Along with activities for the kids at the groundbreaking ceremony for Exploration Green we had support from the NASA community. Details to follow.
Elected Officials and Community Leaders Support Exploration Green's Groundbreaking
Saturday’s Exploration Green Groundbreaking and Earth Day Celebration featured over a dozen elected officials and community leaders in a Groundbreaking ceremony with short speeches and ceremonial breaking of earth witnessed by about 200 people. Not so interested in the speeches were dozens of youngsters searching for Easter eggs, eating snow cones and meeting NASA’s huge inflated astronaut, Cosmo. All in all, the festivities including runners, hikers and bicyclists, were a great representation of fun and activities at this new 200 acre gem of public green space in Clear Lake.
Ande Mattei, Intergovernmental Affairs for Mayor Anise Parker presented and read a City of Houston Proclamation signed by Houston Mayor Parker, proclaiming April 12, 2014 as Exploration Green Day in Houston, Texas. This followed introductory comments about the Green’s pivotal milestones by Clear Lake City Water Authority Vice-Chairman John Branch.
 Volunteers setupVolunteers from the community begin setting up for the event. |  Volunteers prepareThe volunteers of the Exploration Green Conservancy makes final preparations. |
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 Our local ConstablesHarris County Constables came out in support |  Our local First RespondersOur local First Responders came out to provide tours of the fire engine for the kids (of all ages!) |
 Clear Lake Water AuthorityThanks to the employees of the Clear Lake Water Authority for their hard work! |  Ready!We are ready for the ceremony to begin. |
 The ceremony beginsThe crowd listens to John Branch of the Clear Lake City Water Authority |  Large crowd came outA very large crowd was on hand to show their support for Exploration Green |
 City of Houston ProclamationAnde Mattei, Intergovernmental Affairs for Mayor Anise Parker presents a City of Houston Proclamation |  Proclamation from the CityThe proclamation from the City of Houston |
 City Council Member Dave MartinOur local City Council Member, Dave Martin, presents a proclamation from his office in support of Exploration Green |  Proclamation from City CouncilThe Proclamation from local City Council Member Dave Martin |
 Cosmos!Cosmos from NASA/JSC was there for the kids. |  CosmosCosmos joins our local leaders |
 Breaking GroundElected officials officially break ground for Exploration Green! Pictured from left to right in the groundbreaking ceremony, Houston City Council Member David Robinson, John Branch CLCWA Board Member, Council Member Jack Christie, local District E Council Member Dave Martin, Council Member Mike Laster, and Frank Wreary Exploration Green Conservancy Chair. |
Dave Martin, District E council member for the Clear Lake Area, honored the Exploration Green Conservancy by signing and presenting a City of Houston Certificate of Special Recognition honoring its work and improving the green space. Four Houston city council members spoke highly of Exploration Green, beginning with our local member, Dave Martin, and then at large members Jack Christie and David Robinson, and Mike Laster, district J member and supporter of the Clear Lake area. They expressed support for the long-term project to create the storm water detention, recreation and environmental conservation area
.Jeff Taebel, director of Community and Environmental Planning at the influential Houston-Galveston Area Council, made a special effort to attend the groundbreaking to express his support for Exploration Green as an excellent example of partnered community and environmental initiatives that are so important to the Houston region. Other dignitaries included newly appointed HPD Clear Lake Captain Jerome Stevens, Taylor Lake Village Mayor Jon Keeney, Fangyi Lu of SWA Architecture Group, Sargent Arturo Cruz of the Harris County Precinct 2 Clear Lake office, Bob Stokes of Galveston Bay Foundation and John Jacob of Texas A&M Coastal Watershed Program. All the while NASA’s Cosmo astronaut mascot roamed the area and wowed the kids with hugs, as runners ran by on the six mile trail and bicyclists checked out the area.
“It is great to see this kind of support from so many Houston area office holders and administrative officials like Jeff Taebel of H-GAC,” said Branch. “The turnout and positive support reflect Exploration Green’s many benefits to local community residents.”
“This event, with all the people and excitement, marks a major advance in the Clear Lake area’s quality of life. This new public green space with its many important benefits make Clear Lake even a better place to live and raise kids,” remarked Exploration Green Conservancy chair, Frank Weary.
Exploration Green is open to the public and Clear Lake City Water Authority customers are encouraged to visit often to explore Exploration Green. Check www.ExplorationGreen.org to see photographs and learn more.
EGC Groundbreaking
Saturday’s Exploration Green Groundbreaking and Earth Day Celebration featured over a dozen elected officials and community leaders in a Groundbreaking ceremony with short speeches and ceremonial breaking of earth witnessed by about 200 people. Not so interested in the speeches were dozens of youngsters searching for Easter eggs, eating snow cones and meeting NASA’s huge inflated astronaut, Cosmo. All in all, the festivities including runners, hikers and bicyclists, were a great representation of fun and activities at this new 200 acre gem of public green space in Clear Lake.
