[00:00:19]
I AM GONNA CHANGE THE PROGRAM UP A LITTLE BIT.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
HIS SCHEDULE IS DEFINITELY BUSY, SO WE'RE GONNA CHANGE THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT.
MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO CALL YOU UP TO THE PODIUM RIGHT NOW.
THANK EVERYONE FROM BEING HERE.
WHAT, UH, DIRECTOR, SPEAKING OF MY SCHEDULERS, HAVE ME AT TWO PLACES AT ONE TIME.
AND OF COURSE I TAKE PRIDE IN OUR WORK, BUT THAT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
BUT THIS IS WHERE I WANTED TO BE BECAUSE WE NEED A DAY LIKE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING ACROSS OUR CITY.
UH, WE DEAL WITH PROBLEMS MOST DAYS, NOT TODAY.
THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE I COULD GIVE CREDIT TO THE PARKS BOARD, CERTAINLY.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR ARMANDO WALLY, WHO GOT MONEY REPRESENTATIVE OUTTA THE LEGISLATURE, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, WHO WAS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER UNTIL RECENTLY THAT GUIDED THIS EFFORT.
OUR PARKS, I, I COULD GO ACROSS HERE.
THE, THE EXCITEMENT IS, WE'RE MAKING A STATEMENT TODAY THAT PARKS IN GREEN SPACE ARE IMPORTANT TO EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN HOUSTON.
WE HAVE OUR ICONIC PARKS, MEMORIAL, HERMAN OTHERS, BUT WHERE THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES WALK TO CITY, COUNCILMAN ALCORN, ERRIS CARTER.
THIS IS WHY WE, THIS IS WHY WE ARE IN OFFICE TO HAVE DAYS LIKE TODAY.
SO, WHEN I TOOK OFFICE WORKING WITH AN OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR AND THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS, HOW CAN WE MAXIMIZE OUR EFFORTS AND LET EVERY COMMUNITY FEEL THE IMPACT OF THE AVAILABLE FUNDS? SOME STATES, SOME FOUNDATIONS, SOME CITY, IT'S ABOUT THESE LITTLE ONES.
MY SENATE OFFICE WAS AT EIGHTH AND YALE FOR 40 YEARS.
MKT TRAILS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED.
BUT I WAS THINKING THIS MORNING, WHAT MESSAGE DO I REALLY WANT TO LEAVE? PASTOR GILBERT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAMILY.
THIS WAS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND THEY, MOUNT SINAI AND THE GILBERT FAMILY AND THEIR CONGREGATION HAVE FACED CHALLENGES.
CERTAINLY GENTRIFICATION IS EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS AMERICA.
BUT WHAT CAN WE DO? WE CAN DEAL WITH IT.
WE CANNOT, WE CAN REMEMBER OUR ROOTS AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE EACH AND EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
IT'S THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD PARK THAT LET'S PLAY COL COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE, THE CITY, THE FOUNDATION.
AND LORD KNOWS I'D LIKE TO SPEND THE REST OF THE MORNING HERE, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER.
AND THAT'S THE REASON I GOTTA GET TO MY DIRECTOR'S MEETING 'CAUSE I'VE GOT SOME THINGS ON MY MIND.
ALRIGHT, KNOWING THAT OUR MAYOR, OUR MAYOR IS BEATING THE DOORS DOWN, HANDLING MULTIPLE ISSUES, I WANTED TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO OUR DIRT TURN, OUR DIRT FLIP BEFORE HE LEAVE.
SO YOU GUYS, PARDON ME FOR CHANGING THE SCHEDULE, BUT I, I INSIST THAT WE HAVE OUR MAYOR WITH US.
HE'S SHAKING HIS HEAD NO, BUT I'M SAYING YES.
SO MAYOR, LET'S DIRT FLIP AND WE'LL COME BACK AND FINISH THE PROGRAM.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
AS I STATED EARLIER, I'M KENNETH ALLEN, THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND I'D LIKE TO, UH, GO, GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM.
YOU KNOW, THANK YOU GUYS FOR SHOWING UP AND BEING, BEING HERE.
UM, THE LESS PLAY INITIATIVE IS INDICATIVE OF COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
MAYOR WHITMEYER, LET'S PLAY HOUSTON INITIATIVE, WILL ACTUALLY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS,
[00:05:01]
TOUCH 25 PARKS, MAYBE THREEI'M JUST GIVING US A LITTLE ROOM.
BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A $60 MILLION INVESTMENT, THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AT ONE TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE PARK SYSTEM, THAT DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
I'M SO GRACE, I'M SO GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY'S WORK.
OUR WORK WITH HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, OUR, OUR WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO MAKE SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT HAPPEN.
AND TODAY, OUR BELOVED LAWRENCE PARK, AS I, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE WILL BE WELL TAKEN CARE OF.
IT DOESN'T LOOK TOO BAD RIGHT NOW, BUT GUESS WHAT, WE'RE GONNA ENHANCE IT.
UH, IN JOINING ME TODAY, I HAVE A MYD OF OFFICIALS THAT SUPPORT US IN THIS COMMUNITY.
STARTED WITH PASTOR SJ GILBERT, MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, SIR.
AND I AM PROUD OF THE FACT THAT OUR MAYOR HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO LEAVE.
AS WE KNOW, HE'S GOT MANY THINGS TO TAKE, TAKE CARE OF AND WORRY ABOUT.
WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVE LAUREN ASHLEY SIMMONS FROM DIS DISTRICT 1 46.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVE ARMANDO WALLY FROM DISTRICT ONE 40.
COUNCIL MEMBER JOE TERELLA, CITY OF HOUSTON, DISTRICT C AT LARGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SALLY ALCORN, TWILA CARTER, AND WILLIE DAVIS.
I WAS, I WAS GONNA GET TO IT, BUT CLAP FOR MARIA AS ALSO.
WE ALSO HAVE DANIEL VASQUEZ, CHIEF, UH, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF ON BEHALF OF REPRESENTATIVE ANNA HERNANDEZ.
NOW OF COURSE WE HAVE ABBY CAYMAN, UH, DIS TO THE ATTORNEY.
WE GO WAY BACK, COLLABORATING ON MANY DIFFERENT, UM, PROJECTS WHEN SHE WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, CONTINUED SUPPORT.
WE HAVE RNA KIARA, THANK YOU ELIZABETH.
ELIZABETH CABRERA, DISTRICT DIRECTOR ON BEHALF OF REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTINA MORALES.
AND OF COURSE WE HAVE JUSTIN SCHULTZ, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
KEVIN STRICKLAND, PRESIDENT GREATER HOUSTON, UM, GREATER, GREATER HEIGHTS, EXCUSE ME, SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL.
WE HAVE BRENT VORA, JORDAN SMA AND MANUEL NUNEZ.
FRIENDS OF LAWRENCE PARK AND MILBY PARK.
WE HAVE KATIE, UH, TIPTON PRESIDENT, AND, UH, AMY GURA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
UM, IT TAKES GREAT LEADERSHIP AND WORKING TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT.
UH, I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR AGAIN FOR HIS ONGOING SUPPORT AND, UH, FOR HISS COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, LET'S PLAY HOUSTON INITIATIVE.
IT'S A SIGNATURE INIT, IT'S A SIGNATURE INITIATIVE THAT WAS STARTED, UM, WITH THE LAST ADMINISTRATION UNDER 50 50, BUT WE'RE REACHED FOR, WE REACH FOR FURTHER AND WE DIG DEEPER WITH THE LESS PLAY INITIATIVE UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINIS STATE, UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION WORKING WITH PARKS BOARD.
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, I'M, WELL, I'LL SAY TWO YEARS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, YOU'LL SEE SOME PHENOMENAL THINGS HAPPENING.
UH, LET'S START WITH LAWRENCE PARK.
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN HERE? WE'RE GONNA INSTALL A NEW PLAYGROUND.
WE PARK ACCESS TRAIL CONNECTIONS TO THE KTL.
I'M SORRY, I'M, I'M, UH, I'M STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT, SO FORGIVE ME,
[00:10:01]
KTL TRAIL.WE'RE GONNA ADD ADDITIONAL, UH, A FITNESS AREA LOCATED NEAR, NEAR THE TRAIL ITSELF.
UH, WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION AND A PAVED PLAZA.
WE HAVE, UH, ACCESSIBILITY AND, AND INCLUS I INCLUSIVITY.
UM, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PARKS THAT WE INCLUDE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND ELEMENTS WITH THE PLAYGROUND THAT'LL BE REBUILT.
UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE A BASKETBALL BLEACHER AREA AND ACCESSIBLE PICNIC TABLES ALONG WITH BENCHES.
AS YOU SIT UNDER THIS WONDERFUL PAVILION, H PARK INVESTED $250,000 LAST SUMMER TO CONSTRUCT THIS.
SO THE PARK DOESN'T LOOK TOO BAD AS IT IS, BUT IT WILL BE PHENOMENAL WHEN WE FINISH.
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, UM, LET ME ASK PASTOR GILBERT TO HAVE A FEW WORDS.
I'M HUMBLED TO BE INCLUDED IN TODAY'S INITIATIVE.
I'D LIKE TO PRAY, BUT BEFORE I PRAY, LET ME JUST SIMPLY SAY HOW PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL IT IS FOR ME TO STAND HERE TODAY.
LAWRENCE PARK IS MORE THAN A PARK TO ME, IT'S PART OF MY STORY.
MY GRANDMOTHER LIVED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET.
I GREW UP JUST AROUND THE CORNER ON DOROTHY STREET.
THIS PARK WAS PART OF MY CHILDHOOD, MY RECREATION, MY SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND ULTIMATELY PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT HELPED SHAPE THE PERSON I AM TODAY.
I WAS BAPTIZED AT MOUNT SINAI BAPTIST CHURCH, WHERE MY FATHER PASTORED FROM 1964 TO 2000.
AND WHERE I NOW HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS PASTOR, WHAT IS KNOWN TODAY AS THE MOUNTING CHURCH.
AND THIS MOMENT IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL BECAUSE IN THE MID 1970S, MY FATHER HELPED ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS VERY PARK DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF MAYOR FRED HOFFINS.
SO FOR ME, TODAY REPRESENTS HISTORY, HOME, LEGACY, ALL COMING TOGETHER, ONE GENERATION INVESTED IN US, AND TODAY WE ARE INVESTING IN GENERATIONS YET TO COME.
AND WITH THAT SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE AND HOPE, LET US PRAY.
ETERNAL AND GRACIOUS GOD, OUR FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF THIS DAY AND FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF GATHERING ON THIS HISTORIC GROUND.
YOUR WORD DECLARES IN PSALM 24, 1, THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S AND THE FULLNESS THEREOF THE WORLD.
AND SO TODAY WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BEFORE THIS WAS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, IT WAS YOUR GROUND.
BEFORE WE MADE PLANS FOR IT, YOU HAD PURPOSE FOR IT.
AND BEFORE GENERATIONS GATHERED HERE, YOUR HAND WAS ALREADY UP ON THIS COMMUNITY.
SO, LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR LAWRENCE PARK AND FOR THE COUNTLESS LIVES THAT HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY THIS PLACE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE CHILDREN WHO'VE PLAYED HERE, THE FAMILIES WHO'VE GATHERED HERE, THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN FORMED HERE, AND THE MEMORIES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE HERE.
WE THANK YOU LORD FOR GENERATIONS WHO COME BEFORE US.
THOSE WHO DREAMED, SACRIFICED, ADVOCATED, SERVED, AND INVESTED SO THAT WE MIGHT ENJOY WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.
NOW, LORD, AS WE BREAK THIS GROUND, WE ASK YOU TO BLESS WHAT IS ABOUT TO BE BUILT UPON IT.
BLESS EVERY SHOVEL THAT TURNS THE SOIL.
BLESS EVERY HAND THAT DOES THE WORK.
BLESS EVERY MIND THAT DEVELOP THE VISION.
BLESS EVERY LEADER WHO HELPED PROVIDE THE RESOURCES AND BLESS THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT WILL ENJOY THE RESULTS.
PROTECT EVERY WORKER DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
GRANT WISDOM, COOPERATION, SAFETY AND EXCELLENCE FROM BEGINNING TO COMPLETION.
AND WHEN THE WORK IS FINISHED, MAY LAWRENCE PARK BE CONTINUED TO BE A HABITAT OF LOVE AND A HAVEN OF HOPE, A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN CAN PLACE SAFELY, FAMILIES CAN GATHER JOYFULLY.
SENIORS CAN FIND FELLOWSHIP, NEIGHBORS CAN BECOME FRIENDS, AND COMMUNITY CAN FLOURISH YOUR
[00:15:01]
WORD DEC DECLARE IN PSALM 1 44, 1 45 AND FOUR, ONE GENERATION SHALL PRAISE THY WORKS TO ANOTHER.SO HELP US, OH GOD, TO BE FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF THIS GENERATION, LEAVING SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR GENERATIONS BEHIND US.
AND MAY WHAT WE BREAK GROUND FOR TODAY, BECOME GROUND UP UPON WHICH SOMEBODY STANDS TOMORROW TO DREAM.
BLESS THIS COMMUNITY, BLESS EVERY FAMILY REPRESENTED HERE, BLESS OUR LEADERS AND ALL WHO'VE LABORED TO MAKE THIS DAY POSSIBLE.
AND MAY EVERYTHING BE GONE HERE TODAY.
ULTIMATELY BE USED FOR THE GOOD OF YOUR PEOPLE AND THE GLORY OF YOUR NAME AND THE STRONG MARVELOUS OUS NAME OF JESUS THE CHRIST WE PRAY.
THAT CERTAINLY SUMS UP WHAT PARKS IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT IT DOES FOR A COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT WONDERFUL PRAYER.
I'LL NOW LIKE TO CALL UP ANOTHER ONE OF MY PARTNERS IN GOOD COUNCIL MEMBER JOE PATELLA.
CAN Y'ALL FEEL THAT FALL IS STARTING ALREADY?
I AM Y'ALL'S NEWEST HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING DISTRICT C, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.
TODAY IS TRULY AN EXCITING DAY.
WE ARE IN THE HEART OF DISTRICT C CELEBRATING THE COLLABORATION OF COUNTLESS PARTNERS TO INVEST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GREEN SPACES.
LAWRENCE PARK HAS BEEN A WELL LOVED SPACE FOR THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WHO HAVE CALLED THE HEIGHTS HOME AND HAS BEEN THAT WAY SINCE 1960.
I THINK WE CAN TELL THAT IT NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE.
NOW SINCE THEN, PARKS ARE A DIRECT LINK TO BUILD COMMUNITY BETWEEN EACH OTHER, FROM PLAY DATES TO BASKETBALL, FROM CHESS GAMES, TO BOOK CLUBS.
PARKS SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN SO MANY WAYS, AND THAT'S WHY IT IS REALLY EXTRA SPECIAL TO GET TO EMBARK ON PHASE ONE OF LET'S PLAY HOUSTON HERE AT LAWRENCE PARK IN THE HEIGHTS.
WE'VE SEEN YEARS OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY AROUND THIS VERY PLAYGROUND.
AND THIS IS TRULY, UH, UH, A CULMINATION OF THAT AMAZING PARTNERSHIP AND COMMUNITY.
WITH OVER $2 MILLION IN RENOVATIONS, WE ARE GONNA BE SEEING NEW SHADED PLAYGROUNDS, NEW FITNESS AREAS, AND TWO NEW CONNECTIONS TO THE MKT TRAIL, CONNECTING HOUSTONIANS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY.
LAWRENCE PARK IS PAVING THE WAY FOR WHAT PARKS SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.
I HAVE TO SAY, I AM NOT HERE TO TAKE CREDIT BECAUSE FRANKLY, I HAVE NO CREDIT TO CLAIM.
AND SO I AM HERE TO THANK ALL OF THE AMAZING PEOPLE THAT HAVE TRULY MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
STARTING WITH MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER AND HIS ADMINISTRATION, I REALLY APPRECIATE HIS CONTINUED ADVOCACY FOR INVESTING IN PARK SPACES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I WANNA THANK JUSTIN AND HIS TEAM AT HOUSTON PARKS BOARD AND DIRECT AND DIRECTOR ALLEN AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR COLLABORATING AND BEING TRULY A, A DREAM DUO HERE.
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT PARKS NOT JUST HERE, BUT ACROSS THE NATION, ARE STRUGGLING TO DO MORE WITH LESS EVERY DAY.
THAT'S WHY PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THIS ARE SO CRITICAL.
IDENTIFYING CREATIVE WAYS FORWARD AND PARTNERING TO MAKE VISIONARY IDEAS A REALITY.
THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN DISTRICT C AND WHAT INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES LOOK LIKE.
I ALSO WANNA THANK FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN.
NOW OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, ABBY CAYMAN.
TO ME, YOU'RE ALWAYS GONNA BE DISTRICT C COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT COUNTY ATTORNEY LOOKS GOOD ON YOU.
UM, YOU WORKED DILIGENTLY FOR YEARS ON THIS PROJECT AND IT REALLY SHOWS HOW MUCH YOU CARED ABOUT DISTRICT C.
AND THIS PROJECT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU.
I WANNA THANK EVERY DONOR, BIG AND SMALL WHO MADE THIS VISION A REALITY.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO THANK EVERY PARENT THAT IS HERE TODAY.
I'M, I'M HEARING THE BABIES AND I LOVE TO HEAR IT.
THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE TOO.
BUT REALLY THANK YOU TO THE PARENTS FOR CONTINUING TO INVEST IN YOUR COMMUNITIES, FOR CONTINUING TO BE INVOLVED AND FOR CONTINUING TO USE THE PUBLIC SPACES THAT BELONG TO YOU.
IN PARTICULAR, I WANNA THANK THE EFFORTS OF HARDWORKING RESIDENTS LIKE BRIT RA, JORDAN SMAR, AND FRIENDS OF LAWRENCE AND MILLER PARK.
COME ON, THIS DAY IS Y'ALL'S DAY, SO CONGRATULATIONS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE HERE TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER GOING AND MOVING ON WITH THE PROGRAM.
YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES SUPPORT AT EVERY LEVEL AND WE'RE THANKFUL TO HAVE CON CONGRESSMAN CHRISTIAN MANIFE WITH US.
I WANT TO CALL HIM TO THE PODIUM TO HAVE A FEW WORDS.
[00:20:02]
APPRECIATE IT.TODAY REPRESENTS THE BEST OF OUR CITY, THE BEST OF OUR REGION WHEN PARTNERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND CITY GOVERNMENT CAN COME TOGETHER AND BUILD SOMETHING THAT IS FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY BY THE COMMUNITY.
FOR THOSE OF Y'ALL WHO GREW UP IN HOUSTON, YOU REMEMBER SOME OF YOUR EARLIEST MEMORIES.
HOW YOU REALLY FORGED YOUR PATH IN THESE COMMUNITIES WAS IN A PARK JUST LIKE THIS.
I CAN REMEMBER HITTING MY FIRST THREE POINTER OVER SOMEBODY ELSE AND FEELING VERY, VERY PROUD OF MYSELF AND GETTING MY SHOT BLOCKED WAY OUT OF THE COURT BECAUSE I HAD NO CLUE WHAT I WAS DOING.
BUT ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PARKS ARE A PLACE THAT PEOPLE COME TOGETHER FOR COMMUNITY, TO BUILD FRIENDSHIPS, TO BUILD LASTING RELATIONSHIPS, AND TO GROW THEMSELVES.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO PROUD OF THE EFFORT THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY.
BUT WHAT MOST IMPRESSED ME ABOUT LET'S PLAY HOUSTON IN THIS MASSIVE INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE SEEING, IS THAT COMMUNITY WAS CENTERED IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING HOW TO GO ABOUT IT.
SO MANY TIMES WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THE FANCY BUILDINGS, WHETHER IT'S IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON OR EVEN IN WASHINGTON DC TRYING TO COME TO COMMUNITIES AND TELL THEM HOW THEIR PARKS SHOULD BE, TELL THEM HOW THEIR STREETS SHOULD LOOK, TELL THEM HOW THEIR COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE FORMED.
BUT THIS WAS DONE AT THE GROUND LEVEL, GIVING PEOPLE A REAL VOICE IN THE PROCESS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
SO I WANNA SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE HOUSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT, UH, TO THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, AND OF COURSE TO, TO OUR CITY AND TO MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER FOR MAKING THIS HAP HAPPEN TODAY.
AND I'M JUST HAPPY THAT, UH, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO THE 18 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE GROUNDBREAKING TODAY.
YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD
I HATE THAT I MISSED THE GROUNDBREAKING TODAY.
SO YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD COUNCIL, WELL, I LIKE TO CALL A COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE WE WORKED SO CLOSE TOGETHER WHILE SHE WAS IN OFFICE, BUT SHE'S A HARRIS COUNTY CITY ATTORNEY NOW, AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH HER HAND IN HAND ON MANY PROJECTS AS I MENTIONED EARLIER.
SO I WANT TO CALL HER TO HAVE A FEW WORDS, UH, WITH RESPECT TO THIS PARK AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA MENTION? THANK YOU.
UH, AND IN KEEPING WITH TRADITION, I'M GONNA ASK MY FORMER COLLEAGUES, SO MY FRIENDS TO COME UP AND JOIN ME.
JOE, COME, UH, THIS REALLY IS A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY.
IF YOU WERE A PARENT OR A COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN THE ADVOCACY OF THIS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND STAND.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, IT'S EASY FOR US AS OFFICIALS TO STAND HERE AND AS JOE SAID, SPEAK ABOUT CREDIT AND WHO DID WHAT.
BUT THIS WAS THE COMMUNITY THAT DID THIS.
UH, WE WORKED FOR YEARS TOGETHER TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS PARK, BUT IT IS REALLY A TESTAMENT TO THE VOICES OF WHETHER IT'S FRIENDS OF LAWRENCE AND MILROY, THE HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION, PASTOR GILBERT, YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND PASTOR GILBERT, I JUST ASKED WHEN HE SAT DOWN, UH, HE TALKED ABOUT AS A CHILD, HE PLAYED HERE.
AND I POINTED TO THAT TREE AND I SAID, DID YOU PLAY AROUND THAT TREE? AND MY PRAYER IS THAT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, CHILDREN CAN CONTINUE TO PLAY UNDER THE SHADE AND IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, SO I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYONE.
I'M GONNA MISS A LOT OF THANK YOUS, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THANK YOU IS TO THE RESIDENTS, THE FAMILIES THAT FOUGHT SO HARD FOR THIS.
AND WHILE OUR OFFICES CONTRIBUTED DOLLARS, I REALLY WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARKS BOARD, UH, AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
IF YOUR STAFF OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OR A MEMBER OF THE PARKS BOARD, CAN YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND? UH, I I WAS A BIT OF A BROKEN RECORD, NOT JUST ABOUT THIS PARK, UH, ON CITY COUNCIL, BUT ALSO ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SHADE AS CLIMATE CHANGE TAKES HOLD.
WE JUST HIT RECORD NUMBERS LAST WEEK.
IT IS GETTING TOO HOT FOR OUR CHILDREN TO PLAY SAFELY.
AND I SAID, WE WILL CONTRIBUTE MONEY, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE SHADE.
AND I AM SO EXCITED, BUT ALSO, UH, GRATEFUL THAT THE PARKS BOARD HAS COMMITTED THAT EVERY SINGLE PARK MOVING FORWARD THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WILL HAVE SHADE STRUCTURES.
[00:25:05]
SO, UH, WITH THAT, I JUST, I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE, AND THEN I'LL SIT DOWN.WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF EVERY SINGLE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT FROM CITY TO CONGRESS TO SEE THIS TYPE OF UNITY AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH POLARIZATION AND DIVISIVENESS.
THE FOCUS ON FAMILY, THE FOCUS ON NEIGHBORHOOD, THE FOCUS ON COMING TOGETHER MEANS SO MUCH MORE TODAY THAN IT MAYBE WOULD HAVE A FEW YEARS AGO.
SO AGAIN, THIS WIN IS FOR ALL OF YOU.
IT'S FOR ALL OF US AND FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME.
AS I SEE CHILDREN ALREADY PLAYING IN THE FIELDS, BUT SOON WE'LL GET TO HAVE THESE INCREDIBLE NEW SPACES FOR OUR FAMILIES.
AND NOW I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF PRODUCING.
I LIKE TO CONSIDER OUR NUMBER ONE PARTNER WHO HAS BEAT THE COMMUNITIES.
WALKING THE PATH HAS DONE A TON OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
WE SIMPLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FUNCTION AS WE ARE IN DELIVERING NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND POCKET PARKS AND OTHER PROJECTS, TRAIL PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THIS CITY WITHOUT THEIR INVOLVEMENT.
SO I WANNA BRING UP JUSTIN SOLTZ, CEO OF HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HOUSTON PARKS BOARD.
WE ARE A NONPROFIT HERE IN HOUSTON THAT FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON CONNECTING HOUSTONIANS AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY HOUSTONIAN, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE, HAS ACCESS TO QUALITY, OPEN SPACE.
THE WORK THAT WE DO IS WORK THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO ON OUR OWN.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE HEARD A LOT THIS MORNING IS HOW IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIPS ARE.
YOU HEAR, OH, YOU CAN'T GET ANYTHING DONE WITHOUT PARTNERING WITH PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT GROUPS.
AND THAT'S TRUE, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
YOU CAN TRY TO DO IT ON YOUR OWN.
AND WHETHER YOU ARE, UH, WHERE'D THE KIDS GO? OH, MAYBE THE KIDS HAD TO LEAVE.
UM, WHETHER YOU'RE A LITTLE KID OR A CEO, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS HARDER TO DO THINGS ON YOUR OWN RATHER THAN WORKING IN A GROUP.
AND I'M FROM HOUSTON AND ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT HOUSTON IS THAT WE COME TOGETHER IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD TIMES.
'CAUSE WE ALL HAVE THE SAME GOAL, WHICH IS TO MAKE HOUSTON THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE AND BE IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD.
AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE UP ON THE STAGE, THAT IS WHAT THEY DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND ALL OF THEM HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING THIS.
LET'S PLAY HOUSTON PROGRAM POSSIBLE.
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FOR THIS PROGRAM.
A $60 MILLION INVESTMENT IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ARE THE PARKS THAT ARE OFTEN FOR FORGOTTEN.
THEY'RE NOT FLASHY, THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, BIG, THEY DON'T HAVE GIANT FACILITIES.
BUT THESE ARE THE PARKS THAT ALL OF Y'ALL GO TO AFTER WORK THAT YOU'LL GO AND WALK YOUR DOG THAT YOU'LL GO AND HAVE A PICNIC ON SUNDAY.
SO THESE ARE THE PARKS THAT ARE IN SOME WAYS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OTHER PARKS IN HOUSTON.
AND THOSE PARKS ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED.
BUT THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP AND EFFORTS OF PEOPLE AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT FROM YOUR FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, ABBY CAYMAN, WHO TRULY HAS WORKED ON THIS PROJECT AND OTHER PARK AND TRAIL PROJECTS IN THIS DISTRICT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, PASSING THE BATON TO COUNCILMAN PANZELLA, WHO HAS REALLY PICKED THAT UP AND HAS SHOWN THE IMPORTANCE OF WALKABLE, LIVABLE COMMUNITIES TO OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE HELPED TO SECURE $8 MILLION THANKS TO REPRESENTATIVE WALLY AND HIS, UH, HIS COLLEAGUES IN AUSTIN.
$8 MILLION FOR THESE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THROUGH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF OUR AT LARGE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I OF COURSE HAVE TO CALL OUT COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN 'CAUSE SHE IS ONE OF OUR PARK LEADERS IN HOUSTON AND HAS DONE SO MUCH.
BUT WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER AND RAMIREZ AND DAVIS AND SALINAS AND ALL OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THEY ALL HELPED TO BRING $11 MILLION OF FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO THIS PROGRAM.
NOW, NOTHING IN HOUSTON GETS DONE WITHOUT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
AND THE PUBLIC IS IMPORTANT, BUT THE PRIVATE IS WHAT FILLS THAT GAP.
AND HOUSTON, AS YOU KNOW, HAS INCREDIBLE PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO MAKE HOUSTON A BETTER PLACE.
AND WE HAVE SOME FOLKS HERE TODAY FROM SOME OF OUR PARTNERS, CHEVRON, WHO CONTRIBUTED
[00:30:01]
SPECIFICALLY TO LAWRENCE PARK TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT THIS PARK WAS A PLACE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO FACILITATE ALL THOSE AMAZING ACTIVITIES THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.THANK YOU CHEVRON, FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
PERRY HOLMES HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS PROGRAM.
EXXONMOBIL HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS PROGRAM AND HOUSTON HAS THE MOST PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATIONS OF ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.
THE BROWN FOUNDATION, THE SERAPHIM FOUNDATION, THE CULLEN FOUNDATION, THE ELKINS FOUNDATION, THE WORTHHAM FOUNDATION, HOUSTON ENDOWMENT, THE KINDER FOUNDATION.
ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS HELP TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN PARKS IN GREEN SPACE HAPPEN IN HOUSTON.
AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT WE CAN HELP TO FACILITATE INVESTMENTS LIKE THAT.
BUT AS EVERYONE MENTIONED, PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTNERS ARE THE PARTNERS THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
FRIENDS OF LAWRENCE AND MILROY PARK, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.
THEY HAD THE IDEA TO RENOVATE THIS PARK BEFORE THERE WAS A LET'S PLAY HOUSTON PROGRAM.
AND JORDAN AND BRIT AND EMMANUEL AND ALL OF THE OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE Y'ALL HAVE BROUGHT ALONG ON THIS JOURNEY, Y'ALL ARE REALLY THE ONES WHO HAVE MADE THIS HAPPEN.
Y'ALL PUSHED US, YOU PUSHED THE CITY TO ENSURE THIS PARK WAS NOT OVERLOOKED.
AND WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THAT ADVOCACY, THAT ENTHUSIASM, AND YES, SOMETIMES THE NUDGING EMAIL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE STILL ON TRACK.
SO I'M SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BRING BRIT UP HERE.
AND AGAIN, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT YOU REALLY DID MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH ADVOCATES FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS.
YEAH, NOW, NOW I'M GONNA PUT 'EM ON THE SPOT.
SO THIS STARTED AS RONNIE VORA OVER THERE AS A LITTLEY BABY THAT IS NOW AS OLD AS MY SECOND BABY PLAYING IN THE ROCKS, FINDING THINGS THAT WERE NOT HELPFUL, NOT HAVING A PLACE FOR HER TO PLAY AND FOR ME TO RELAX AND CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO WHAT SPARKED IT WAS WE NEED TO DO BETTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN WE FOUND OUT THAT TWO NEIGHBORHOOD MOMS, UM, ALI WHITE ALEXANDER AND, UM, ALEXIS HESTER HAD ALREADY DONE ALL THE WORK TO FORM THE NONPROFIT.
SO THEY DID ALL THE BIG WORK AND JORDAN AND I AND EMMANUEL KNEW THAT WE WOULD BE ON BOARD SHORTLY AFTER THEY BOTH MOVED OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO A NEW PRESIDENT AND LEADERSHIP BOARD NEEDED TO BE FORMED.
WE WERE TRYING TO RAISE CHILDREN AND LIFE WAS ALREADY A LITTLE BIT CRAZY.
BUT WE ALSO WERE NOT WILLING TO LET THIS FAIL BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS SPACE THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER.
WE DO NOT NEED TO BE LIVING SEPARATELY.
WE CAN HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS AND STILL FIND WAYS TO COME TOGETHER AND BE TOGETHER AND GROW TOGETHER AND SHOW OUR CHILDREN HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO THAT IS WHY WE FIGHT FOR THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I WOULD LOVE TO THANK JORDAN BECAUSE SHE NEVER HAS A CHOICE.
SHE'S MY BESTIE AND SHE DOES WHAT I DO.
SO SHE IS ALWAYS HERE TO SUPPORT ME.
EMMANUEL HAS HIS OWN OTHER NONPROFIT AND HE STILL SHOWED UP FOR US EVERY SINGLE DAY.
UM, ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SHOWED UP ALL SATURDAYS TO DO TRASH PICKUPS, WHO HELPED US SPREAD THE WORD, WHO FILLED OUT THE SURVEYS AND JUST REALLY, REALLY LEANED IN TO HELP THIS PROJECT SUCCEED.
ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY TIRED OF SEEING MY NAME IN YOUR EMAIL ASKING FOR APPOINTMENTS IN YOUR OFFICE, BUT I APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU FOR LISTENING.
I NEVER WAS REALLY INTO GOVERNMENT BEFORE.
THIS PROCESS HAS OPENED MY EYES THAT THESE PEOPLE BEHIND ME ARE TRYING THEIR BEST AND THEY ARE HERE FOR ALL OF US WITH THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE, AND WE COME TOGETHER WITH KINDNESS AND CONVERSATION.
AND SO LAWRENCE PARK IS, IS FINALLY GETTING THIS DREAM THAT
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WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE 2020 AND NOW WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO AT MILROY.SO I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO GET INVOLVED AND LET'S HEAR YOUR VOICES.
LET'S SHOW UP FOR PARK CLEANUPS.
LET'S ADVOCATE FOR THINGS WE WANT TO SEE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND LET'S JUST REALLY BE TOGETHER AND LET OUR VOICES HEARD SO OUR COMMUNITY CAN BE SHAPED THE WAY THAT WE WANT IT TO BE MADE.
AND OUR, THE PEOPLE BEHIND US ARE HERE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE AND BEHIND ME, AND JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, HOUSTON PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT.
SO YOU COUNTED, BUT DEFINITELY LIKE ALSO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I HAVE ONE MORE PERSON I'D LIKE TO BRING UP BECAUSE OF YEARS OF WORK AND COLLABORATION, AND THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE ARMANDO WALLY FROM DISTRICT ONE 40.
UH, STATE REPRESENTATIVE ATANDO WALLY.
UM, BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE NOW, UH, 18 YEARS AND WE HAVE A LOT OF CITY PARKS.
UH, HALF MY DISTRICT'S IN THE UNINCORPORATED PART OF THE CITY, OF THE COUNTY.
UH, THE OTHER HALF IS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, AND SO WHEN I GOT ELECTED, UM, THERE WAS A PARK NEAR MY HOUSE.
IT WAS NEGLECTED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND I'VE MADE IT AN EFFORT TO TRY TO GET SOME MONEY FOR THAT PARK FOR THE LEGISL.
I MEAN, THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
AND OVER TIME, I'VE GOTTEN TO SERVE ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
UH, THAT, UH, DEVILS OUT THE $340 BILLION BUDGET EVERY TWO YEARS THAT WE'RE THERE.
AND, UM, AND, UM, I'M SORRY THAT, UH, TO, UH, IT'S, I'M SORRY TO MY, TO MY OWN PART THAT IT'S TAKEN THIS LONG.
UH, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE HERE, THE ADVOCATES, UH, IF WE COULD REPLICATE THAT IN ALL, ALL THE OTHER PARKS DIRECTOR, UH, IT WOULD, IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY.
UM, AND OVER TIME, WE'VE APPROPRIATED, LET ALONE EIGHT TO $10 MILLION THIS YEAR, THIS PAST SESSION.
WE'VE APPROPRIATED TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR PARTICULAR PARKS, UH, THE LAST FIVE TO SEVEN SESSIONS.
AND I'VE BEEN PROUD TO BE ABLE TO STEER THOSE DOLLARS TO HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY.
UM, NOW YOU CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
YOU NEED PARTNERS, YOU NEED THE COMMUNITY.
YOU NEED A, A FAVORABLE ADMINISTRATION.
YOU NEED, UH, PUBLIC NONPROFITS AND THE PHILANTHROPY AND THE, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S REALLY TAKING THE PARKS THAT ARE EXISTING TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
UH, AND I'M SO PROUD TO BE PART OF STEERING, DIRECTING, ENCOURAGING, PRODDING THE LEGISLATURE TO SPEND DOLLARS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
UH, WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, UH, TO THE EXTENT THAT I'M STILL IN THE LEGISLATURE AND ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
UH, SO I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, UH, AND PARTICULARLY LOOK THIS, UM, UH, THOSE OF US THAT HAVE SPEAKING ROLES, THEY'RE IMPORTANT.
BUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, UH, HOUSTON PARKS AND THEIR STAFF, UM, LISA AND ALL YOU GUYS THAT DO ALL THE WORK, UH, TO, IN, IN FORMULATING THE IDEAS AND GETTING COMMUNITY INPUT, UH, TO THE LETTING OF THE CONTRACTS.
'CAUSE THAT'S ALSO, UH, UH, A, A, A HURDLE TO GET OVER TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE COMPLIANT WITH CITY AND COUNTY AND STATE CODES.
UH, SO I JUST WANNA SAY A BIG, BIG THANK YOU TO THE HOUSTON PARKS, TO HOUSTON PARKS BOARD, BUT ALSO THE STAFF AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON PARKS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE, LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND APPLAUSE BECAUSE IT'S THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE GONNA MONITOR THE CONTRACTS BUT ALSO MONITOR THE CONSTRUCTION FIRMS. AND BIG SHOUT OUT.
IT'S HOT, IT'S GONNA BE HOT
BUT THESE GUYS THAT ARE GONNA BE LITERALLY, I MEAN LOOK, WE, WE DID THE CEREMONIAL SHOVEL MOVING OF THE EARTH.
UM, BUT THE REAL WORK IS REALLY THOSE CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE GONNA BE DOING THIS WORK ON A DAILY BASIS, PASTOR.
UH, AND SO, UH, IN, IN HONOR OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, UM, IT, IT'S FOR GENERATIONS TO COME AFTER YOU, UH, BECAUSE YOU HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION AND THE FAITH FOUNDATION TO MOVE PEOPLE TO DO GOOD WORKS.
AND THE BOOK TELLS US NOT TO JUST SPEAK ABOUT DOING GOOD WORKS.
IT'S ACTUALLY DOING THE DEEDS AND THE GOOD WORKS.
AND SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
SO WARREN PARK, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WARREN PARK DOES NOT HAVE, UH, LET ME JUST SAY THIS.
WARREN PARK DOES NOT HAVE, AND I'M GONNA BRING SOME REALITY TO THIS.
WARREN PARK DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME
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SAME FOOTPRINT ABOUT THE SAME SIZE OVER OFF 59.AND PARKER, UH, OFFER HIRSCH ROAD.
UH, WE'VE HAD PROSTITUTION THERE, WE'VE HAD DRUG ACTIVITY THERE, THERE'S NO PARKING THERE.
THERE ARE TWO SWINGS THAT ARE LIKE THAT, JUST TWO SWINGS OUT THERE.
SO THAT PARK DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME ADVOCACY.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE ADVOCATES HERE, BUT THAT PARK AND MANY LIKE IT DO NOT HAVE THE SAME ADVOCACY AND ADVOCATES, UH, AND CHEERLEADERS.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE CHEERLEADERS, BUT WE NEED MORE CHEERLEADERS FOR THE OTHER PARKS THAT DON'T HAVE THE SAME ADVOCACY.
AND I'M SO PROUD THAT THE $2 MILLION THAT YOU GUYS WITH, UH, WITH, UH, THIS INITIATIVE, UH, LET'S PLAY HOUSTON IS GONNA MATCH THE $2 MILLION AT THE STATE PARKS AND WILDLIFE.
SO THAT'D BE A $4 MILLION INVESTMENT INTO A PARK THAT HAS NOTHING.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU SPANISH.
WE CAN DO THE SPANISH AFTERWARDS.
WE'LL DO THE SPANISH AFTERWARDS.
YOU KNOW, THE PASSION TO IMPROVE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS IS EVIDENT.
WE'RE STANDING HERE DOING THE GROUND FLIP.
UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS.
WHAT HAPPENS ACTUALLY, WHEN THIS IS ALL COMPLETE, I LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THIS PARK WITH A LIMITED BUDGET, BUT WE'RE GONNA MAINTAIN IT AND MAINTAIN IT WELL TO OUR FULLEST CAPACITY.
IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY HELP, THAT'S WHERE WE NEED YOU.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT QUITE REGULAR, LET US KNOW.
YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL BE HERE, BUT WE CAN'T BE HERE 24 7.
SO WE'LL APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR CONTINUED AG ADVOCACY FOR THIS PART.
UM, WE HAVE ADOPTION PROGRAMS AS WELL IN TERMS OF ADOPTING A PARK, ADOPTING A FIELD, BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS.
I'D LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO WORK WITH OUR TEAM AND ACCOMPLISHING THAT LONG TERM, MAKING US MORE RESILIENT AS A PARK.
AND I CAN'T WAIT TO ACTUALLY DO THE RIBBON CUTTING.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE TEAM AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.
IT'S SURELY AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO SEE US, UM, GROW, TO SEE US HEALTHY AS A COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S A PLEASURE SERVING AS YOUR DIRECTOR.
FOR THOSE THAT MISS THE GROUNDBREAKING, WE'RE GONNA DO A REDO.
WE HAVE SPONSORS THAT ALSO NEED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PICTURES.
SO IF YOU GUYS DON'T MIND, WE'RE GONNA DO THAT ONE MORE TIME.