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AND I'M REBECCA WILLIAMS. AND YOU'RE WATCHING THE CITY PULSE.
HTV HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, CITY DEPARTMENTS, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AT WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
COMING UP ON THE SHOW, MOODY PARK CELEBRATES A BIG ANNIVERSARY AND CHECK OUT SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR'S MAYOR'S HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING AND CONCERT.
BUT WE START INSIDE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH SOME QUICK HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2025, HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GETTING CLEANED UP THANKS TO A SWEEP OF HEAVY TRASH.
RECENTLY APPROVED BY MAYOR WHITMEYER.
SOLID WASTE EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS ARE MOVING THROUGHOUT HOUSTON.
STARTING THE SOUTHWEST PART OF TOWN CREWS HAVE PICKED UP SEVERAL TONS OF TRASH LEADING TO CLEANER BLOCKS AND THE STEADY PROGRESS FOR RESIDENTS.
THE US HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, OR HUD RECENTLY APPROVED THE CITY'S 314 MILLION DISASTER RECOVERY ACTION PLAN THAT WILL EXPEDITE HELP IN THE CITY WITH UNMET NEEDS, FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS OF HURRICANE BARREL AND THE 2024 DERECHO STORM IN AREAS LIKE HOUSING AND INSTALLING GENERATORS IN CRITICAL CITY FACILITIES.
MAKING HOUSTON SAFE IS A PRIORITY, AND THE MAYOR RECENTLY VOTED WITH COUNCIL TO INVEST $36 MILLION TO REDESIGN THE BIZNET CORRIDOR.
IT'S ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST DANGEROUS ROADWAYS.
THE CITY WILL CREATE A SAFER SEVEN MILE CORRIDOR WITH BETTER PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND IMPROVE MOBILITY FOR FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES.
AND HERE'S ONE LAST HEADLINE THAT WILL IMPACT HOW HOUSTONIANS PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY VOTED TO MAKE MONTHLY EVENING SESSIONS.
PERMANENT GOING FORWARD MEETINGS WILL SHIFT FROM 6:00 PM TO 5:00 PM PROCLAMATIONS WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM THE EVENING SESSIONS, AND THE FINAL PUBLIC SESSION IS NOW CLARIFIED AS A NON-CONSOLIDATED MEETING.
IT'S THE GIVEN SEASON FOR A REASON AND THE CITY'S HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, IT'S HELPING A NEW HOMEOWNER.
THANKS TO THE HURRICANE HARVEY HOME BUYER AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THE WORK THAT BRINGS US HERE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE STEADFAST RELATIONSHIPS, STEADFAST COLLABORATION AT EVERY LEVEL.
YOU KNOW, TIMES ARE TIGHT, THE ECONOMY'S TOUGH, AND THIS IS AN AWESOME MISSION TO WATCH ALL THESE ENTITIES COME TOGETHER TO GIVE BACK AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HELP MISS PEROT GIVE A BIG HEADSTART.
AND WE'RE JUST THRILLED TO BE A PART OF THIS.
OWNING A HOME HAS BEEN ONE OF MY GOALS AND GIVING MY SON STABILITY AND SOMEWHERE SAFE TO STAY.
COMING FROM AN APARTMENT TO A THREE BEDROOM HOME IS AMAZING.
WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO WITH DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDS AND WITH THE RENEWED RELATIONSHIP IS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE DOLLARS AND INVEST IN PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS BEHIND THE SCENE, BUT THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS GETTING HOME BUYERS INTO HOMES.
MS. PRO HAS A GREAT STORY, AND AMERICAN FURNITURE WAREHOUSE IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO PROVIDE HER WITH A DONATION AND A GIFT CARD.
AND SO IT'S KIND OF A NO BRAINER.
BEING ABLE TO KNOW, PAY A MORTGAGE, KNOWING THAT I'M, ME AND MYSELF ARE GONNA BE HERE FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, WELL, FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES, REALLY, UM, AGAIN, IT'S A BLESSING.
LIKE I DON'T HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WORRY ABOUT GOING FROM APARTMENT TO APARTMENT LIKE THIS IS, THIS IS HOME PERMANENTLY.
SO IT'S, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
HCV INTERN, VANESSA WILCOX CHECKS OUT THE WONDERFUL SITES OF CITY LIGHTS AT POST HOUSTON.
WINTER WONDERLAND HAS RETURNED TO POST HOUSTON.
I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF POST HOUSTON.
WE'RE HERE ON SKYLINE, WHICH IS THE LARGEST ROOFTOP PARK IN AMERICA.
AND POST HOUSTON IS A HISTORIC VENUE ITSELF.
WE'RE THE FORMER BARBARA JORDAN POST OFFICE, SO IT WAS THE BIG GREATER HOUSTON POST OFFICE AND DISTRIBUTION CENTER FOR THE US MAIL.
UM, BUT NOW WE ARE WHAT WE ARE TODAY.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, NICE SCENERY.
THEY PUTTING A LOT OF EFFORT INTO THE, UH, THE AESTHETIC AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE JUST, UH, BOTH GOT OFF WORK EARLY, SO WANTED TO SPEND, UH, UH, AN EVENING IN, UH, IN TOWN, SORT OF ENJOYING WINTER WITH OUR, WITH OUR SON.
IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL SPOT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SUNSET RIGHT
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NOW.AND, UM, AND HE LOVES IT WITH JUST KIND OF THE BREATHE AND THE LIGHT.
AND SO I THINK MY FAVORITE PART IS JUST BEING WITH, WITH THE THREE OF US TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.
THIS IS VANESSA WILCOX WITH HTV IN HOUSTON.
IT BELONGS FLAVORS FROM EVERY CONTINENT.
CULTURES COLLIDING BEAUTIFULLY BOLDLY HERE.
SOCCER ISN'T JUST A GAME, IT'S A LANGUAGE SPOKEN ON EVERY BLOCK IN EVERY PARK WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT.
THIS IS WHERE THE WORLD COMES TOGETHER FOR EVERY FLAVOR, EVERY GOAL, EVERY MOMENT COME READY TO PLAY.
COME READY TO CELEBRATE AS HOUSTON WELCOMES THE WORLD IN, IN 2026.
IN HOUSTON, WE FEED OFF INSPIRATION.
EVERYTHING WE DO SEE AND FEEL IS CONNECTED.
GUESS YOU COULD SAY, OUR SECRET INGREDIENT IS TOGETHER BECAUSE TOGETHER MAKES IT AMAZING.
WE DON'T JUST WELCOME THE WORLD, WE LIVE IT.
SOCCER RUNS DEEP, PLAYED IN PARKS, STREETS, AND STADIUMS ACROSS EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN 2026, THE WORLD'S GAME TAKES CENTER STAGE IN H TOWN.
COME READY TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT IS OVERFLOWING IN HOUSTON THIS YEAR.
ICE SKATING, LIGHTING DISPLAYS DELICIOUS SWEETSS AND SHOPPING.
EXPERIENCE THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN 12 DIFFERENT VILLAGES SPANNING DOWNTOWN.
MORE INFO AND HOTEL DEALS@VISITHOUSTON.COM.
IN HOUSTON, THE WORLD DOESN'T JUST SHOW UP.
IT TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT STREET BY STREET.
SOCCER LIVES HERE FROM TACO TRUCKS TO GLOBAL FLAVORS, FROM MURALS TO MUSIC, THIS CITY MOVES TO AN INTERNATIONAL BEAT.
SOCCER ISN'T JUST A GAME, IT'S A GLOBAL CELEBRATION.
SO BRING THE ENERGY, BRING THE PASSION BECAUSE IN 2026, THE WORLD PLAYS IN HOUSTON.
THE KENNEDY BAKERY BUILDING IS SAID TO BE ONE OF THE OLDEST HAUNTS IN HOUSTON.
HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION IS GIVING US TWO STORIES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE, TAKING US TO THE NEWLY RENOVATED LITTLE THICKET PARK AND HAVING SOME CAKE AS MOODY PARK TURNS.
LITTLE THICKET PARK HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE MID 20TH CENTURY.
IT'S SORELY NEEDED A FACELIFT THOUGH.
BUT NOW THANKS TO THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HOUSTON PARKS AND WRECK AND THE MEMORIAL HEIGHTS REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, THE FACELIFT IS COMPLETE.
SO BY BY DOING THIS PROJECT, WE WERE ABLE TO, TO, UH, MAKE IT PUT IN A PLAYGROUND.
UH, WE ACTUALLY DID SOME STRUCTURAL WORK TO THE, TO THE BANK, UM, AND SO WE KEPT IT IN GOOD SHAPE FOR A LONG TIME.
THIS 10 ACRE PARK IS NESTLED BETWEEN TC JESTER BOULEVARD AND ELLA BOULEVARD, AND IT DISPLAYS GREAT DIVERSITY AS IT HAS BOTH A GREAT PLAYGROUND, SPORTING NEW EQUIPMENT,
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ALONG WITH A HEAVILY WOODED AREA WITH NATURE TRAILS.I THINK NOW PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THIS.
THIS IS A PARK THAT YOU CAN COME TO AND ENJOY, UH, AND THEN GO DOWN AND SEE SOME OF OUR NATURAL HABITAT.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU IN OTHER PARKS AND WRECK HAPPENINGS.
THE CENTURY OLD PARK WAS NAMED AFTER LOCAL OFFICIAL ALVIN MOODY BACK IN 1925 TODAY, UH, KNOWING THAT, UH, WE HAVE THIS NEW PATH FORWARD, I'M JUST SUPER EXCITED ABOUT IT AND I I THINK IT'S GONNA BE GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND JUST WHAT, WHAT A GREAT RECREATIONAL PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN.
THE PARK IS GOING THROUGH A RENAISSANCE OF SORTS AS THE 35 ACRE TRACT IS ONCE AGAIN A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR AREA FAMILIES AND IT'S SUPPORTED BY THE FRIENDS OF MOODY PARK CIVIC ORGANIZATION.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER A HUNDRED YEARS AND, UH, AND IT'S SOME BRIGHT EVENTS AHEAD.
100-YEAR-OLD MOODY PARK AND NEWLY REFURBISHED LITTLE THICKET PARK.
THERE ARE TWO MORE REASONS WHY WE LIKE TO SAY HOUSTON PARKS AND REC, WHERE YOU BELONG.
WHO DOESN'T LOVE A GOOD ROAD TRIP? LAST FALL ARTIST ERIC AND NELSON TOOK HER LOVE OF ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS AND HELP CONSTRUCT A TEXAS SIZE DIORAMA AT HOUSTON'S ORANGE SHOW HERE AT THE ORANGE SHELL.
WE LOVE THINGS THAT ARE HANDMADE AND THAT RELATE TO THE EXPERIENCE OF ADVENTURE AND DISCOVERY ON THE OPEN ROAD.
ERICA NELSON IS AN ARTIST THAT WE MET, UH, REALLY SHE'S A COLLEAGUE.
SHE VERY QUICKLY FORMULATED FOR US THIS PLAN ABOUT THE TEXAS SIZE ROAD TRIP, DIORAMA OF WONDER, A 60 BY 60 FOOT MAP OF TEXAS MADE FROM FOUND OBJECTS.
I REALLY WANTED TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT TALKED ABOUT TEXAS AS A WHOLE, NOT JUST HOUSTON, SOMETHING THAT COULD REALLY FILL THE SPACE THAT WAS AVAILABLE.
WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF USING CASTOFF MATERIALS THAT WOULD BE INDUSTRIAL REUSE.
SO THE COMMUNITY REALLY HELPED ME IN BUILDING ALL OF THIS.
AND THE POINT OF IT WAS TO GET PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT HOW THEY TRAVEL THROUGH SPACE, HOW THEY INTERACT WITH THE STATE AS A WHOLE, AND HOW THESE ROADSIDE ATTRACT ATTRACTIONS CAN REALLY ACT AS TOUCHSTONES FOR A ROAD TRIP OR A MEMORY.
OUR MEMORIES OF MOVING THROUGH TEXAS.
WHAT SORT OF THINGS STICK IN YOUR MIND WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT ROAD TRIPS THROUGH TEXAS AND HOW THESE SORT OF BECOME THE GEOGRAPHIC MARKERS IN SOME WONDERFUL WAY? WHAT I HOPE PEOPLE GET OUT OF THE WORK IS THAT SAME SORT OF SENSE OF EXPLORATION, LIKE YOU'RE ABLE TO WANDER THROUGH THIS UNGRASPABLE PLACE AND THEN SORT OF FIND YOUR WAY, BUT I ALSO WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO GET LOST IN THE SCULPTURE ITSELF.
WELL, TRAVIS, IT LOOKS LIKE CITY POST IS DONE FOR 2025.
ACTUALLY, WE NEED TO END THIS SHOW WITH A BANG.
YOU TEASED IT AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW.
AS MAYOR WHITMEYER LIGHTS THE HOLIDAY TREE, TONIGHT IS A SPECIAL NIGHT.
NOT ONLY ARE WE LIGHTING A BEAUTIFUL TREE, THERE'S GONNA BE FIREWORKS FOR THE FIRST TIME COMING OFF CITY HALL, 3, 2, 1, LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, WISH YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY.
THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS EPISODE OF THE CITY POST AND MANY MORE CITY POSTS TO COME FOR HTV HOUSTON TELEVISION SPECTRUM FUSION.
HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION ARE HTV INTERN VANESSA WILCOX, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND MY WONDERFUL CO-HOST, REBECCA WILLIAMS. THIS IS TRAVIS LEMONS.
REMEMBER, WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER AND KINDNESS IS FREE.