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Memorial Park Land Bridge, prairie now open By Landan Kuhlmann
landan@theleadernews.com The continued transformation of a popular area amenity is continuing, and another portion of the transformation is now open to the public. Last Saturday, The Memorial Park Conservancy and partners from around the city unveiled Memorial Park’s new Land Bridge and Prairie Project during an event coined “The Biggest Picnic in Texas” at Memorial Park.
Officials say the land bridge, consisting of two 35-foot-tall hills crossing over Memorial Drive, will serve as a major connector for Memorial Park users and wildlife between the north and south sides of the park. Officials say the project also re-establishes endangered native Gulf Coast prairie as well as savanna, wetlands and reforested areas to promote regional biodiversity and strengthen surrounding ecologies. “The Kinder Land Bridge
and Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Prairie will elevate park visitors’ experiences and our city on a national and even global level,” said Garden Oaks resident Shellye Arnold, the president and CEO of Memorial Park Conservancy. “With endless gratitude to our generous donors, Memorial Park Conservancy is honored to gift this project to Houston.” Attendees Saturday got a chance to walk through and See Park P. 6
Photo by Nelson Byrd Woltz Pictured is an aerial view of the Memorial Park Land Bridge. The bridge and prairie project opened to the public last weekend.
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INSIDE.
By Landan Kuhlmann
landan@theleadernews.com
Man arrested A second suspect in a fatal hotel shooting has been arrested
Page 2 Photo by Landan Kuhlmann A parent helps a couple of Oak Forest Elementary kindergartners lay down a water inlet marker near a storm drain on a street near the school last Saturday. Dozens of youngsters were out and about laying down markers as part of a community project.
Oak Forest Elementary ‘mystery parent’ presentation spawns water flow project Silencing doubts Leading this week’s soccer roundup is St. Thomas, which finished the regular season strong last week
Page 4
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Last Saturday morning, more than a dozen kindergartners from Oak Forest Elementary were happily running, laughing and joking as they enjoyed a cold Saturday morning. But they weren’t playing soccer or jumping on the monkey bars – they were taking part in a community project that was aimed at creating awareness about water and drainage flow. Last weekend, amidst temperatures in the mid-40s, the youngsters were installing roughly 40 water inlet markers along Oak Forest Drive leading from the school to Oak Forest Park in an effort to raise awareness about how the water from the school eventually makes its way to Galveston Bay. See Project P. 6
So-so showing While not spectacular, reviewer Dan Greer said Bodega Burger was a solid experience
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Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Pictured is one of the water inlet markers installed by a class of Oak Forest Elementary kindergartners last Saturday. The class installed dozens of markers in a neighborhood near the school.
More than 300 Houston-area teachers were recently recognized by a regional teachers’ organization for their dedication to their students, and several educators from area schools were among those recognized. On Feb. 9, the Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators hosted their 36th annual Teacher Awards, and seven teachers from the Heights, Garden Oaks/Oak Forest, and Northside schools were among those from 52 Houston ISD campuses honored for their “outstanding commitment to students,” according to the organization. Heights High School’s Antwuan Walters, Booker T. Washington’s Stephanie Huffman, Linda Reeves from Durham Elementary, Tiffany Bennett from Smith Elementary, Keith Bornes Jr. from Williams Middle School, Arthur Collier from Frank Black Middle School, and Tiffanie Cole from Burbank Middle School were among those recognized during the ceremony. All teachers honored were nominated by their principal or the district-wide HAABSE committee for reaching “exceptional teaching achievements throughout the year,” according to the organization. “Houston ISD educators unlock the promise and potential of Houston’s children,” said William Solomon, HISD executive director of talent acquisition William Solomon said. “They change life trajectories; show a hard-to-match level of care for and dedication to student success; and more than anything, See Teachers P. 6
Houston Farmers Market redesign earns national distinction Staff Reports
The development of a redesigned destination spot on the east side of the Heights has been recognized by a national real estate panel as one of Houston’s most innovative and compelling real estate projects. According to a news release, MLB Capital Partners’ redesign of the Houston Farmers Market at 2520 Airline Dr. recently took home top billing
among Houston’s most compelling and innovative real estate projects at the National Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) 16th annual Development of Distinction Awards on Feb. 6. According to the ULI, the award “recognizes developments and public open spaces that exemplify best practices in design, construction, economic viability, healthy places, marketing, and management.” Finalists were selected by a nomination panel of Houston
real estate leaders, and a jury of national real estate experts evaluated all finalists’ projects in November 2022, to select the 2023 Development of Distinction winners. MLB Capital Partners purchased the 17.67-acre site at 2520 Airline Dr. back in 2017, with a goal of revitalizing the market while still staying true to the market’s roots and history, which date back to its inSee Market P. 6
Photo by Michael Craft The redesign and upgrading of the Houston Farmers Market, pictured, has garnered a national real estate honor.
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