WHAT: Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will co-host the Love Our Parks Fest that will bring the Christmas spirit to the Acres Homes area along with the announcement of completed and upcoming improvements to Lincoln Park. The improvements are necessary to enhance the quality of life for people who use the 7-acre park for swimming, sports, educational activities, social services, youth after-school and summer programs, seniors programs and much more. The work includes swimming pool area fencing and concrete replacement, tennis court repairs, new playground equipment, landscaping and irrigation, concrete trail, and lighting. Before the announcement, the Love Our Parks Fest will treat the community to free bikes and toys for children, music, and holiday arts and crafts.
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 17, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | 12:15 p.m.: News conference starts
WHO: Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner
Kenneth Allen, Director, Houston Parks & Recreation Dept.
Bashar Ahmed, Deputy Chief of Staff, Harris County Engineering Dept.
Shannon Buggs, Director, Complete Communities
City Council Member Amy Peck, District A
Zach Davis, Senior VP and CFO, Cheniere Energy
Pastor Raymond Hillis, Progressive Church
VISUALS: Children and adults enjoying the festivities, including bike and toy giveaways; Commissioner Ellis and Mayor Turner showing community members the park improvements.
WHERE: Lincoln Park | 979 Grenshaw, Houston, TX 77088
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will announce improvements to Lincoln Park at the Love Our Parks Fest, an event that brings holiday cheers along with bikes and toys for children in the Acres Homes community on Sunday, Dec. 17.
“Every neighborhood deserves access to beautiful parks,” said Commissioner Ellis, whose Precinct One has pledged $1.5 million toward the improvements. “This is especially true in areas like Acres Homes, which for too long has lacked access to quality green space. While we have made significant improvements, this is just the beginning of what is in store for all who visit Lincoln Park. Thank you to Mayor Turner for your partnership and to the people of Acres Homes, whose vision for this park guided our efforts.”
The park improvements will enhance the green space so that city and county official can upgrade recreational activities as well as add outdoor exercise equipment. Other improvements include resurfacing the tennis court and new lighting, upgraded walking trail, new playground equipment, new fencing, barbecue pits, swimming pool upgrades, new bleachers, landscaping, and parking lot improvements.
The park is owned by the city and maintained by Precinct One through an interlocal agreement. Precinct One and the city have workers at the community center to provide recreational, educational, social services, and programs for youth and adults to enhance the quality of life in Acres Homes.
“I am happy to celebrate the completion of improvements to Lincoln Park,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “The Love Our Parks initiative under my leadership has brought unprecedented change to neighborhood parks across the city. These park upgrades have helped transform communities. Thank you, Cheniere Energy, the Parks and Recreation Department, and Commissioner Rodney Ellis for your collaborative efforts in enhancing this park that will serve this community for generations to come.”
Cheniere Energy Inc., a strong supporter of the Love Our Parks initiative, has generously donated more than $200,000 for Round Two of the program. During the Love Our Parks Fest from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Dec. 17, attendees will be treated to free bikes and toys for children, music, holiday arts and crafts, and safe archery.
Said Kenneth Allen, Director of Houston Parks and Recreation Department: “Lincoln Park’s makeover is a big deal for the Acres Homes community. This is a neighborhood park that’s responsible for countless wonderful memories for community residents. To see it in tip-top shape and know the new memories it will inspire is especially rewarding to me as Director of the Parks and Recreation Department. Thank you, Cheniere Energy and Commissioner Ellis for making another local park a source of pride.”
Added Commissioner Ellis: “The improvements to Lincoln Park will provide a vibrant place for families to gather, children to play, and people to exercise while connecting to nature and one another.”