTENS THE DISTANCE FOR PEOPLE CROSSING THE INTERSECTION AT BEL AIR ROAD AND SOUTH GESNER.
AND ALL OF THIS WAS BASED ON A JOINT TDOT AND CITY OF HOUSTON STUDY TO LOOK AT SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS, TRAIL SIGNAGE, PLANTINGS AT ROAD CROSSINGS AND TRASH RECEPTACLES WILL ALL BE PART OF THIS TRAIL.
THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WILL MAINTAIN THE TRAIL AFTER ITS COMPLETION, ACCORDING TO THEIR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, WHICH WE GREATLY APPRECIATE.
SO THE TRAIL WILL ALWAYS LOOK ITS BEST.
THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS 3.1 MILLION.
THIS COST WAS SPLIT BETWEEN THE SOUTHWEST REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TURNS 20 AND HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR WITH FUNDING COMING FROM THE PRECINCT FROM COMMISSIONER BRIANIS PLACES FOR PEOPLE INITIATIVE.
SO PLEASE GIVE A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO ALL OF THE PROJECT FUNDERS FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER BRIANIS AND CHAIRMAN WILSON FOR SUPPORTING THIS VISION OF CONNECTING COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND THROUGH THE SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION, HOUSTON PARKS BOARD HELD COMMUNITY MEETINGS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS TO GATHER PUBLIC INPUT ON THE TRAILS DESIGN, AMENITIES AND CONNECTIONS TO MAKE SURE WE WERE HEARING WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANTED ON THIS TRAIL AND HOW TO MAKE IT WORK BEST FOR THEM.
JOINING US AS PART OF OUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM IS OUR MIRANDA TRUCKING AND CONSTRUCTION AS THE CONSTRUCTION FIRM WITH PMG IS THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE COBB FINLEY, WHO SERVED AS THE ENGINEERING CONSULTANT FOR PROJECT DESIGN CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRAIL IS ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETE BY THIS FALL.
SO MAYBE WE'LL BE OUT HERE AGAIN CELEBRATING WHEN IT'S FINISHED.
SO NOW I AM HONORED TO INVITE MAYOR PRO TEM CASTEX TATUM TO BE OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
IT IS VERY FITTING TO BE HERE TODAY WITH HER AS WE DID OUR VERY FIRST CENTER POINT TRAIL WITH MAYOR PRO TIMM CASTEX TATUM.
SO SHE IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THESE TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS AND IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PARK PARTNER.
SO PLEASE, UH, LET'S HAVE A NICE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR MAYOR CASTEX TATUM, MAYOR PRO KIM.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE WORK OF THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
UH, THEY DO A LOT OF GREENING CONVENING, CONNECTING IN OUR WONDERFUL CITY.
I'M MARTHA CASTEX TATUM, THE MAYOR PRO TEM ON BEHALF OF MAYOR WHITMEYER.
IT IS EXCITING TO BE PART OF THIS OCCASION WHERE WE ARE CELEBRATING THE NEW 1.8 MILE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL FOR SHARPSTOWN AND THE CONNECTIVITY IT WILL BRING TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY.
ONCE COMPLETED, THE TRAIL WILL PROVIDE NEIGHBORS WITH EASY AND SAFE ACCESS AS WELL AS SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO CORRESPONDING STREET INTERSECTIONS.
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND CENTER POINT THAT BETH MENTIONED, WHICH ALLOWS TRAILS TO BE BUILT IN UTILITY CORRIDORS IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE THAT IN PLACE.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND, AGAIN, OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT PARTNERSHIP AS THE VERY FIRST CENTER POINT TRAIL RUNS ALONG HARAM CLARK IN DISTRICT A.
SO I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THIS INCREDIBLE TRAIL.
I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY MY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THEY HAVE, UM, BEEN INTRODUCED, UH, ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL, UM, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO COUNCIL MEMBER ED POLLARD, WHOSE DISTRICT WE ARE STANDING IN TODAY, ALONG WITH, UH, ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO TOOK TIME, EITHER THEIR SCHEDULES TODAY TO CELEBRATE THIS INCREDIBLE TRAIL BECAUSE WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE KENNETH ALLEN, THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
ONCE THIS TRAIL IS BUILT, THIS WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE CITY'S PARK INVENTORY AS WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PARK AND TRAIL AMENITIES TO ALL OF HOUSTON'S NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE'RE THRILLED TO BE IN THE SHARPSTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND I WANT TO COMMEND THE SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION FOR PARTNERING WITH THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD TO CONVENE COMMUNITY MEETINGS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS TO GATHER PUBLIC INPUT ON THE TRAIL, WHICH WAS CRITICAL TO ITS SUCCESS.
AND WHEN WE GOT HERE TODAY, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOME OF THE HOMEOWNERS
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THAT LIVE ALONG THE SIDE OF WHERE THE TRAIL WILL BE.AND IT'S INCREDIBLE TO BE ABLE TO HEAR HOMEOWNERS TALK ABOUT THEIR EXCITEMENT FOR PROJECTS LIKE THIS.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT THAT ENGAGEMENT TOOK PLACE AND THAT THE HOMEOWNERS ARE ACTUALLY OUT HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS GROUNDBREAKING TODAY.
OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, THEY HELP FOSTER NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALATION REVITALIZATION AND ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS, BUILDING GOODWILL AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT, WHICH LEADS TO A MORE RESILIENT HOUSTON PARKS, GREENWAYS TRAILS AND GREEN SPACES ARE VITAL TO THE HEALTH AND BEAUTY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT MADE THIS HAPPEN TODAY.
AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK SOUTHWEST REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TURNS 20 AND HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR, COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS FOR THE FUNDING OF THIS PROJECT.
TO ALL THOSE ASSEMBLED HERE, LET'S KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING MORE TRAIL COMPLETIONS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP COMMISSIONER BRIANIS TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND HER PLACES FOR PEOPLE INITIATIVE.
CAN WE PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO BETH WHITE AND HER HOUSTON PARKS BOARD TEAM? I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE SO MANY GATHERED HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE SHARPSTOWN TRAIL PHASE ONE KICKOFF.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED.
ONE OF THE REASONS I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS IT SHOWS THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS, WHAT WE CAN DO IF WE WORK TOGETHER, AND HOW MUCH BIGGER AND BOLDER AND EFFECTIVE WE CAN BE TOGETHER.
SO SEEING THE REPRESENTATION FROM OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT, COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AND CITY GOVERNMENT.
FROM THE T FROM THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, FROM OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS AT CENTER POINT, FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER.
AND THIS PROJECT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER.
SO MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN NAMED, IT IS AN HONOR TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS OF THIS.
ANOTHER REASON I THINK WE'RE ALL GATHERED HERE TODAY IS WE KNOW THAT THIS TRAIL IS SO CRITICAL HERE IN SHARPSTOWN, AN AREA THAT WE ALL LOVE DEARLY.
WE KNOW THAT THIS TRAIL WILL IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE KNOW THAT THIS TRAIL WILL CONNECT PEOPLE TO THEIR SCHOOLS AND TO THEIR JOBS.
IT WILL HELP FACILITATE THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
MY TEAM AND I, AND I WOULD LOVE TO THANK ALL OF MY TEAM MEMBERS WHO IT'S AN HONOR TO WORK ALONGSIDE DAILY AT HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOR, WOULD YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE A PART OF THE HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR TEAM? THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK ON THE PLACES FOR PEOPLE.
WE WERE PROUD TO SELECT THIS PROJECT.
WE'RE PROUD TO BE CONTRIBUTING APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE COST AND CONTRIBUTING THE $1.5 MILLION BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN SHARPSTOWN.
WE KNOW THAT THIS LOCATION IN PARTICULAR, AND I THANK THE HUNDREDS OF TEAM MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO CAME OUT FOR YEARS TO INFORM THIS PROCESS.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE DENSEST REGIONS.
WE KNOW THAT THE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, WE KNOW THAT 80% OF THE HOUSING STOCK IS MULTIFAMILY.
WE KNOW THAT WITHIN A HALF A MILE RADIUS OF THET 20 BOUNDARY, WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED PLACES OF WORSHIP, 400 HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, 21 SCHOOLS, 15 PARKS, THREE COMMUNITY CENTERS, FIVE LIBRARIES.
THINK OF THE CONNECTIVITY AND THE ACCESS THAT THIS TRAIL WILL HELP PROVIDE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT OUR SHARPSTOWN COMMUNITY RELIES HEAVILY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
THERE'S OVER 300 STOPS ACROSS 16 METRO LINES, WHICH THIS TRAIL WILL HELP OUR SHARPSTOWN FAMILIES GET TO THESE STOPS MORE SAFELY.
AND I THANK METRO'S PARTNERSHIP AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED BOLD WORK UNDER OUR NEW CHAIR, ELIZABETH BROCK.
WE DON'T NEED OUR CHILDREN WALKING ON GESNER.
WE ALL KNOW HOW TRAFFIC HEAVY IT IS.
AND WE KNOW, AND I I TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
NOT ONLY IS YOUR COMMISSIONER, WHICH I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE, BUT AS A MOM OF THREE LITTLE GIRLS, AND AS SOMEBODY WHO USED TO BE A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER, MY EIGHTH AND 10TH GRADERS WALKED TO SCHOOL PRIMARILY AND OR TOOK PUBLIC
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TRANSPORTATION, WHICH THEY HAD TO WALK TO.SO THIS TRAIL IS MORE THAN JUST A TRAIL.
IT IS A CONNECTION TO OPPORTUNITY AND IT WILL HELP US ALL BECOME HEALTHIER AS A COMMUNITY.
SO I'M SO THANKFUL WE ARE NOT ONLY INVESTING IN THIS PROJECT, BUT I'M VERY EXCITED THAT SOME NEARBY PROJECTS, WHICH WE HOPE YOU WILL ALL BE A PART OF, WE WILL BE SPENDING A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN REVITALIZING AND REFRESHING BAYLAND PARK JUST DOWN THE STREET.
WE PICKED FOUR OTHER PROJECTS IN THIS AREA.
THERE'S ADDITIONAL TWO MILES OF TRAIL.
THERE'S UNDER CROSSINGS ALONG BRAISE BAYOU GREENWAY BRAEBURN GLEN PARK, WHICH WE CELEBRATED TOGETHER RECENTLY.
SO THE INVESTMENT FROM THE COUNTY WILL CONTINUE AND WE WILL BE HAVING AN ANNUAL CALL FOR PARTNERSHIP PROJECT.
SO WE INVITE YOU TO GET THOSE IDEAS READY FOR SUBMISSION BECAUSE I BELIEVE DEEPLY THAT THE COUNTY NEEDS TO WORK IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE OTHER 33 CITIES THAT WE HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING A PART OF.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
I CANNOT WAIT TO CELEBRATE THIS HOPEFULLY IN THE FALL TOGETHER.
AND I JUST APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S DEEP, DEEP COMMITMENT TO SHARPSTOWN, WHICH IS AN AREA I LOVE DEEPLY, AND WHICH IS AN AREA I KNOW WE ALL LOVE DEEPLY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER BRIANIS FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND FOR THE, THE LITANY OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON TOGETHER TO CREATE THIS SYSTEM.
NEXT I WANT TO INVITE DISTRICT J COUNCIL MEMBER EDWARD POLLARD TO THE PODIUM.
WE'VE CELEBRATED A FEW PROJECTS TOGETHER LATELY, INCLUDING BRAVER GLEN AND FORUM PARK THROUGH THE 50 50 PARK PARTNERS.
AND WE'RE HAPPY THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY.
AND, UM, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU, UH, FOR AN EXCITING DAY, FOR AN EXCITING PROJECT.
UM, MANY OF THE DIGNITARIES HAVE BEEN ALREADY INTRODUCED, BUT I WANNA SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENCE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
UM, THIS IS A HUGE COLLABORATION FOR A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS, A LOT OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF VISION AND CREATIVITY TO KIND OF BRING IT ALL TOGETHER.
UM, BUT I WANNA FOCUS ON THE ASPECT THAT THIS WAS COMMUNITY DRIVEN.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME DIRECTLY FROM THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA, WHO SAW A NEED, WHO SAW WHO HAD AN IDEA, AND STARTED WORKING TOGETHER ON HOW DO WE TURN THIS IDEA INTO SOMETHING TO WHERE WE ARE STANDING HERE TODAY, UH, FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING.
AND I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO MY FRIEND CHARMAINE LEBLANC BECAUSE I CAN REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN YOU HAD THIS IDEA AND YOU PITCHED IT AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION MEETINGS.
WE HAD COMMUNITY MEETINGS WHERE PEOPLE CAME IN AND DREW AND PUT POST-ITS UP, AND WE DID ALL TYPES OF RENDERINGS ON HOW IT COULD LOOK, WHERE IT WOULD BE.
AND THERE WAS ALL TYPES OF DISCUSSIONS REGARDING FUNDING ALL THE WAY FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL ON A THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
CONGRESSMAN GREEN, UM, THE TURS, THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, HOUSTON PARKS AND REC.
EVERYONE WHO PLAYED A ROLE INTO TAKING AN IDEA FROM A CONSTITUENT, A RESIDENT, A COMMUNITY, AND FINDING A WAY TO MAKE IT A REALITY.
AND I THINK AS LEADERS AND AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, THAT'S OUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY.
OUR JOB IS TO ENSURE THAT WE HEAR THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO DO WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS, AND THEN FIND A WAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND BASED ON A LOT OF DILIGENCE, COMMITMENT, AND HARD WORK FROM MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE STANDING AROUND HERE TODAY, YOUR IDEA HAS NOW BECOME OF FRUITION.
I WANNA THANK ALL OF THOSE IN THE SHARP SOUND CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND THE, AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WHO HELP PUT THIS TOGETHER.
KNOW THAT WE HEAR YOU WHEN IT COMES TO THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE GET DONE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
KNOW THAT WE HEAR YOU WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE CANNOT ALWAYS GUARANTEE YOU THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO EVERY SINGLE PROJECT, BUT IF WE DON'T HEAR FROM YOU, I GUARANTEE YOU WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT PROJECT.
SO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO US, CONTINUE TO SEE HOW YOU CAN LEVERAGE YOUR IDEAS AND YOUR, YOUR CREATIVITY TO MAKE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND TODAY IS A TESTAMENT OF JUST THAT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOD BLESS.
AND NOW I WOULD, UH, LIKE TO BRING UP TO THE PODIUM CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN.
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HE IS A VERY GREEN FRIEND TO US, AND, UM, HE HAS A, A VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR US.MY, UH, VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT IS THAT I'M FEELING WELL.
I RECENTLY HAD ABDOMINAL SURGERY AND, UH, HAVING CELEBRATED MY 25TH BIRTHDAY FOR THE THIRD TIME, NOT SO LONG AGO.
UH, I APPRECIATE EVERY DAY THAT GOD GIVES AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO BE, TO RECEIVE THIS DAY AND TRUST THAT I'LL HAVE MANY OTHERS.
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT AL GREEN IS READY TO RETIRE AND THEY ARE RIGHT.
MY RETIREMENT DATE WILL BE IN 2054.
AND YOU ALL INVITED, PLEASE COME.
AH, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UM, FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY.
ISN'T IT WONDERFUL TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL TEXAS DAY WHEREIN WE CAN COME OUT AND ENJOY OURSELVES AND, UH, JUST RELISH THE IDEA THAT YOU ARE A TEXAN AND THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING GREAT THAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR LIVES.
SO LET'S GIVE THIS DAY A SPECIAL EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION BY WAY OF THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE.
LET'S JUST BE THANKFUL FOR THE DAY.
HOW ABOUT IT? LET'S GIVE A HAND TO THE DAY.
I SEE KENNETH LEE, WHO'S ALSO KNOWN AS THE PEOPLE'S MAYOR.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT STEVEN LEE, WHO'S KENNETH'S UNDERSTUDY.
UH, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME OUTSTANDING CITY COUNCIL PERSONS HERE.
AND YOU CAN NEVER THANK THEM ENOUGH FOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK THAT THEY DO.
TO HAVE MULTIPLE AT LARGE CITY COUNCIL PERSONS PRESENT IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL.
LET'S GIVE THE CITY COUNCIL PERSONS ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION, PLEASE.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT DISTRICT CITY COUNCIL PERSON HERE WHO HAPPENS TO BE MAYOR PRO TEM.
UH, SHE DESERVES ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION.
UH, JEAN WU HAS BECOME AS UBIQUITOUS AS, UH, ANY PERSON WHO SERVES IN PUBLIC OFFICE.
HE SEEMS TO BE EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.
WOULD YOU GIVE HIM ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF LOVE FOR ME, PLEASE? THE HONORABLE GENE.
WOO, I'M GETTING TO EVERYBODY.
I'VE ALREADY COVERED MULTIPLE COUNCIL PERSONS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE HERE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO GIVE SOME APPRECIATION TO THE PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO SERVE AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
UH, AND THIS, THIS PARK, UH, THIS WALKING TRAIL, IF YOU WERE, UH, IT'S GOING TO BE ONE THAT WE WANT WELL POLICED SO THAT PEOPLE CAN COME OUT AND ENJOY IT WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF ANY CRIMINALITY TAKING PLACE.
SO LET'S IN ADVANCE OF WHAT THEY WILL DO, THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR WHAT THEY WILL DO TO MAKE THIS A SAFE, A SAFE TRAIL.
NOW I'LL GET TO WHY I WAS ASKED TO SPEAK AT LAST.
WE NOW LIVE IN OUR HOUSES AND SPEND LITTLE TIME OUT AND ABOUT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN FACT, WE SPENT ABOUT 93% OF OUR TIME INDOORS, ONLY 7% OUTDOORS.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN YOU WOULD TRAVERSE A TRA COMMUNITY LIKE THIS AND YOU WOULD SEE CHILDREN OUTSIDE PLAYING, RIDING BICYCLES, ENJOYING THE SUNSHINE.
THINGS HAVE CHANGED IMMENSELY AS IT RELATES TO OUR TIME SPENT OUTDOORS.
A PARK, I CALL IT A PARK, A TRAIL SUCH AS THIS IS GOING TO AFFORD US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND MORE OF OUR TIME OUTSIDE SO THAT WE CAN GET THE VITAMIN D THAT WE NEED SO THAT WE CAN AVOID THE POLLUTION THAT WE ACQUIRE BY BEING INDOORS AND SO THAT WE CAN HAVE HEALTHIER BODIES SO THAT WE CAN ENJOY OUR LIVES BETTER.
I THINK THIS TRAIL WAS A GREAT IDEA AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK TO BRING IT TO FRUITION DESERVE A BIG EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION.
LET'S GIVE UP A BIG TEXAS SIZE EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
NOW, NOW, NOW, NOW, NOW, UH, NOW, NOW, NOW, NOW, NOW THAT WAS NOT TEXAS SIZE
THAT WAS MORE LIKE DALLAS FORT WORTH.
SO LET'S DO IT TEXAS SIZE THIS TIME.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
UH, OUR OFFICE HAS WORKED TO CONTRIBUTE $1 MILLION TO THE EFFORT.
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IF NOT IN THIS PHASE, WE WILL WORK VERY HARD TO GET IN THE NEXT PHASE.PHASE TWO WILL BE COMING UP SHORTLY, AND I ASSURE YOU YOU'LL STILL NEED THE MONEY.
SO LET'S WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT PHASE TWO IS WELL FUNDED JUST AS PHASE ONE IS BUILT AND WELL FUNDED.
AND LET'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW OUR KIDS TO ENJOY WHAT WE ENJOYED.
IF YOU'RE MY AGE AND THAT WAS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME OUTDOORS, PLAYING WITHOUT FEAR OF SOMETHING UNTOWARD HAPPENING TO A CHILD, LET'S MAKE THIS A SAFE PLACE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND A GREAT PLACE FOR US TO MEET OUR NEIGHBORS.
GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TENACITY AND THE WORK YOU DO EVERY DAY IN WASHINGTON TO LOOK OUT FOR TEXAS.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND THE COMMITMENT TO THE TRAIL.
AND NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE WELCOME WILSON JUNIOR TO THE PODIUM.
HE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTHWEST REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, ALSO KNOWN AS T 20, WHICH FUNDED THIS TRAIL.
AND HE COORDINATED WITH THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.
AND HE IS A, A WONDERFUL CIVIC LEADER IN HOUSTON AND DOES SO MUCH FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE HIS WORK HERE IN SHARPSTOWN.
SO PLEASE WELCOME, WELCOME WILSON JUNIOR.
AS CHAIR OF TOURS 20, IT BRINGS ME GREAT PRIDE TO BE HERE TODAY FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE SHARPSTOWN TRAIL, A PROJECT MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE GENEROUS FUNDS OF 3.1 MILLION FROM OUR TOURS, ALONG WITH SUPPORT FROM HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR, COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIAN'S PLACES FOR PEOPLE INITIATIVE AND MANY, MANY OTHERS.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY FELLOW TOURS BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT HERE TODAY, INCLUDING KENNETH LEE AND STEVEN LEE, UH, AND EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
UH, WE'RE ALL VOLUNTEERS, UH, SO WE DO THIS OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF OUR HEART AND OUT AND FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY.
PHASE ONE OF THE SHARPSTOWN TRAIL CONSISTS OF CONSISTS OF 1.8 MILE LONG, 10 FOOT WIDE PATH ALONG THE NORTH SOUTH UTILITY EASEMENT IN SHARPSTOWN BETWEEN SANDS POINT DRIVE AND BEECHNUT STREET.
THE TRAIL WILL PROVIDE A DEDICATED SPACE FOR RECREATION SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE TRAFFIC, ENHANCING THE COMMUNITY'S OUTDOOR AMENITIES.
THE PROJECT EPITOMIZES COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP AS COMMISSIONER BRIANA HAS MENTIONED IN ITS GREATEST SENSE, UH, SOMEONE ELSE MENTIONED STRONGER TOGETHER.
AND SO WE HAVE LEARNED, UH, AT TOURS 20, THAT WE ARE ALL STRONGER TOGETHER BY COLLABORATING, UH, WITH THE INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION, AND CENTER POINT.
I EXTEND MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING COOPERATION.
UH, C IT COMMISSIONER POLLARD MENTIONED THAT IT TOOK YEARS OF TO MOVE THIS PROCESS FORWARD.
I ALSO WANT TO ECHO ECHO, UH, CHARMAINE LEBLANC, WHO I REMEMBER, UH, ED, WHEN IT WAS JUST AN IDEA.
AND SHE IS, UM, SHE'S SOMEBODY THAT IS HARD TO SHAKE THE IDEA OUT OF HER HEAD, SO SHE STAYED ON US, UH, LONG ENOUGH.
IT'S, IT'S AMAZING WHAT JUST HAPPENS IS A SIMPLE IDEA OF A CITIZEN.
AND, UH, CONGRESSMAN, NOW THAT I KNOW YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SURVIVING, YOU, YOU'RE RECOVERING FROM SURGERY.
I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE YOU TO A FOOT RACE
AND I ECHO WHAT THE CONGRESSMAN SAID ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I GREW UP, UH, IN MEYERLAND, WE SPENT 90% OF THE TIME OUTDOORS.
SO THIS WILL PROVIDE FOR THIS COMMUNITY WORK AND SCHOOL, ENCOURAGE OUTDOOR EXERCISE, FOSTER ENJOYMENT IN NATURE, AND CONNECT THE BI TO THE THE BIO GREENWAY PROJECT, WHICH IS REALLY, IF, IF ANYONE DOESN'T KNOW, IT'S A PHENOMENAL PROJECT.
AND THE GOAL IS TO CONNECT THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON THROUGH GREEN BELTS AND BIOS, GREENWAYS AND, AND TRAILS SO THAT WE CAN ALL, UH, ENJOY THE WHOLE CITY.
IN ADDITION TO THE HAR HUSH SHARPSTOWN HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, FURTHER ENRICHES THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR
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AREA AND EVEN MORE DESIRABLE TO PLACE.'CAUSE OUR, OUR, OUR MISSION AT TOURS 20 IS TO MAKE THE SHARPSTOWN AREA AND OUR TOURS 20 ZONE A MORE ENJOYABLE, SAFE, UH, AND PLEASANT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.
AND THAT'S OUR GOAL BECAUSE THAT IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR FAMILIES, OUR KIDS, UH, AND OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT.
UM, BEFORE I CALL UP KENNETH LEE FROM THE MAN, UH, CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, I'D LIKE TO MENTION SOMEONE WHO DOES A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES.
HE'S SITTING HERE IN THE FRONT ROW, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TOUR 20, AND SUPPORTS MANY OF THE TOURS AND MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS AND IS JUST SUCH A GREAT PARTNER TO WORK WITH.
UM, SO KENNETH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR DISTRICT'S COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING THE TRAIL.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE WORK BECAUSE THE COMMUNITIES DESERVE TO HAVE WELL MAINTAINED TRAIL.
SO THANK YOU FOR SUCH A BIG COMMITMENT.
WELL, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE WITH, UH, ALL THIS VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE HERE, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER ME ONE OF A KIND.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD RECOGNIZE, UH, OUR BOARD MEMBERS, STEVEN LEE JR.
MR. SHAHAN, AND THEN DAVID PETERS AND OUR WONDERFUL STAFF, YOU KNOW, TO DO A DAILY JOB FOR US.
AND OF COURSE DAVID HALL, YOU KNOW, OUR FIRST PERSON TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, THE DISTRICT FROM THE DISTRICT.
UM, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO SERVING AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UH, SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, I ALSO SERVE ON THE TUR, THE BOARD OF TURS NUMBER 20.
SO WELCOME TO THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND THE TURS NUMBER 20.
THESE TWO GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER IN THE SOUTHWEST HOUSTON FOR YEARS.
THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT IS ALSO PRE, UH, PLEASED TO HAVE COMMITTED TO FUNDING ADMINISTRATING AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THE TRAIL.
ONCE IT IS COMPLETE, I WILL DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRAIL WILL ALWAYS BE CLEAN AND THE GREEN.
SO THE PROJECT IS ALREADY A BEAUTIFUL SYMBOL OF HOW CONCERNED THE HOUSTONIANS COME TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFITS OF THE WHOLE AREA.
AND ITS PEOPLE WERE JOINING TOGETHER ACROSS GOVERNMENT BOUNDARIES TO WORK WITH THE PARK BOARD, THE PRECINCT FOUR, THE SHARPSTOWN CIVIL ASSOCIATION, CENTERPOINT, AND MANY, MANY AGENCIES TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE CALL A TRUE COLLABORATIONS.
IT'S ALSO WORTH MENTIONING THAT THIS PROJECT WILL BENEFIT WORKING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IN A PART OF TOWN THAT DESERVE SERVICES AND AMENITIES AS MUCH AS MANY OTHER LOCATIONS.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO SAY THAT THE CHAPON HIKING BIKE TRAIL WILL PROVIDE A WAY FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND THE BACKGROUNDS TO GO TO AND FROM, FROM WORK TO AND FROM SCHOOL, TO AND FROM, FROM A PLACE TO EXERCISE, ENJOY THE OUTDOORS.
AND THAT'S BEAUTIFUL TO SAY THAT THIS TRAIL WILL MAKE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD MORE DESIRABLE AS A PLACE TO LIVE AND TO DO BUSINESS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIRMAN LEE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALICIA DIXON.
SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS FOR CENTER POINT ENERGY.
THIS IS NOW OUR FOURTH EVENT WITH CENTER POINT, UM, WITH PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
AS BETH SAID, I'M ALICIA DIXON AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS.
AND ON BEHALF OF ALL THE EMPLOYEES AT CENTER POINT ENERGY, WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE HERE AT THE GROUNDBREAKING OF ANOTHER TRAIL CENTER POINT.
ENERGY RECOGNIZES THAT IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT LIKE HOUSTON, GREEN SPACE IS AT A PREMIUM.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF GREEN SPACE WITHIN OUR EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS OF WASTE THROUGHOUT OUR, OUR TERRITORY.
SO ALLOWING THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE GREEN SPACE WITHIN THESE EASEMENTS IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH THE CURRENT FUNCTIONING OF THOSE EASEMENTS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW PRIVATE ASSETS CAN BE USED FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT.
AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT OUR COMPANY PROSPERS ONLY AS OUR COMMUNITIES PROSPER AND OUR COMMUNITIES PROSPER WHEN RESIDENTS, VISITORS AND EMPLOYERS AGREE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE GOOD PLACES TO LIVE, PLAY, RAISE FAMILIES, AND LOCATE BUSINESSES.
SO THANKS TO THIS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON
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AND CENTERPOINT ALLOWING THESE TRAILS, THIS IS AN AMAZING EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER EXPANDED GREENWAY THAT'S MAKING HOUSTON A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.UM, HAVING INFRASTRUCTURE SERVE MORE THAN ONE PURPOSE IS REALLY A SMART WAY TO GET THESE, UH, TRAIL SYSTEMS IN PLACE.
UM, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP A SPEAKER YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT TODAY.
CHARMAINE LEBLANC, A VISIONARY, UM, A BOARD MEMBER AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF SHARP TOWN SHARPSTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
AND WE REALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND TENACITY AND THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH US.
I, I HAD TYPED OUT WORDS AND EVERYTHING AND AS I'VE LISTENED TO ALL THE, THE PEOPLE BEFORE ME, SO MUCH OF IT HAS BEEN SAID AND I WON'T SAY IT AGAIN.
UM, BUT I REITERATE, OKAY, THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT WAS TAKEN OFF MY LIST.
'CAUSE I WAS GONNA SAY WE HAVEN'T HEARD A GUNSHOT AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD A SIREN YET.
SO HOW CAN THAT BE? THIS IS THE SHARPSTOWN WE LOVE.
EVERYONE THAT LIVES IN THIS SHARPSTOWN AREA, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO USE THIS TRAIL.
WE HOPE MANY MORE WILL USE IT AS THEY GO FROM BRAISE BY YOU UP TO THE WEST PARK CUTOVER, AND GO WEST TO THE WONDERFUL PARKS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
UM, AGAIN, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SAID, BUT I WANNA REITERATE JUST A COUPLE THINGS BECAUSE I'M JUST A PERSON AND I JUST SORT OF BIRD DOGGED ONTO AN IDEA BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA.
BUT THIS IDEA CAME IN 2016 WHEN THE U OF H DESIGN, UH, AND I'M GONNA SAY IT ALL WRONG, THE U OF H DESIGN SCHOOL, UH, AT U OF H CAME UP WITH A, A, AN ACTIVITY FOR A SATURDAY MORNING.
AND THERE WERE FOUR OR FIVE OF US THAT, THAT WERE INVITED TO GO TO THIS CHARETTE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A CHARETTE WAS.
AND THESE STUDENTS BRAINSTORMED ON WHAT COULD MAKE YOUR PART OF TOWN BETTER.
WHAT, WHAT WHAT KIND OF IMPROVEMENT COULD BE DONE.
NO MONEY WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE NO MONEY LIMITS, THERE WAS NO NOTHING.
AND SEVERAL IDEAS CAME OUT OF THAT, THAT THE STUDENTS CAME OUT, UH, UH, WORKED ON.
AND I THOUGHT, OKAY, I CAN PLAY THIS GAME.
LET'S JUST, LET'S JUST HAVE THESE IDEAS.
ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT CAME OUT OF IT WAS THAT SHARPSTOWN HAS 54 SQUARE MILE OR SQUARE FEET PER PERSON IN PARKS.
THE CITY SORT OF AVERAGE IS 109.
SO WE'RE SHORT PARKS HERE IN SHARPSTOWN.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE NO GREEN SPACE TO DO SO WITH, WE CAN'T DOUBLE STACK A PARK, UM, KNOCK DOWN HOUSES.
WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT EXCEPT THERE WAS THIS BIG STRETCH OF GREEN THAT WENT ALONG THIS CENTER POINT EASEMENT WHEN IN 2016 THAT WAS NOT A POPULAR, UM, THAT WAS NOT POPULAR YET.
AND CENTER POINT AND THE CITY WERE JUST STARTING TO DO THESE AGREEMENTS THAT EVEN ALLOWED YOU TO STAND STILL UNDER ONE OF THESE POWER LINES.
THEY DIDN'T WANT YOU TO STAND STILL, DON'T YOU DARE PUT A BENCH DOWN.
UM, AND SO, SO MUCH HAS CHANGED AND SO MUCH HAS, UM, JUST PROGRESSED IN THE ABILITY TO USE A CENTER POINT EASEMENT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF, UH, OF A COMMUNITY.
UM, ONE THING, I MET EDWARD WHEN WE WERE DOING CLEANUP, UH, PROJECTS IN THE SHARPSTOWN AREA.
AND WE WOULD HAVE SHARPSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, UM, HBU NOW HCU STUDENTS.
AND WE, THEY WOULD OFFER THEMSELVES TO US FOR CLEANUP PROJECTS AND WE WOULD CLEAN OUT GARAGES OF SENIOR CITIZENS' HOMES AND WE WOULD PICK UP TRASH ALONG FONDANT AND BEL AIR.
WE COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON THE CENTER POINT TRAIL TO HAVE TRASH FOR US EVERY TIME.
SO WE WOULD STICK THESE STUDENTS OUT HERE AND PICK TRASH UP FOR, FOR THREE OR FOUR HOURS ON A SATURDAY MORNING.
AND THAT'S WHEN I GOT TO SORT OF KNOW THE TRAIL INTIMATELY.
AND THE IDEA CAME TO US IN 2018 WHEN WE WERE LIKE, OKAY, THEY SAID WE COULD DREAM, RIGHT? SO THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN AND, AND PRO PRODUCED FROM THE SHEATH THAT WE HAD.
AND SOMETHING MADE ME LOOK AT THAT TO SAY, WHY CAN'T WE HAVE A TRAIL? CAN WE HAVE A TRAIL? THE STUDENT SAID WE COULD HAVE A TRAIL.
AND SO I DID START KNOCKING ON DOORS AND SAYING, IS IT POSSIBLE? CAN WE, AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED.
WE DID ASK FOR DOG PARKS, UM, FOUNTAINS, MEDITATION GARDENS, UM, COMMUNITY GARDENS.
WE ASKED FOR QUITE A FEW MORE THINGS AND MAYBE DOWN THE ROAD THOSE THINGS COULD START HAPPENING ALSO.
BUT FOR NOW WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY AND VERY THANKFUL FOR WHAT IS BEING DONE FOR OUR, OUR PART OF HOUSTON THAT WE ARE SO PROUD TO LIVE IN.
I WOULDN'T WANNA LIVE ANYPLACE ELSE WHO WOULD LOOK WHERE WE ARE.
AND THE MEDIA JUST DOESN'T QUITE HAVE IT RIGHT.
WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT SHARPSTOWN.
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THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY EVERYONE'S BEEN RECOGNIZED, INCLUDING DAVID HAAS THAT I WAS GONNA BRING UP BECAUSE SO MANY THINGS HAPPEN IN THE BACKGROUND.YOU JUST DON'T KNOW AS A PERSON LIKE ME, WHO TO TALK TO YOU GO DO PUBLIC COMMENTS AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S LISTENING.
YOU GO AND YOU TALK TO DIFFERENT BOARDS AND YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR BOARDS.
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I STARTED DOING.
BUT HONESTLY, IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR HU OF H, MY SON GRADUATED THERE ALSO.
SO ONE OF, KARA RAISE YOUR HAND.
SHE WAS A STUDENT AT U OF H WHEN WE DID THE CHARETTE.
ALRIGHT? SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS WAY MORE THAN I AM.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH STUDENTS.
SHE'S NOW A TEACHER AT U OF HA PROFESSOR.
AND SO I WANT YOU TO YEAH, YEAH.
I WANT HER TO TAKE THIS BACK TO HER STUDENTS AND SAY, LOOK WHAT CAN HAPPEN, ALRIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S REALLY YOU ALL THAT DID THIS AND, AND WE ARE THE BENEF BENEFACTORS OF THAT.
THE OTHER THING I WANNA SAY IS THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION IS REALLY JUST REPRESENTING THE NEIGHBORS THAT LIVE HERE.
WE GET, UH, THE NAME IS SAID OUT LOUD.
USUALLY IT'S NOT IN SUCH POSITIVE WAYS.
WE ARE AN HOA AND H HOAS ARE THE DREADED HOA, RIGHT? BUT WE ARE UM, AN ORGANIZATION OF HOMEOWNERS THAT LOVE THIS AREA.
AND THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANNA SAY, AND I'M HESITATING SAYING IT, IS THERE'S ALWAYS A PERSON IN THE BACKGROUND DOING THE WORK AND DOING THE SUGGESTIONS ON WHO TO TALK TO.
AND HERE, LET ME, LET ME UH, SEND YOU TO THIS GROUP AND LET ME SEND YOU TO THAT GROUP.
AND I DON'T KNOW THOSE KINDS OF THINGS TO DO, BUT IF IT WEREN'T FOR A CERTAIN PERSON HERE WHO WORE A DIFFERENT HAT BACK THEN AND NOW SHE WEARS A HAT NOW THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT.
I KNOW SHE IS PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, THIS ACTIVITY.
AND I'M SORRY, ALICE, BUT IT'S ALICE LEE.
SHE'S HIDING BY THE SHOVELS OVER THERE.
SO OUR COMMUNITY ADVOCATES THAT WORK FOR THE SOUTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT THAT NOW SHE IS CHIEF OF STAFF FOR LESLIE BRIANA'S OFFICE.
WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE THIS.
SHE'S JUST A CITIZEN, BUT SHE IS WATCHING FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE LIKE US TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT.
I THANK EVERYBODY BACK HERE THAT HAS HELPED WITH THIS AND SHARPSTOWN IS HUGELY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WELL, WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO CLOSE THE SPEAKING PROGRAM.
UM, WE ARE READY TO BREAK GROUND.
THERE'S ONE LAST THANK YOU AND THAT'S TO OUR INCREDIBLE POLICE OFFICERS AND PARK RANGERS WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO KEEP US SAFE.
SO PLEASE, A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND NOW IF THE SPEAKERS COULD JOIN US, LET'S MOVE SOME DIRT.