[Press Conference: "Brays Bayou Greenway Groundbreaking"]
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I AM LESLIE BRIANNE AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE SERVING AS YOUR HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR PRECINCT FOUR.
THERE'S MANY PEOPLE I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT GIVES ME SO MUCH PRIDE TO SEE OUR FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS, OUR HONOR SOCIETY STUDENTS FROM HEROD ELEMENTARY, AND THEY ARE HERE TO JOIN US.
THEY'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE WITH US, AND THEY ARE HERE TO HELP HONOR OUR GREAT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO THEY'RE GONNA LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO IF THE STUDENTS AND EVERYONE CAN PLEASE STAND, WE'LL HAVE TO USE OUR IMAGINATIONS.
YES, WE CARRY OUR FLAGS IN OUR HEARTS.
SO I PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL THE TEXAS WOMEN.
WANT TO ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD ONE AN INDIVISIBLE.
THEY'RE GONNA TEACH US THEIR HEROD ELEMENTARY PLEDGE.
AND SINCE WE'RE HONORING CAPTAIN HEROD, LET'S ALL CONTINUE LEARNING TOGETHER.
SO YES, PLEASE TEACH US STUDENTS.
I CUSTOM PLEDGE TO CRY EACH DAY TO BE RESPECTFUL, TO UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY AND ALL I DO, I'M GRATEFUL AS TRUE.
SO BEFORE UM, I SHARE A FEW WORDS.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AND TO SEE THE COMMUNITY SHOW UP, I FIRST WANNA THANK THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN YOUR ACTIVISM, YOUR WORK, YOUR IDEAS, YOUR QUESTIONS, YOUR COMPLAINTS, YOUR SACRIFICE, ALL OF THESE YEARS THAT MAKES TODAY POSSIBLE.
SO THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.
WE WANNA THANK OUR MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, JOHN WHITMEYER, WHO WE ARE GONNA TO HEAR FROM MAYOR WHITMEYER.
I WANNA THANK OUR HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN OF DISTRICT C.
SHE'S ALSO MY CITY COUNCIL PERSON.
WE HAVE BETH WHITE, WHO'S THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND ALL OF THE PARKS BOARD TEAM.
IF YOU COULD RAISE YOUR HAND AS WELL.
WE HAVE TINA ORTIZ, THE SENIOR DIVISION MANAGER PARTNERSHIP FROM THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
SO THANK YOU TINA AND ALL OF THE TEAM OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE PART OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON TEAM? THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE, MELISSA MEYER, WHO IS FROM HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, OUR, UH, DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIP AND PROGRAMS. SO THANK YOU AND ALL OF THE OTHER, I WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR FLOOD CONTROL PARTNERS, BUT ALSO THE HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOR TEAM MEMBERS BECAUSE THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE PRECINCT FOR TEAM MEMBERS.
SO CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? I AM HONORED TO WORK ALONGSIDE YOU EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE CHARLES GOFORTH, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE BRAISE BAYOU ASSOCIATION AND CAN WE ALSO RAISE YOUR HAND PLEASE IF YOU'RE A PART OF THE BRAS BAYOU ASSOCIATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
WE HAVE STEVEN PELOSI FROM NEIGHBORHOOD TO TRAILS, OUR PRESIDENT.
THERE'S ANOTHER EXCITING PROJECT COMING WITH OUR RENWICK TRAIL, SO I CAN'T WAIT.
THANK YOU STEVEN, FOR BEING ON THE FRONT LINES AS WELL.
WE HAVE OUR MEYERLAND SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT HAROLD EATON.
AND IF ANYONE ELSE IS INVOLVED WITH THE MEYERLAND SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD, CAN COUNSEL, CAN YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND? WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
WE HAVE, THERE'S A LOT OF THANK YOUS 'CAUSE THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT FROM OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD 31 BOARD MEMBER KAY SWIN.
WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM OUR CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU TO CONGRESSMAN GREEN.
AND WE HAVE KYLE CASPER, WHO'S PRESIDENT OF THE MAPLEWOOD SOUTH NORTH HOA AND OTHER
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MEMBERS I KNOW WE HAVE OF THE MAPLEWOOD LEADERSHIP TEAM.IF YOU CAN RAISE YOUR HANDS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
WE HAVE STEPHANIE CASPER, WHO'S THE HEROD PTO PRESIDENT.
STEPHANIE, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER PTO MEMBERS, WE APPRECIATE YOU.
AND WE HAVE MS. HOSKINS, WHO'S A HEROD ELEMENTARY TEACHER AND SPONSOR OF THE HONORS SOCIETY.
ANN, I WANNA THANK ROBIN KAVANAUGH, ALSO FROM HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE'RE EXPECTING TODAY.
I'M FIVE TWO, SO THEY MIGHT BE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND I'M NOT SEEING THEM.
BUT OUR HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, SALLY ALCORN AND JULIAN RAMIREZ, UM, MAY BE JOINING US TODAY.
SO WE THANK THEM AND I THANK ALL OF YOU BECAUSE SO MANY OF YOU HAD A HAND IN TODAY.
THE REASON I AM SO HAPPY TO BE, BE CELEBRATING THIS GROUNDBREAKING OF THE BRAISE BAYOU PROJECT IS THIS IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT WILL IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND WILL IMPROVE OUR SAFETY.
THIS IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOR MY TEAM AND I SELECTED IN OUR LAST YEAR'S CALL FOR PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS.
AND WHAT THIS WILL DO, THIS INVESTMENT WILL HELP US CONSTRUCT NEARLY 4.5 MILES OF TRAIL ALONG BRAISE BAYOU GREENWAY.
IT WILL ALSO HELP US, AND THIS IS SO KEY FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT, WE WILL HAVE SEVEN NEW UNDER CROSSINGS AT SOME OF THE KEY CORRIDORS.
THIS WILL HELP KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE, OUR FAMILY SAFE AS WE WALK, AS WE BIKE, AS WE GET TO SCHOOL, TO WORK AS WE ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL SATURDAY MORNING IN OUR GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON.
THESE UNDER CROSSINGS JUST FILL MY HEART BECAUSE IT IS THE SAFETY OUR KIDS DESERVE.
ALSO, WE ARE VERY COMMITTED TO ALL ABILITIES.
AND SO PART OF THIS INVESTMENT WILL HELP WITH AN A DA ACCESSIBLE TRAIL CONNECTION TO THE METRO BUS STOP, WHICH I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT.
AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE A PLAZA TO HONOR OUR MYLAND HERO CAPTAIN GARY HEROD.
HE WAS A TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD PILOT IN 1961.
HE SACRIFICED HIS LIFE AND LANDED THE PLANE ALONG BRAZE BAYOU, AVOIDING THOUSANDS OF HOMES BELOW.
AND SO TODAY AND FOREVERMORE, WE WILL HONOR CAPTAIN GARY HEROD AT THIS PLAZA.
THIS INVESTMENT IS $6.6 MILLION.
HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOUR IS INVESTING 3.8 MILLION AND THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD IS INVESTING 2.8 MILLION.
SO TOGETHER WE ARE COMBINING OUR FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THIS PROJECT.
SO THANK YOU HOUSTON PARKS BOARD FOR SUBMITTING THIS PROJECT FOR OUR CONSIDERATION.
AND WE HAVE NUMEROUS PROJECTS.
WE HAVE 12 ACTUALLY, THAT WE SELECTED BETWEEN 2023 AND 2024 EACH YEAR WE DO THIS PROACTIVE CALL FOR PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS.
SO WE HAVE SELECTED 12 WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
WE ALSO BELIEVE DEEPLY NOT ONLY IN THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR NONPROFIT GROUPS AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BUT PART OF GOOD GOVERNMENT TO ME IS WORKING ACROSS LINES BETWEEN THE CITY, THE COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE WE'RE SERVING THE SAME PEOPLE.
SO I'M PROUD THAT SINCE I TOOK OFFICE TWO YEARS AGO IN PRECINCT FOUR WITH COUNTY DOLLARS, WE NOW HAVE $282 MILLION OF INVESTMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITHIN PRECINCT FOUR BECAUSE WE BELIEVE DEEPLY IN MAGNIFYING WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO TOGETHER, MAKING SURE WE'RE STRETCHING YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT.
SO THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THAT.
I AM SO FIRED UP ABOUT THIS TRAIL AND THE UNDER CROSSINGS AND THE A DA, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT JUST THIS IMMEDIATE AREA WITHIN A 10 MILE WALK, THERE ARE OVER 5,000 HOUSEHOLDS.
THERE ARE SIX SCHOOLS WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK.
THERE ARE EIGHT PLACES OF WORSHIP AND THERE'S ABOUT 3000 CHILDREN WITHIN THIS 10 MILE AREA.
AND SO TO ME, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS ARE CRITICAL BECAUSE IT IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND OUR SAFETY.
AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE SAFEST, STRONGEST, MOST RESILIENT, MOST CONNECTED COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, US
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COMING TOGETHER.SO I AM SO THANKFUL TO MY TEAM OF PRECINCT FOUR BECAUSE IT PLACES FOR PEOPLE IS A LABOR OF LOVE THAT THEY HAVE DEVOTED COUNTLESS HOURS TO AND TO ALL OF OUR TEAM.
I APPRECIATE YOU MORE THAN I CAN EVER EXPRESS.
SO I WILL DO A VERY BRIEF VERSION IN SPANISH.
CIA, JOHN WHITMAN, BETH WHITE, THE HOUSTON PARK SPORT, THE HOUSTON.
I'M MELISSA MEYER, DEDO HARRIS, THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
CHARLES GOFORTH BAY ASSOCIATION, LOS AL, JULIAN RAMIREZ, GREENWAY PLACES FOR PEOPLE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TOGETHER IN UNITY.
WE WILL KEEP DRIVING PROGRESS, MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITY IS AS SAFE, AS RESILIENT, AND AS BEAUTIFUL AS POSSIBLE.
AND PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING AND THANKING OUR MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
WELL, SHE'S FIRED UP AND IT'S CONTAGIOUS.
WHEN COMMISSIONER BRION HAS CALLS ME, I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING GOOD TO THE FIFTH GRADERS.
I HOPE IT'S JUST LIGHTS, A LITTLE FIRE
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IN YOU THAT YOU'LL GO BACK AND TALK WITH YOUR TEACHER AND YOUR FAMILIES ABOUT WHAT WERE ALL THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS? WHAT WERE ALL THOSE PUBLIC OFFICIALS DOING OUT THERE? THIS IS HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS.MOST DAYS I DEAL WITH PROBLEMS. MOST DAYS I'M AT CITY HALL WORKING WITH COUNCILMAN CAYMAN AND OTHER COLLEAGUES TO FIX THINGS.
WELL, TODAY WE'RE NOT FIXING ANYTHING.
WE'RE CELEBRATING SELLING, RATING.
THE COMPLETION OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER, NOT ONLY THE CIVIC, THE NONPROFIT, BUT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
AND SOMEONE A MOMENT AGO MENTIONED HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR THIS COMPLETION OF THE RAISED BIO PROJECT.
I KNEW THE ANSWER HAVING SPENT MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE IN PUBLIC SERVICE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.
IT'S CALLED LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP FROM COMMISSIONER BRIANIS, LEADERSHIP FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON, LEADERSHIP FROM THE PARENTS THAT WOULD BRING THEIR CHILDREN HERE TODAY.
BUT CERTAINLY THE PARKS BOARD, THE KINDER FOUNDATION, I COULD GO ON AND ON.
WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE CHALLENGES LIKE ALL MAJOR CITIES.
BUT WE'RE MEETING OUR CHALLENGES.
WE'RE LIVING AND SEEING IT TODAY HOW DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, FOUNDATIONS, CIVIC GROUPS, THE PARKS BOARD CAN COME TOGETHER WITH A COMMON GOAL OF JUST FIXING THINGS.
SO THAT'S THE REASON I'M EXCITED ABOUT BEING HERE.
THAT'S THE REASON I'M GONNA LEAVE A BETTER MAYOR THAN THE ONE THAT GOT HERE.
'CAUSE YOU GOT ME FIRED UP AND I'VE GOT A LONG DAY.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, THIS IS JUST THE START.
COMMISSIONER BRIANIS AND HER TEAM ARE CAN DO, CAN DO PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
AND I'M SO PROUD THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY ARE COMING TOGETHER.
IN FACT, THE STATE RELEASED THIS WEEK ABOUT $30 MILLION AND URBAN PARK FUNDING MASON PARK.
AND HOUSTON'S GONNA GET, ITS $3 MILLION.
SO I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WE'RE FIRED UP.
WE'VE GOT CHALLENGES, BUT WE'RE MEETING THEM AND WE HAVE A GREAT CITY, GREAT PEOPLE, AND WE'RE MEETING OUR CHALLENGES.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PARTNER WITH YOU.
OH, AND PART OF MY JOB IS TALK ABOUT THAT PARKS BOARD.
YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT HEAR SOME, SOME FOLKS BRAG ABOUT GOVERNMENT'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF YOU.
WELL, GOVERNMENT HAS ITS RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT IT ALSO HAS RESPONSIBILITY TO PARTNER WITH THE FOUNDATIONS.
AND WE HAVE THE BEST IN HOUSTON DEALING WITH PARKS.
WE HAVE OUR CHALLENGES TO ESTABLISH MORE GREEN SPACE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR PARKS BOARD, BETH WHITE, OUR CEO AND PRESIDENT, IT'S HER PASSION.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU PUBLICLY.
YEAH, SHE GETS PAID FOR WHAT SHE'S DOING, BUT I KNOW SHE'D DO IT FOR FREE BECAUSE SHE LOVES HER PARK.
BETH, COME UP HERE AND LET US RECOGNIZE YOU.
KIND OF YOU, YOU CAN CALL ME ANYTIME.
UM, DO YOU WANT ME TO, UM, THANKS EVERYONE.
IT'S SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT, UM, RECOGNITION.
BUT THE WORK THAT WE DO IS AS A TEAM AND WE HAVE THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD, UM, AT HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
I I LIKE TO SAY THEY'RE THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE IN THE PARK BUSINESS.
UM, I THINK THAT I'LL GO AHEAD AND SHARE A FEW REMARKS WITH YOU TODAY.
UM, THANK YOU W MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
YOU SHARE OUR PASSION FOR PARKS AND WE'RE WORKING ALL ACROSS THE CITY TO DO MORE TO EXPAND, IMPROVE, AND PROTECT OUR PARK SPACES.
WE'RE ALSO EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOR COMMISSIONER LESLIE BRIANIS FOR HER INVESTMENT IN THIS CRITICAL WORK TO CONNECT AND IMPROVE THE BIOG GREENWAYS, WHICH IS A 150 MILE PLUS SYSTEM OF LINEAR PARKS AND TRAILS ALONG NINE MAJOR BIOS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
UM, WE KEEP BUILDING AND EXPANDING IT AND USING IT AS THE SPINE OF AN INTERCONNECTED SYSTEM THAT'S GONNA, THAT'S GONNA COME YOUR WAY.
UM, WE WERE THRILLED TO RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE PLACES FOR PEOPLE INITIATIVE, FROM MULTIPLE PROJECTS ACROSS YOUR PRECINCT.
AND, UH, WE JUST ARE SO PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY AND I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE THE PRESIDENT.
I HAD A LITTLE DUCK OVER THERE CHIMING IN, UM, OF HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS DOING THIS WORK AND WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT PARTNERSHIP.
UM, WE ARE SO HAPPY TO BE, UH, CELEBRATING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS NEW STRETCH OF, OF BRAS BIO GREENWAY, ONE OF OUR
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LONGTIME COMMUNITY PARTNERS.MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW CAROL OR HAVE KNOWN CAROL PARROTT BLUE.
SHE CALLED BRAS BIO THE UNITED NATIONS GREENWAY BECAUSE IT REFLECTED SO MANY COMMUNITIES ALONG ITS 30 MILES, CONNECTING EVERYONE FROM THE SHIP CHANNEL AND THE EAST END TO ARCHBISHOP FIZA PARK IN WEST HOUSTON.
AND OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THREE CONNECTED PROJECTS ALONG BRAY'S BIO GREENWAY THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE TRAIL CONNECTIVITY AND SAFETY, AS YOU HEARD FROM THE COMMISSIONER.
UM, I DO WANNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW BIOG GREENWAYS WAS CONCEIVED.
UM, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS KNEW IT WAS A BOLD AND AUDACIOUS IDEA AND REALLY EMBRACED IT, BROUGHT IT FORWARD, AND IT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE THE SINGLE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN PARK EQUITY THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS EVER SEEN.
UM, BUT GIVEN THE NEED OUT THERE, WHICH THE MAYOR CAN TELL YOU ABOUT, UH, IT'S A DOWN PAYMENT AND IT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA HELP US BUILD OUT THAT SYSTEM THAT WE ALL ARE REALLY ENVISIONING.
WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT SO MANY PEOPLE JOINED US IN THIS PURSUIT.
UM, RE AND THEY REMAIN COMMITTED.
PEOPLE LIKE CHARLES GOFORTH, SOMEONE I MET, UM, IN MY FIRST WEEKS AT HOUSTON PARKS BOARD
UM, BUT WE WANNA REACH EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THIS VAST, UH, CITY.
AND I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE ANCHOR PARTNERS.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THE VOTERS OF HOUSTON.
WE LAUNCHED ALL THIS BACK IN 2012.
MANY OF YOU REMEMBER WITH, UM, A PARKS BY YOU CAMPAIGN, A BALLOT MEASURE FOR A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR BIO GREENWAY PASSED WITH 68% OF THE VOTE.
I THINK A LOT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF VOTER TURNOUT.
UM, AND IT WAS THE BIGGEST OF, OF ANY PARK BOND AT THAT POINT, GETTING THAT KIND OF SUPPORT.
UM, ANOTHER VALUED PARTNER, THE KINDER FOUNDATION, WHO THE MAYOR MENTIONED, THEY STEPPED UP WITH A $50 MILLION TRANSFORMATIONAL CHALLENGE GIFT TO GET THIS DONE AND TO CREATE A LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR ABOUT IN A MINUTE, THIS LAUNCHED OUR CAMPAIGN TO RAISE $120 MILLION TO MATCH THE A HUNDRED MILLION.
AND IT REALLY IS ALL MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FULL SUPPORT OF OUR COUNTY PARTNERS, UM, AND IN PARTICULAR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH MELISSA TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WE BUILD IS GOING TO HELP WITH FLOODING, NOT GET IN THE WAY OF, UH, FLOOD MITIGATION.
AND, UH, WE JUST WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN ANY OF THIS OFF THE GROUND WITHOUT ALL THESE PARTNERS AND WITHOUT ALL OF YOU.
AND THAT BRINGS US WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, UH, AT BRAYED BIO GREENWAY.
UH, COMMISSIONER BRIANIS SHARED THE DETAILS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT.
I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THESE PROJECTS WERE FUNDED FROM OUR PART THROUGH OUR LONG-TERM ANNUAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE, THE BIOS, UH, THIS FUNDING COVERS OUR DAY-TO-DAY MAINTENANCE, FLOOD CLEANUP, LONG-TERM REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF TRAILS AND SITE AMENITIES.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2014 AND I WANNA SHARE A FEW, UH, STATISTICS JUST ALONG BRAS.
WE'VE REMOVED CLOSE TO 2,200 TRUCKLOADS OF LITTER, SAND AND DEBRIS, 2,200 DUMP TRUCKS GOING UP AND DOWN, KEEPING THIS CLEAN.
WE'VE CLEANED UP AFTER 74 FLOOD OR HIGH WATER EVENTS, SPENDING ABOUT 2.1 MILLION ON CLEANUP EFFORTS.
AND OUR, UH, OUR TEAM HAS PLANTED MORE THAN 500 TREES ALONG BRAISE.
AND, UH, WE WANNA PLANT EVEN MORE WITH ALL OF YOU.
OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM MAINTAINS 787 ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL GREEN SPACE ALONG THE BIO WITH 14 PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES AND NEARLY 40 MILES OF TRAIL.
AND MOVING FORWARD, WE PLAN TO DO MORE, BUT NOW TAKE A BREAK BECAUSE AB HAS TO GO.
I THINK WE NEED TO BRING OUR COUNCIL MEMBER UP BEFORE SHE HAS TO, TO LEAVE US BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN SUCH A REMARKABLE PARTNER.
BETH, CAN WE GIVE IT UP FOR BETH WHITE, PLEASE, OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
WE'LL HEAR MORE OF THAT CRITICAL INFORMATION IN JUST A SECOND, BUT LET'S PLEASE GIVE IT UP.
SOMEONE WHO FOR YEARS HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS REGION.
OUR CITY COUNCIL PERSON OF DISTRICT C COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN.
NO ONE CAN SAY THAT HOUSTON DOESN'T GET CALLED, UH, STUDENTS.
Y'ALL WANNA STAND UP REALLY QUICKLY AND DO A QUICK JOG.
UH, COMMISSIONER, IT IS SO EXCITING TO BE HERE TODAY WITH ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THANK.
I ALWAYS WANNA MAKE SURE OUR COMMISSIONER DOES SUCH AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB.
SHE COVERS SO MUCH GROUND AND THERE IS AN AMAZING TEAM BEHIND HER.
SO TO ALL OF THE PRECINCT FOUR STAFF, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO WORK WITH OUR OFFICE
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AND PARTNERS, OF COURSE, OUR MAYOR, OUR PARKS BOARD, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.I SEE WE HAVE STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN'S OFFICE HERE AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS' OFFICES.
UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS.
SO FOR OUR STUDENTS, ONE OF THE BEST WAYS THAT YOU CAN ENGAGE IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.
WHETHER IT'S OUR SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR CIVIC CLUBS, WE HAVE COMMUNITY LEADERS LIKE THE JEWISH FEDERATION AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER REPRESENTATIVES THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THAT'S BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A SPECIAL PROJECT.
DAYS LIKE TODAY REMIND US HOW IMPORTANT CONNECTIVITY AND GREEN SPACES ARE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
JUST THREE YEARS AGO, PROJECT BRAZE WAS COMPLETED AFTER DECADES, SO LONGER EVEN THAN I'VE BEEN ALIVE.
AND Y'ALL HAVE BEEN ALIVE BRINGING CRITICAL FLOOD PROTECTION TO THE AREA.
THANKS TO PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COUNTY, WITH FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, THE CITY DONATED LAND TO CREATE ADDITIONAL DETENTION PONDS THAT ARE CLOSER TO THE FREEWAY, BUT WE KNOW HOW MUCH MORE IS NEEDED.
AND COMMISSIONER BRIANS PRECINCT FOUR AND OUR PARKS BOARD, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR CAPTURING THE VISION THAT A LOT OF US HAVE SHARED IN MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS THAT.
TWO YEARS AGO, WE CELEBRATED THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF EXCITING PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THE MEMORIAL PARK CONNECTIVITY PROJECT THAT Y'ALL ARE PUTTING TOGETHER IN OTHER AREAS.
JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE STOOD TOGETHER TO ANNOUNCE THE FUNDING OF THE RENWICK TRAILS FEASIBILITY STUDY, WHICH MY OFFICE COMMISSIONER YOU ARE CHAMPIONING.
AND I BELIEVE ALSO COMMISSIONER S ARE FUNDING THANKS TO THE ADVOCACY OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO TRAILS SOUTHWEST.
SO STEVEN TO EVERYONE, THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT WORK.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW WE'RE COLD, SO I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN ANNOUNCED AND ALL THE INNOVATIVE SAFETY PROJECTS AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE COMING ONLINE.
BUT TODAY WE'RE HERE TO MARK EVEN MORE PROGRESS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THIS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF NAMES, SPACE CITY BEING ONE OF THEM, BUT WE'RE ALSO THE BAYOU CITY AND THE BRAISE BAYOU GREENWAY IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS NOW.
SO TO SEE THIS COME TO FRUITION, BETH, WE'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE, CHARLES, WE'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE POTENTIAL ALONG THE BAYOU.
AND THIS IS A TERRIFIC STEP FOR GREATER MEYERLAND AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.
FAMILIES HERE DESERVE SAFE CONNECTIONS AND GREEN SPACE IMPROVEMENTS.
WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OVER HERE, FLOOD AFTER FLOOD, BUT THIS IS OUR HOME AND IT'S ALSO OUR HISTORY AND WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT AGAIN TO THANK RESIDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE A VISION COMING TO FRUITION WITH THE FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE CAPTAIN HEROD MEMORIAL PLAZA.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK AND IDEAS, BUT I SPECIFICALLY WANNA RECOGNIZE THE BRAVES BAYOU ASSOCIATION IN CHARLES GOFORTH AND THE BOARD.
HE SAVED THE LIVES OF MANY OF OUR OWN FRIENDS AND FAMILIES RIGHT HERE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS BRING THE COMMUNITY CLOSER TOGETHER THROUGH SHARED HISTORY, PROVIDING CONNECTIVITY, BOTH FIGURATIVELY AND LITERALLY BEAUTIFICATION AND SAFETY.
WE HAVE SEEN WAY TOO MANY RESIDENTS INJURED AND EVEN KILLED DUE TO A LACK OF SAFE CROSSINGS RIGHT HERE IN THIS AREA THAT INCLUDES BOTH PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS.
AND I WANNA THANK COMMISSIONER BRIANIS AND HER STAFF FOR WORKING WITH US ON PROJECTS LIKE THIS, TAKING OUR FEEDBACK AND THAT OF RESIDENTS TO HEART WORKING TOWARDS THE SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING THE UNDERPASS CONNECTIVITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE.
I WANT COMMISSIONER BRIANIS TO KNOW AND THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WHILE SHE IS LEADING IN THIS EFFORT, WE HAVE HER BACK JUST DOWN THE ROAD.
WE'RE STAYING STREET AND SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS ALONG SOUTH BRAYWOOD THAT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN FUNDING.
AND SOON YOU'RE GONNA SEE MORE PROGRESS AS WE TACKLE CHIMNEY ROCK AND SOUTH RICE ON THE NORTH SIDE, GOING TO BEACH NUT AS WELL.
WE'RE TA TAKING, WE'RE TACKLING LOCALIZED DRAINAGE AND NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND US AND WE'RE CREATING SAFE CROSSINGS THAT ARE RESIDENT LED TO OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS LIKE THE JCC RIGHT AT ATWELL.
AGAIN, I EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION AND EXCITEMENT FOR WHAT'S TO COME.
MY GRATITUDE THAT BRAS BAYOU IS GETTING THE LOVE IT DESERVES, THE ATTENTION RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR, AND THE PROGRESS THAT HOUSTON IS ALL ABOUT.
AND WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HISTORY TODAY, BUT I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALSO TODAY CREATING A FUTURE FOR THESE
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CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
AGAIN, WE HAVE SOME MORE SPEAKERS, SO I'M GONNA STOP RIGHT THERE.
BUT IT'S MY PRIVILEGE IF I MAY TO DO YOU WANT ME TO? SHE'S GONNA, OKAY.
WE'LL BRING BETH RIGHT BACK UP.
UM, AND BETH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND THANK YOU TO THE TEAM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A BUSY MEETING.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO ADD A FEW MORE THINGS TO LET YOU KNOW.
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE WORKING ON BRAZE.
THERE'S ANOTHER $38 MILLION WORTH OF INVESTMENT THAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING ALONG THIS GREENWAY.
AND I WANNA EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT THE COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE.
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THEM, ALL OF THIS WORK, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, WHAT IS COMING, UH, IS TRULY PHENOMENAL.
AND I ALSO WANNA GIVE A, A SHOUT OUT TO MY TEAM.
UM, IN PARTICULAR, I WANNA INTRODUCE DAN HOWES.
UM, DAN, IF YOU COULD WAVE, I KNOW YOU HATE THIS, BUT DAN, UH, IS OUR ASSET MANAGER WHO OVERSEES THE CONSERVATION AND MAINTENANCE.
AND, UM, ON A, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, HE WAS VERY PROUD TO HAVE DESIGNED THE CAPTAIN HEROD PLAZA.
UH, DAN'S A TALENTED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, THOSE OF YOU AND, AND AS STUDENTS WHO WANNA KNOW ABOUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, GO TALK TO DAN.
UM, YOU'LL WANNA BECOME ONE AND LOVE TREES.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK CHARLES GOFORTH.
UM, HE WAS, AS I SAID, ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I MET.
HE SPEARHEADED THE EFFORT TO GATHER UP COMMUNITY FUNDS AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
UM, YOU'RE JUST AMAZING BECAUSE YOUR PASSION NEVER STOPS, UM, NEIGHBORHOODS TO TRAILS SOUTHWEST A COMMUNITY TRAILS ADVOCACY HERE IS ALSO HERE TODAY AND REPRESENTED BY PRESIDENT STEVEN PO.
UM, THEY ASSIST OUR ORGANIZATION WORK WITH US ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND BIKE RIDES, EVERYTHING THAT, UM, IS FUN ABOUT BRAISED BIO GREENWAY.
AND THEN I'D LOVE TO INTRODUCE SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE.
COLIN GEISELMAN MUSE, OUR BOARD CHAIR, KRISTEN BLOMQUIST, OUR, UH, BOARD SECRETARY, SHEILA CONDEN, WHO IS ON OUR, UM, PLANNING AND DESIGN AND DELIVERY COMMITTEES.
AND, UH, SIS JOHNSON, WHO IS ALSO ON MANY OF OUR COMMITTEES.
SO I'M SO DELIGHTED THEY ARE HERE.
WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT 'EM.
AND IF OUR STAFF COULD PLEASE, OH, AND TAYLOR CHAPMAN IS HERE.
I'M SO SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOU.
UM, PLEASE, IF YOU'RE A BOARD MEMBER, RAISE YOUR HAND.
I, I WOULD HATE TO MISS ANYONE.
AND THEN IF ALL OF OUR STAFF COULD PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS.
YOU ARE THE ONES WHO GET THIS DONE.
UM, AND IT IS JUST A JOY TO WORK WITH YOU.
AND I WANNA SAY ONCE AGAIN, THE PARTNERSHIP HERE IS A MODEL FOR THE NATION.
THIS HOUSTON KNOWS HOW TO DO PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND ALL OF YOU ARE PART OF IT.
AND JUST A BIG THANK YOU FOR BEING OUT HERE TODAY AND MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.
SO STUDENTS, AGAIN, WE'RE SO, SO PROUD OF YOU.
THERE'S A FEW MORE SPEAKERS, BUT I WANT YOU TO START THINKING ABOUT IDEAS YOU HAVE THAT YOU CAN TELL ME.
YOU CAN TELL MAYOR WHITMEYER, YOU CAN TELL ANY OF OUR TEAMS. WE WORK FOR YOU, WE WORK FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.
AND OUR JOB IS TO MAKE HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY A BETTER PLACE.
AND SO WE WANT YOUR IDEAS, WE WANT YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
SO START THINKING, 'CAUSE I'M GONNA ASK, I USED TO BE A TEACHER, AS I SAID, SO I'M GONNA BE ASKING YOU IN JUST A SECOND.
BUT NEXT, THERE ARE SO MANY HARDWORKING PARKS DEPARTMENT TEAM MEMBERS AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE OTHER 33.
SO HARRIS COUNTY HAS 34 CITIES.
CITY OF HOUSTON IS OUR LARGEST, BUT WE HAVE 34.
AND HARRIS COUNTY, WHICH I HELP REPRESENT HARRIS COUNTY, IS BIGGER THAN 26 STATES.
SO THINK ABOUT HOW HUGE HARRIS COUNTY IS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK HARD EVERY DAY TO MOW YOUR PARKS, TO PICK UP TRASH AT YOUR PARKS, TO MAKE SURE THE EQUIPMENT IS SAFE.
WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM ONE OF OUR INCREDIBLY HARDWORKING, AMAZING LEADERS WHO WORKS AT THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR HU UH, KENNETH ALLEN WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND I'M JUST ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED TO JOIN OUR FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS FROM, UH, HEROD ELEMENTARY, THE HEROD JETS.
LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND IT'S JUST GREAT TO BE HERE TO, TO REALLY HELP KICK OFF THE SIGNIFICANT PARTNERSHIP.
UM, TRAILS ARE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR AND WIDELY USED AMENITIES IN OUR PARKS.
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THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE TO INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES, UH, ALL ABILITIES AND PEOPLE AND FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.THEY USE TRAILS FOR EXERCISE AND ENJOYMENT AS A WAY TO CONNECT WITH THE OUTDOORS AND NATURE OR EVEN AS A MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
AND THIS IS WHY SAFETY, WE'VE ALL DISCUSSED SAFETY HERE TODAY.
WHY SAFETY IS SO KEY TO THIS PROJECT AND THE MOBILIZATION OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE, AND THOSE CONNECTIONS BECAUSE TRAILS ARE CRUCIAL TO OUR COMMUNITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE.
AT HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE AND BALANCED PARK SYSTEM THAT CONTRIBUTES SIGNIFICANTLY TO HEALTH AND RESILIENCY THROUGH ACCESS TO RECREATION AND PUBLIC GREEN SPACE.
AND THIS PRO, THIS PROJECT TODAY ACCOMPLISHES BOTH OF THOSE.
SO WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR THE TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS ALONG BRAY'S BAYOU GREENWAY.
I ESPECIALLY WANNA THANK COMMISSIONER BRIANIS FOR YOUR VISION AND INVESTMENT IN DRIVING THIS PROJECT FORWARD.
AND WE THANK BETH WHITE, THE BOARD WHO'S HERE TODAY, UH, AND ALL OF HER LEADERSHIP TEAM AT THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD FOR MANAGING PROJECT CONSTRUCTION AND ALSO PROVIDING FOR ITS CONTINUED CARE.
AND AS COMMISSIONER MENTIONED THAT WAY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT STAFF, WE CAN FOCUS ON MAINTAINING AND UPLIFTING AND ENHANCING OUR CITY PARKS.
SO TOGETHER WE, UH, COMBINE OUR RESOURCES AND IMPROVE OUR GREEN SPACE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND HARRIS COUNTY.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS AND OUR HIKE BIKE AND BAYOU GREENWAY ADVOCATES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATE THE IMPROVEMENTS TO COME.
NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM ONE OF OUR HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT LEADERS.
MELISSA MEYER, CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND, EVERYONE HERE IF YOU HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY FLOODING HERE, EITHER YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW OR LOVE, WHETHER YOU'RE HOME, CAR, MOST OF US HAVE A STORY TO TELL.
WELL, EVERYONE AT HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS WORKING HARD EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MITIGATING AGAINST THE RISK.
SO MELISSA, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME UP? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER.
UH, MY NAME IS MELISSA MEYER AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS DIVISION AT HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
AND I'M JUST THRILLED TO BE HERE TODAY AT, FOR THIS GREAT EVENTS.
UM, IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO WORK DIRECTLY ON PROJECT BRAZE RIGHT BEHIND US SINCE MY DAYS AT THE DISTRICT AS A PROJECT MANAGER.
SO IT'S JUST REALLY EXCITING TO COME BACK AND CELEBRATE THE FINAL RESULTS OF SUCH GREAT PARTNERSHIPS.
UM, I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PROJECT BRAZE ITSELF.
UM, TO DATE THE BRAYZE BAYOU FEDERAL FLOOD DAMAGE REDUCTION PROJECT, ALSO KNOWN AS PROJECT BRAZE, BECAUSE THAT'S SUCH A MOUTHFUL, IS THE LARGEST FLOOD DAMAGE REDUCTION PROGRAM UNDERTAKEN BY HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
PROJECT BRA IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
AND IT IS A $480 MILLION PROJECT THAT SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCES THE RISK OF FLOODING HERE IN THE BRAISE BAYOU WATERSHED.
IT'S COMPRISED OF OVER MORE THAN 75 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT COMPONENTS AND IT WIDENS 21 MILES OF THE BAYOU.
UM, IT WIDENS 21 MILES OF BRAYS BAYOU FROM THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL UP TO FONDER ROAD AND FROM WEST HOUSTON CENTER BOULEVARD ALL THE WAY TO HIGHWAY SIX.
IT ALSO INCLUDES OVER 11,000 ACRE FEET OF STORMWATER DETENTION BASINS.
AND THAT EQUATES TO JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN SEVEN ASTRO DOMES FULL OF WATER DURING LARGE RAIN EVENTS.
AND OVER THE YEARS, THIS PROJECT HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN REDUCING FLOOD, THE RISK OF FLOODING FOR HOMES AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MAJOR FLOOD EVENTS, INCLUDING RECENT HURRICANE BARREL.
BUT PROJECT BRAYS ALONG THE WAY HAS ALSO FOSTERED UNIMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
AND THROUGH THIS COLLABORATION, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO NOT ONLY REDUCE FLOODING RISK, BUT ALSO IMPROVE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO GREEN SPACES.
ONE OF THE KEY OUTCOMES HAS BEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE EXTENSIVE HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY ALONG THE BAYOU BY HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND COMMISSIONER BRIAN'S OFFICE.
AND THESE TRAILS WILL CONNECT NEIGHBORHOODS TO PARKS, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY HUBS TRANSFORMING THE BAYOU INTO RECREATIONAL SPACES FOR
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RESIDENTS.AND THIS PROJECT IS JUST REALLY A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW FLOOD CONTROL EFFORTS CAN BE LEVERAGED TO BRING ADDED VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY, PROMOTING BOTH SAFETY AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AND GIVING RESIDENTS A SAFER, GREENER AND MORE RESILIENT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INCLUDING US TODAY.
IT'S A REALLY EXCITING PROJECT.
WE'VE, ALL OF US SAW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENED AFTER HARVEY AND THEN BARRELL GRANTED VERY DIFFERENT HURRICANES, BUT STILL THE PROGRESS MADE IN PROJECT BRAISE THAT MS. MEYER WAS TALKING ABOUT HELPED KEEP THE HOMES IN THIS AREA FREE FROM FLOODING AFTER BARREL.
AND SO THESE FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS, THEY'RE LONG, THEY'RE EXPENSIVE, THEY'RE INTENSE, AND THEY WORK.
AND SO IT'S ABOUT THE PERSISTENCE.
I'M SURE A LOT OF YOUR TEACHERS TALK ABOUT STAYING FOCUSED, BE PERSISTENT, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS GOVERNMENT, RIGHT? BECAUSE THESE PROBLEMS ARE HARD, THEY'RE TOUGH, BUT YOU JUST KEEP PUSHING, KEEP PUSHING AND KEEP DELIVERING PROGRESS.
SO THANK YOU MS. MEYER FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT.
OUR LAST SPEAKER, WE'VE HEARD HIS NAME CALLED OUT.
HE HAS BEEN THANKED SO WELL DESERVED FOR HIS YEARS OF CHAMPIONING THIS COMMUNITY AND BEYOND CHARLES GOFORTH, PRESIDENT OF BRA BAYOU ASSOCIATION.
WELL, UM, I'M NOT A POLISHED SPEAKER, UM, SO EXCUSE ME IF I STAMMER AROUND A LITTLE BIT, BUT, UH, WOW.
WHAT LEADERSHIP HERE? COMMISSIONER BRIANIS, MAYOR WHITMEYER, PRESIDENT WHITE.
UM, IT'S JUST A PRIVILEGE TO SIT UP HERE WITH THEM 'CAUSE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, JUST A TESTAMENT TO THIS PROJECT AND JUST THE TRAILS IS FABULOUS ENOUGH, BUT TO HONOR CAPTAIN HEROD AND HIS HEROISM IS UNBELIEVABLE.
UH, JUST FOR A BRIEF, UH, I THINK, UH, LISA SAID I HAD 22 MINUTES
WELL, LEMME LET ME SHORTEN THIS UP A LITTLE BIT.
THAT, UM, IT WAS MARCH, UM, 1961.
CAPTAIN HEROD WAS COMING, UH, OUT OF ELLINGTON AIR FORCE HEADING BACK TO HIS HOME BASE IN SAN ANTONIO.
UH, HIS JET WAS FILLED FULL OF FUEL AND IT FLAMED OUT RIGHT ABOVE US.
AND HE'S, WHAT AM I GONNA DO? I HAVE NO POWER.
THERE'S NO WAY I CAN GET BACK TO THE AIRPORT.
ALL HE SEES IS HOUSES, LIGHTS OF HOUSES, JUST LIGHTS EVERYWHERE.
HE KNEW HE COULDN'T BAIL OUT 'CAUSE HIS PLANE WOULD JUST OBVIOUSLY LAND IN HOUSES AND NO TELLING WHAT THAT WOULD DO TO THE FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE'D BE HAVING A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION TODAY IF THAT HAD OCCURRED.
HE TOOK THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
THAT DARK SPOT WAS JUST RIGHT OVER HERE.
WE ARE ON ACTUALLY HALLOWED GROUNDS.
HIS CRASH SITE WAS BETWEEN US AND THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE RIGHT OVER HERE.
AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO HIS HEROISM.
YOU GET A NAME, A SCHOOL AFTER YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A FABULOUS TESTAMENT.
UM, I DO WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS.
UM, I THINK I'M OVER MY TWO MINUTES ALREADY, BUT I DO WANNA SAY A A FEW WORDS FOR THE FAMILY.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES, UH, PREVENTED THEM FROM COMING DOWN FROM NORTH TEXAS THIS EVENING OR THIS EVENING, THIS MORNING.
UH, BUT I DID SPEAK WITH THEM LAST NIGHT.
UM, CAPTAIN HEROD'S DAUGHTER, UM, AND SON-IN-LAW, THAT'S CYNTHIA AND JEFF LITUM.
UM, AND HIS SON GARY, UH, REALLY WANT TO EXPRESS THEIR TEAR INDUCING GRATITUDE, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY, UH, FOR EVERYBODY TO, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, TO REVISE THE MEMORY OF THE SACRIFICE OF THEIR FATHER.
IT'S, THIS IS JUST A, A REALLY WONDERFUL THING.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, SINCE WE STARTED THIS PROJECT, HIS WIFE ARENA AND HIS, UH, BROTHER BUDDY HAD PASSED AWAY.
UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S QUITE A STORY.
AND I KNOW ANYBODY WHO HAS ACCESS TO THE INTERNET CAN GOOGLE CAPTAIN HEROD AND YOU'LL BE AMAZED AT, AT WHAT, WHAT SOMEBODY WOULD DO.
WE ALL THINK THAT, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN THAT SAME POSITION, BUT I, YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU'RE THERE.
UM, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO THANK TRENT ROBOW, UH, THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
UH, HE, HE, HE HEARD, UNFORTUNATELY, HE'S ON VACATION.
HE'S TRAINING OTHER PEOPLE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND TO THE NEXT, UH, GENERATION OF, OF LEADERS.
UH, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, UH, HE, UH, HEARD MY VISION OF, UH, THE HERD MEMORIAL PLAZA AND, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE WHERE IT COULD ACTUALLY BE, UH, A DESTINATION ON THE TRAIL SYSTEM.
AND HE WAS QUIET ABOUT IT FOR A MONTH OR TWO OR SOMETHING.
AND YEAH, I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WELL I BOUNCED IT OFF OF HIM AND WE'LL SEE WHO GOES.
AND THEN LITTLE DID I KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING BEHIND THE SCENES.
AND SO TRENT, UH, WAS A HUGE PART OF THIS.
AND I, I CAN'T THANK HIM ENOUGH FOR KEEPING ME INFORMED AND, UH, THROUGH ALL
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THE PROCESS WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE CITY, UH, FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND EVERYBODY ELSE.AND SOMEBODY ELSE I WANT TO THANK WHO WE ALWAYS SEE AT THESE EVENTS AND IS, IS I CALL HER THE BOSS, LISA HERNANDEZ, UH,
SHE'S, SHE'S A LONGTIME, UM, EMPLOYEE OF THE, UH, HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND, AND REALLY JUST, JUST PULLS EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
AND IF YOU EVER NEED ANYTHING TO WORK ON, LISA'S THE ONE.
UM, I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT BECAUSE I REALIZED THAT I'VE BEEN CUT OFF A LITTLE SHORT.
I DO WANNA THANK BILL COX WITH LMC FOR HELPING US, UH, SAVE THE, UH, HAIR MEMORIAL TREE AND THAT'S BEEN REPURPOSED, UH, WOODWORKERS CLUB OF HOUSTON.
AND WHERE WOULD THIS CITY BE WITHOUT THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD? I, I LOOK AROUND AND IT IS JUST AMAZING, UH, WHEN I WAS GOING TO LEVIT ELEMENTARY, UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TRAILS.
AND THEN FINALLY WE GOT THIS LITTLE ASPHALT TRAIL ALONG HERE AND IT JUST SPLIT UP AND YOU COULDN'T RIDE YOUR BIKE ON IT 'CAUSE YOUR TIRES WOULD GET STUCK IN IT.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'VE GOT ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL 10 FOOT WIDE CONCRETE TRAILS.
SO YOU GUYS ARE NEXT GENERATION, YOU'RE GONNA REALLY BENEFIT FROM IT.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO OUR MAYOR, MAYOR WHITMEYER, CITY OF HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, ALL OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON TEAM.
LET'S GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THANK YOU MAYOR WHITMEYER FOR CHAMPIONING OUR COMMUNITY TO HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, TO BETH, THE TEAM, THE BOARD, THANK YOU AGAIN TO HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, TO ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS WHO CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AND TO HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOR MY TEAM THAT I'M HONORED TO WORK ALONGSIDE.
SO JUST IN CONCLUSION, I'M LOOKING AT THE STUDENTS AND THIS MAKES ME HAPPY TODAY.
WE CELEBRATE THE PAST CAPTAIN HEROD, WHO WE HAVE ALL LEARNED ABOUT TODAY.
AND THIS IS ABOUT YOUR FUTURE, OUR FUTURE.
AND NOT ONLY WHEN YOU WALK ALONG THE TRAIL OR YOU GO IN ONE OF THE UNDER CROSSINGS, OR YOU MIGHT USE THAT A DA COMPLIANT WAY TO GET TO THE METRO STATION, YOU'LL THINK ABOUT TODAY AND YOU'LL CARRY THAT WITH YOU.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT I HOPE YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER IS THAT THE POWERS IN THE PEOPLE, THE POWERS IN THE COMMUNITY, IT WAS THE COMMUNITY ON THE FRONT LINES ASKING FOR THESE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, HIGHLIGHTING THEIR CONCERNS, THEIR QUESTIONS, BRINGING FORTH BOLD IDEAS.
BE BOLD, BE AUDACIOUS, REIMAGINE WHAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES DESERVE.
AND KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR YOU.
WE LITERALLY WORK FOR YOU AND WE NEED YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP.
AND AS WE CELEBRATE TODAY, THIS IS ABOUT YOUR FUTURE, OUR FUTURE, THE FUTURE WE'RE BUILDING TOGETHER.
SO I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC AND VERY PROUD AND EXTREMELY GRATEFUL.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY AND LET'S CONTINUE THIS PROGRESS.
YES, AND THIS IS GONNA BE FUN IF YOU