Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition

KBR Makes Donation to Coaltion

2010-04-26T08:58:00.001-05:00

We were excited to have representatives from KBR at our quarterly board meeting on Thursday, April 22. Richard Jennings and Eric Hall presented The Coalition with a $10,000 check and Mr. Jennings shared KBR's giving history. It was exciting to hear the work KBR is involved in and to realize we were selected with these other causes. We are definitely in good company and appreciative of the recognition by such a good corporate citizen. Thanks KBR!

Association of Water Board Developers Annual Conference

2010-04-12T15:43:00.001-05:00

Several of our committee members have recommended that we get involved with Association of Water Board Directors (AWBD). The recommendation we hear over and over is to attend its Annual Conference and host a reception. With over 2,000 directors in attendance we decided that would be a good opportunity to visit more in depth about our work. We now have details on this event. We are looking forward to visiting with directors at a reception on Friday, June 18, 2010, 6pm at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio. If you offer professional services to Municipal Utility Districts (MUD) and would like to sponsor the event click here for details. If you are a MUD with an interest in Greens Bayou call Treena Dockery at 281-874-2146 to RSVP.

National Park Service Grant

2010-03-30T10:18:00.000-05:00

We are very excited to have the National Park Service working with us to develop a master plan for the forty-five miles of Greens Bayou through its Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program.

Kathryn Nichols, Community Planner, National Park Service, was in town Monday, March 30, visiting with the volunteers that meet monthly to work on Greens Bayou. We had a great turn out and appreciate everyone's participation. Kathryn tells us this helped bring all the pieces togehter for her.

Now, it's time to get input from the community at-large. Over the next year reach committees will host workshops in the reaches, surveys will be sent out, on-line surveys will be developed, and we will learn what recreational activities the community wants. If you have ideas stay tuned to our Calendar of Events for details on meetings in your area.

March 20, 2010 West Reach Clean Up/Tree Planting Event

2010-03-23T17:08:00.000-05:00

Despite the threat of rain and the eventual deluge, approximately 75 volunteers worked for three hours along the upper portion of the watershed. Before the cool front pushed through forty trees were planted and fifty bags of trash were collected.

Volunteers from KBR, Boy Scouts, Willowbrook Rotary Club, Klein Collins High School Interact Club, Leadership North Houston alumni, and the community at large chipped in to make this first event a huge success. The committee was particularly impressed with the number of youth volunteers that participated and the work ethic they displayed. They hung in there, got soaked, and finished the job with a smile on their face and a little laughter.

GBCC extends its sincere appreciation to KBR for financial support, Harris County Flood for donation of the trees, Trees for Houston for materials and instruction, Bayou Preservation Association for its expertise, and CenterPoint Energy for donation of equipment. We look forward to future projects.

Help Us Beautify the Bayou!

2010-03-18T07:54:00.000-05:00

When the West Reach initially met and went through a SWOT (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunity, Threat) exercise, one of the themes that emerged was the lack of appeal in this part of Greens Bayou. With funding from KBR, GBCC is partnering with Harris County Flood Control District, Bayou Preservation Association, Costa Vizcaya Apartments and Trees For Houston to host a Bayou Clean/Tree Planting Day on Saturday, March 20, 2010, from 9 am - 12 noon.

The clean up will start at the top of Greens Bayou and begin working down stream. If you are interested in participating in the clean up meet at Walgreens located at Jones Road and Cypress-North Houston. The tree planting will focus on an area between North Gessner and Mills Road. If you are interested in participating in the tree planting meet at Costa Vizcaya apartments at 12020 N. Gessner Road, Houston, TX 77064.

State Farm Youth Advisory Board Awards GBCC Grant

2010-03-03T15:06:00.001-06:00

Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition (GBCC), Houston Parks Board, Bayou Preservation Association, and Wendel D Ley Family YMCA are working together to develop the first canoe launch park on Greens Bayou.

The site is a genuine diamond in the rough, with two unusual finds. First, the furthest east stand of Anacuas are present. More importantly, it is home to a ten foot palm. Specialist at the University of Texas are working to determine if it is a new species, or simply the largest Louisiana Sabal in the State of Texas.

State Farm Youth Advisory Board awarded GBCC a $38,019 grant to work with Galena Park ISD high school students. Students will be introduced to native vs. invasive species concepts, identify and remove invasive species, and replant native plants.

1st Annual Meeting a Big Success

2010-02-22T09:45:00.000-06:00

Celebrations in general are just so much fun! We certainly enjoyed sharing our accomplishments with the community at our 1st Annual Meeting on Thrusday, February 18. What did we celebrate?

Over $1 Million in cash and in-kind donations secured over the past year.
Companies and individuals that made significant contributions
Projects that include

West Reach Clean Up/Replanting
Ida Gaye Gardens
Canoe Trail
Regionalized Waste Water Treatment study

Joe Wozny and North Houston Association with Founders Awards

For more photos visit us on Facebook

Final Days of Preparation for Annual Meeting

2010-02-15T08:48:00.002-06:00

Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition will host its 1st Annual Meeting this week on Thursday, February 18, at Hilton Houston North, 12400 Greenspoint Drive. Registration begins at 10:00 am.

There are so many unknowns for a first event. How many people will attend? How many sponsors can we secure? With no previous record it is just difficult to know how successful an event will be. This has not been the case with our Annual Meeting. We are very pleased with the number of RSVP's for this event and the number of sponsors. We are looking forward to sharing this year's successes with the community. If you would like to attend call Treena Dockery at 281-874-2146.

Special thanks to Montgomery & Barnes, Inc, Amegy Bank, Greenspoint District, LJA Engineering Inc, Port of Houston, RVi, SEK Engineering Inc, and SWA Group.

2010-02-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

The Texas Trails Network conference was a great opportunity to meet visit with others in the field and hear from a wide range of topics. I had a couple of things happen that was very exciting.

First, when I checked in the volunteer seemed to recognize my name and organization. After first asking if I was from the Grapevine area it dawned on him that he had heard about us because he found our website. He had great things to say about the website. Good job Kathryn! You came through for me once again.

Second, Mark Fenton, host of PBS'America's Walking, was one of the lunch time presenters. He had photos of Greens Bayou and held it up as an example for what could be done.

We were very excited to be recognized at a state-wide conference this early in our development.

Back From Texas Trails Network Conference

2010-02-10T07:55:00.000-06:00

Board Meeting

2010-02-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

We had our first real board meeting with the new board of directors last week. I say real because they have met one other time, but it was more of an introduction to the organization. We didn't do all of the financial reports, committee reports, etc. I am so excited to be working with this board. Not only because everytime people hear who serves on the board we get a very surprised reaction about the caliber of the board for such a new organization, but because they are engaged, asking really good questions, and are providing helpful feedback.

I am also thankful that they are taking the responsibility of participating financially seriously. We had members bring about $10,000 to the meeting. This helps us credibility when we ask others for funding. It is so important for board members to participate in the fundraising function of the organization.

Lifestyle Effects On Chronic Illnesses

2010-01-25T07:40:00.000-06:00

I attended two events last week that really opened my eyes to the benefits of parks and trails as it relates to healthy lifestyles. It was really an eye opener.

When I was young it was very rare that you ran across someone that had diabetes. Children with diabetes was almost unheard of. That trend is changing. By the time my youngest daughter was in middle school, in a class with approximately 200 students, there were four classmates diagnosed with diabetes. Two of them relied on pumps to regulate their insulin. Even though two of them were in my girl scout troops it never really hit me that there has been a real spike in diabetes diagnosis.

While the girls I knew did not have weight issues, the stories we heard last week at the Quality of Life Coalitions' symposium last week illustrated the significance of the American lifestyle on our health. I think the story that really hit home for me was the story of an immigrant family from Cambodia. Dr. Siripoom McKay from Baylor College of Medicine showed us a picture of a family with three children. The parents and oldest daughter were born in Cambodia and spent much of their life there. The youngest two children were born in American and lived a typical American lifestyle. The differences in weight were astounding. The youngest son, at 16, is now dealing with diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease. Dr. McKay works with families to connect them to park and trails facilities in their neighborhood to encourage physical activity.

The second event I attended was Leadership North Houston session on Health & Human Services. In addition to hearing from medical professionals on the impacts of our weight on our health, we saw a heart valve replacement surgery at Ben Taub. The patient was very heavy.

It was an interesting week. I obviously always knew that weight impacted a person's health. It was just interesting to see it from a couple of different perspectives this week.

Oh.....by the way....my husband and I bought bicycles this week.

Great Meeting With Houston Endowment!

2010-01-15T08:37:00.000-06:00

OK....1st things 1st. I grew up in Downtown Houston at Main 2016 (yes.....I was there when they filmed Urban Cowboy for all you native Houstonians) and the explosion of Downtown Houston just amazes me. Houston Endowments offices are in the JP Morgan Chase Building, which is the tallest building downtown. It is quite a navagational feat to get to the 64th floor. First you have to find the elevator bank that takes you to the 60th floor then you search for the bank of elevator bank that takes you to higher. I got dizzy when I stepped off the elevator, and I wasn't even close to a window.

The meeting with Houston Endowment went incredibly well. You know how when you are busy in the day to day routine of work, and you wonder if your are on the right track? Working with a new organization that's how I have often felt. We received so many compliments on "the strategic nature" of our work. Elizabeth Love, our grants manager, really reaffirmed that we are on the right track. From the early foundation, to pursuing the National Park Service grant for assistance in master planning, to the composition of the board makeup, to SWOT Analysis it appears we have been getting it right. I feel very encouraged about our prospects in success with Houston Endowment. It is still a long process but looks like we are on the right track.

Meeting with the Houston Endowment

2010-01-13T07:24:00.000-06:00

One of the things new non-profits deal with is the uncertainty of finding funding. This is even more true today in light of the recession. I have to say we have been fortunate at Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition because we have are receiving grants from programs that will lend to our credibility. We have a big meeting today with the Houston Endowment as part of the next phase of their review process. The Houston Endowment has a record of assisting newer organizations and we are thankful to have reached this stage in discussion. There is still a long way to go, but at least they are still talking to us!

Pieces Coming Together For Major Sports Complex in Greenspoint Area

2010-01-06T08:08:00.000-06:00

With the possibility of additional recreational opportunities at Glen Forrest Basin north of Greens Road and adjacent to I-45 North and a new skateboard park to be developed by the Greenspoint Redevelopment Authority, Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program funding will allow the development of a trail that extends the current trail at Wussow Park and connects future recreational opportunities. Recently, Texas Department of Transportation approved $2.9M for Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition (GBCC) and Greenspoint District to pursue that opportunity. Additionally, stakeholders such as North Houston Alliance-Greenspoint Inercontinental Airport (NHAGIA) and Greenspoint Community Partners (GCP) recognize its importance and have contributed to the effort. NHAGIA, recognizing the importance of a comprehensive sports complex, donated $25,000 to the effort. Area hotels feel that the proximity of Greenspoint to the airport, with easy access from I-45, make Greenspoint the ideal location for hosting tournaments and events. Commissioner El Franco Lee's office is providing the pedestrian bridge to the effort. With growing inquiries from the private sector in how they can participate, GBCC is meeting with Clark Condon Associates to explore opportunities for sponsorship recognition along the trail system. If you are interested in a sponsorship opportunity contact Regina Lindsey at 281-874-2137.

Ida Gaye Gardens

2009-11-29T13:49:00.000-06:00

Final concept design for Ida Gaye Gardens. Ida Gaye Gardens will be a park designed to promote an independent lifestyle in senior citizens through physical activity. Phase I will be complete by December 2010 thanks to a $97,000 Texas Parks and Wildlife grant and a match provided by the Greenspoint District.