Inside District I Newsletter

Greetings!

I wanted to take a moment to update you on two very important projects in District I. As you know, in January, City Council unanimously approved partnerships with the Houston Golf Association (HGA) to renovate and operate Gus Wortham Golf Course, and with the Houston Botanic Garden (HBG) to create a world-class botanic garden at Glenbrook. In total, both non-profit organizations are expected to invest over 50 million in private dollars to improve and operate these City parks.

Gus Wortham Restoration

Since January, the HGA has raised approximately $3.3 million and is on track to reach its first $5 million target by the end of the year. Their first major commitment came from the Wortham Foundation, which pledged a $3 million challenge grant last month. The total cost of the project over time is approximately $15 million. A new website to help facilitate fundraising efforts and provide information on the restoration project will be launched in the coming weeks as well.

The HGA has completed an initial site and environmental assessment and is currently working with its project team to help update the existing master plan. In addition, HGA created a Fundraising Steering Committee along with an exemplary list of Honorary Chairs for the campaign. The HGA is working on establishing a Community Coalition that will include a number of residents and area stakeholders. A community progress meeting has been tentatively set for the fall.

Botanic Garden Creation
The HBG has held a number of meetings with civic leaders, stakeholders, and a large community workshop that was attended by over 160 residents. In April, HBG announced it had selected West 8, an award-winning urban design and landscape architecture firm, to lead the development of the master plan.

HBG representatives will continue meeting with residents and stakeholders as it works through the design and construction phases of the development of the garden. Another community engagement meeting relating to the master plan will be held in late September.

As you can imagine, both projects are complex, but I'm very pleased with our progress to transform these underutilized green spaces into landmark City parks. Please be sure to visit the District I website for regular updates and announcements.

I hope you have a fun and safe Fourth of July!

Robert Gallegos

Houston Council Member

District I

Houston's Fourth of July Celebration

Fireworks will ignite the sky, and country tunes will set the stage for Houston's signature annual patriotic celebration, Southwest Airlines Freedom Over Texas from 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 4 at the newly renovated Eleanor Tinsley Park on Buffalo Bayou (along Allen Parkway).

Country singer and Houston son, Clint Black and double-platinum-selling singer, songwriter Josh Turner will headline the 29-year-old annual event on the Southwest Airlines Stage that will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display by CITGO.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $8 per person or purchased at the gate for $10. Admission is free for children under 5. Visit https://tix.extremetix.com/Online/?siteID=3355 to purchase tickets.

Councilman Gallegos & Dynamo to Honor Veterans

On Friday, July 3, Councilman Robert Gallegos will join the Houston Dynamo and thousands of fans in celebration of Houston Dynamo Armed Forces Appreciation Day, to honor and salute our troops and their families for their selfless dedication, sacrifice and all that they do for our country.

Dynamo Armed Forces Appreciation Night started in 2009, when Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis created the charitable program "Brad's Brigade" to bring deserved recognition to the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our nation. Brad would donate his personal tickets to Armed Forces members for Dynamo games and challenged fans and corporate partners to do the same. Every year the campaign grew larger and larger - from 500 tickets donated to Armed Forces members in 2009 to 2,600 tickets in 2014.

In addition to donating thousands of tickets to Armed Forces families, Brad's Brigade also raises funds for Banded Brigade Outdoors, a non-profit organization that provides morale-boosting outdoor events and social activities for injured veterans and their families.

"I deeply appreciate everything Brad and the Houston Dynamo do for our veterans, community, and city," Councilman Gallegos said at a special appreciation ceremony at Dynamo Stadium last month.

The Houston Dynamo and Councilman Gallegos will pay tribute to active duty military, veterans and wounded warriors during halftime at the July 3rd game against the Chicago Fire. For tickets visit www.houstondynamo.com/brigade.

District I Neighborhood Workshop - Aug. 19th

Council Member Robert Gallegos, in partnership with the Citizens Assistance Office, the Planning Department, and Department of Neighborhood representatives, will be hosting a workshop on how residents can create civic organization in their community.

If no civic organization of the type you want to organize exists in your neighborhood, we encourage you to attend this free workshop and learn how you and your neighbors can establish a civic group to help address issues and concerns in your area.

The workshop will be held Wednesday, August 19th at the E.B. Cape Center, 4501 Leeland Street. All District I residents are welcome. For more information, call the District I office at 832-393-3011.

New Bus Network Starting August 2015

Early this year, the METRO Board of Directors approved a complete overhaul of the local bus system. METRO officials are confident the new bus network offers a better connectivity to areas where people live, work, play and learn.

Specifically for District I residences, with the opening of the METRORail Green Line this past month, the new bus network will improve connections to the rail lines. Bus routes along Lockwood, Sampson and York Street will connect to the Green Line. Utilizing the new bus network, riders will be able to access METRORail's Green Line and connect to BBVA Stadium, the Theater District, Downtown and also enable riders to transfer to METRORail's Red Line and Purple Line.

During this summer METRO will begin an extensive public education campaign to inform riders of the upcoming changes to the bus system. The new bus network will be ready to implement in August 2015, so please make certain to look out for new bus route information at bus shelters and bus stops throughout the METRO service area.

In addition, construction of the Harrisburg overpass kicked off Monday, May 11th. The overpass is the final piece that will fully connect downtown to the Magnolia Transit Center. In the meantime, the East End "Green" light rail line is running between the Theater District in downtown to the Altic / Howard Hughes Station.

For more information you can also visit www.RideMETRO.org.

Sidewalk Projects in District I

The District I office is pleased to announce six sidewalk projects that have been pending for years, will finally be constructed as part of the city's Safe Sidewalk Program. All of the projects are in neighborhoods near schools with high pedestrian traffic. Work has begun (or will begin soon) on sidewalk segments in Sunnyland, Tropicana Village, Magnolia Park, Pecan Park, and Manchester.

The Department of Public Works and Engineering constructs sidewalks as an independent public improvement through the Safe Sidewalk Program.

This three part program provides sidewalks and ramps along streets leading up to schools, major thoroughfares and where needed to improve mobility and access for citizens with disabilities.