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WE GOT A LOT OF SEATS IN.COME ON IN, GET OUT OF THE SUN.
GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING.
LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD.
UH, WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT YOU WOULD COME OUT ON THIS GLORIOUS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS TO CELEBRATE ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE FOR THE WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY.
AND IF I DARE SAY SO, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ALL OF US, WE, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
CHRIS AND I SERVE AS THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
CHRIS AND I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, I THINK SINCE THE VERY EARLY DAYS.
UH, AND WE ARE JUST AS EXCITED AND JUST AS COMMITTED TODAY AS WE WERE ON DAY ONE.
UH, THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE, UH, HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.
UH, I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN TO WATERLOO PARK.
IT IS A SPECTACULAR PLACE AND A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR THE CITY AND FOR OUR CITIZENS.
AND SO WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO KICK OFF THE NEXT PHASE.
UM, WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS HERE, MANY OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS.
I WANT TO, UH, RECOGNIZE THEM.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A PIECE OF ADVICE.
HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THE VERY END.
OTHERWISE, YOUR HANDS WILL BE SORE BECAUSE WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE.
AND I'M GONNA START BY RECOGNIZING OUR LONGTIME CONGRESSMAN, CONGRESSMAN DOGGETT.
JILL WYMAN WITH SENATOR CORMAN'S OFFICE IS HERE.
BRANDON SIMON WITH SENATOR CRUZ IS HERE.
DIANA GOMEZ WITH CONGRESSMAN KASAR IS HERE.
THANK YOU KIRK WATSON FOR BEING HERE.
MAYOR PROTE ELLIS, I THINK IS HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HOPPER.
MADISON, CHIEF VELA COUNCIL MEMBER VELA IS HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY.
I THINK ALLISON AL ALTER'S OFFICE IS RECOGNIZED HERE TODAY.
REP REPRESENTED COUNTY JUDGE ANDY BROWN IS HERE.
UH, COMMISSIONER ANN HOWARD IS HERE.
AND THEN, UH, MEMBERS OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD, THEY'RE ALL HERE.
GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
LET, LET ME JUST, LET ME BE QUICK TO SAY WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT THIS GROUP OF FOLKS AND COMMITTED PEOPLE TO THIS CITY, UH, AND, AND NATION.
UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
UH, I THINK YOU KNOW THIS, BUT IT, IT CERTAINLY MERIT'S REPETITION AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
EVERY TIME WE GET TO MEET TOM MEREDITH, MELANIE BARNES AND MELBA WATLEY, THE VISIONARIES, THEY, THEY STARTED THIS LONG TIME AGO, UH, WITH THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
AND THAT INITIAL IDEA TURNED INTO A GLOBAL DESIGN COMPETITION, WHICH TURNED INTO THE WATERLOO GREENWAY WATERLOO PARK.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA START, UH, WITH THE SECOND PHASE TODAY.
SO I WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR GOOD FRIEND AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON.
MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD COME AND OFFER A FEW WORDS, WE'D SURE BE APPRECIATIVE.
WELL, IT ISN'T A GREAT DAY TO BE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND I WANT TO THANK GARY, AND I WANNA THANK CHRIS FOR, UH, HAVING ME OUT HERE TODAY.
AND I KNOW I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY WHEN I SAY THAT WE'RE INCREDIBLY
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PROUD TO HAVE THE CITY BE A PARTNER AND A FRIEND TO THE WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY.I'M, I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, AND TO TALK ABOUT THE COLLABORATION, THE COLLABORATION THAT, IN MY VIEW, EXEMPLIFIES THE POTENTIAL OF PUBLIC PRO PRIVATE NONPROFITS, UH, TO CREATE THE KIND OF TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS THAT, THAT, LET'S FACE IT, THEY SIMPLY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE WORK OF THE CITY OR THE PRIVATE SECTOR ALONE.
AND THIS IS ALMOST THE IDEAL, PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT SORT OF THING WORKS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECTS IN AUSTIN'S HISTORY.
AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO KEEP IN MIND.
GREAT AMBITION AND LOTS OF WORK ARE TURNING OUT TREMENDOUS RESULTS.
WITH THE OPENING OF WATERLOO PARK.
WE ALL TOOK A TREMENDOUS STEP FORWARD IN BRINGING THIS VISION TO LIFE.
NOW, AS, AS GARY HAS POINTED OUT, AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, THAT PROGRESS CONTINUES AS WE CELEBRATE THE START OF THIS SECOND PHASE.
BUT IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS NOT JUST A GEOGRAPHICAL LANDMARK.
WATERLOO GREENWAY WILL WELCOME ALL AUSTINITES WITH OPEN ARMS. THERE WAS A FUNNY ONE.
I WAS, I WAS SAY THAT WASN'T MEANT TO BE THE FUNNY LINE.
WELL, AS I SAY, WE WELCOME EVERYBODY WITH OPEN ARMS. WELL, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THIS GOES FROM HERE, UM,
THE INVESTMENT THAT IT REPRESENTS, UH, EXTENDS BEYOND JUST YOU AND ME, AND THOSE OF US THAT ARE HERE TODAY.
THIS IS A GENERATIONAL LEGACY THAT EMBRACES EVERYONE AND WILL ENDURE LONG BEYOND OUR TIME.
SO I HOPE EVERYONE HERE TAKES A SPECIAL SENSE OF PRIDE IN THIS EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT.
EVERYONE HAS INVESTED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
EVERYONE HAS SUPPORTED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
AND YOU ALL HAVE TAKEN PART IN GUIDING THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, OUR HOME.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING FOLKS, AND IT'S FALLEN ON MANY, MANY SHOULDERS OVER TIME.
SO I WANT TO TAKE A SECOND JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF THIS CURRENT COUNCIL AND PAST COUNCILS THAT HAVE BEEN A CHAMPION OF THIS PROJECT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
WATERLOO GREENWAY WAS FORMED IN 2010 BY A SHARED, THINK ABOUT THAT, UH, BY A SHARED VISION WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR A RESTORED WALLER CREEK, AND FOR SPACES THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE ABLE TO ENJOY ONCE AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO LONGER IN A CONDITION TO BE ENJOYED.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, SINCE THAT TIME IN THE CURRENT COUNCIL, HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN A SUPPORT FOR WATERLOO GREENWAY.
AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THOSE FAST COUNCILS AND THIS COUNCIL FOR THE LEADERSHIP IN HELPING BRING THIS VISION TO LIFE.
AND NOW I WANT TO INTRODUCE, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, VERONICA VERIO, TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING ON THIS.
IT IS A GREAT DAY TO BE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU ON BEHALF OF OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, JESUS GARZA, A PROJECT OF THIS SKILL AND IMPACT TAKES A VILLAGE TO DELIVER AND UNDERSCORES THE VALUE OF PARTNERSHIP THROUGH ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE PROJECT TEAM, CITY STAFF SERVING AS PROJECT LEADS PROVIDED TIME AND EXPERTISE TO DELIVER THE CONFLUENCE PROJECT WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM.
THIS EXEMPLIFIES WHAT A TRUE PARTNERSHIP IS.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND ASK ALL CITY OF AUSTIN'S STAFF TO JUST WAVE THEIR HANDS SO WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THEM FOR A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE BOARD OF WALLER CREEK LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE CITY CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS FOR PROJECTS WITHIN THE WALLER CREEK DISTRICT.
YOUR ROLE IS INSTRUMENTAL IN IMPLEMENTING OUR CITY COUNCIL'S VISION.
TOGETHER, THIS PARTNERSHIP HAS CONDUCTED OVER 10 YEARS OF DIRECT COMMUNITY
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ENGAGEMENT WITH MULTIPLE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, NONPROFITS, BUSINESS ADVOCACY GROUPS, AND THE PUBLIC ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE GREEN RIBBON TO PROVIDE CONNECTIONS FROM NORTH AT THE STATE CAPITOL, DELL MEDICAL DISTRICT TO THE SOUTH WITH THE MAC AND THE RAINEY STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT.WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF STAFF'S TIME AND DEDICATION.
WE RECOGNIZE THIS COULD NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF JORGE MOLES, OUR WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR KIMBERLY MCNEELY, OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR, UH, RICHARD MENDOZA, OUR INTERIM PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, AND JAMES SNOW, OUR CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES INTERIM DIRECTOR.
AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR CONGRESSMAN LLOYD DOGGETT.
EVERY DAY I GET THE OPPORTUNITY.
I COME DOWN THIS TRAIL WITH LIBBY ON MY CYCLE AND WITH MY SHIRT ON.
UH, IT IS, IT IS A WONDERFUL 10 MILE RIDE FROM OUR HOUSE IN EAST AUSTIN AROUND THE LONGHORN DAM AND CIRCLING THE LAKE.
OF COURSE, SOME DAYS, UH, IT'S ALMOST LIKE I 35 OR MOPAC OUT HERE.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE, UH, FROM HERE AND FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT ARE DRAWN TO THIS WONDERFUL PLACE.
NOW, HAVING AN EXTENSION FROM HERE, UH, THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY PLEASING ALL THE WAY UP TO WATERLOO GREENWAY, UH, IS, UH, JUST, UH, GOING TO BE SUCH A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, LAST, UH, EARLIER IN THE YEAR, WE HAD PRESIDENT HARTSELL DOWN, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THE ROLE THAT UT MIGHT PLAY.
UH, REALLY THIS, UH, GREENWAY OUGHT TO EXTEND ALL THE WAY, AT LEAST TO THE EX STUDENTS ASSOCIATION AND PROVIDE, PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES, UH, FOR, UH, PEDESTRIAN WAYS AND, UH, FOR THE LAST DECADE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO.
WELL, HAVING GROWN UP THERE, UH, I'VE REPRESENTED SAN ANTONIO AND THE ALL OF THE SAN ANTONIO RIVERWALK.
THIS WON'T BE A SAN ANTONIO RIVERWALK, ALTHOUGH THOSE OF YOU FAMILIAR WITH IT.
THE WONDERFUL MUSEUM REACH SECTION OF THE SAN ANTONIO RIVERWALK THAT REACHES UP TO THE SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART BEAR.
IT HAS BEEN SUCH A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AND WHILE I LOOK AT THIS AS A CYCLIST, UH, AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP NOT FAR FROM WHERE WE'RE GATHERED TODAY, AND WHAT AN ASSET IT IS FOR THE CITY ON A, ESPECIALLY ON A DAY LIKE THIS, IT'S ALSO AN ECONOMIC ASSET.
AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN HERE AND WATERLOO AND THE GREAT MUSIC VENUE UP THERE THAT WILL REALLY ADD MEASURABLY TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE FIRST DISCUSSED THE CONCEPT OF THIS WATERWAY, AND WE CONSIDERED INVOLVING THE CORE OF ENGINEERS AT THAT TIME AND CONCLUDED THAT REALLY TO GET THIS MOVING, WE NEEDED PRIVATE ENGAGEMENT.
AND, BUT FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING RIGHT HERE ON THE FRONT ROW AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER OUR COMMUNITY, THIS WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS PROVIDING SOME BACKUP TO THAT LOCAL EFFORT.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, TO THE TREMENDOUS IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN THROUGH THE BOND PROJECT.
UH, I'LL HAVE THE CORE OF ENGINEERS IN MY OFFICE IN WASHINGTON AGAIN, I BELIEVE NEXT WEEK, TO TALK ABOUT THIS SOME MORE.
UH, BUT YOU, MANY OF YOU WERE WITH US, UH, I THINK LAST FEBRUARY WHEN WE ANNOUNCED $9 MILLION IN FEDERAL MONIES COMING THROUGH THE CORE.
IT'S ALLOWED US TO MOVE THIS ALONG.
SO TOM LYNN, ALL OF YOU, MELBA, THANK YOU ALL GARY, UH, SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
AND I'M GLAD WE COULD PROVIDE SOME FEDERAL BACKUP.
AND OF COURSE, NONE OF THIS WOULD'VE BEEN POSSIBLE, BUT FOR THE FACT THAT THE CORE GOT INVOLVED, UH, AS A RESULT OF THE MONEY THAT WE APPROVED THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IN THE LAST CONGRESS, UH, I WORKED WITH THE CORPS, UH, NOT ONLY IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT WHEN I REPRESENTED THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
AND WHEN I STRETCH DOWN, UH, THE COLORADO RIVER PAST LA GRANGE, THE CORPS PLAYS A REALLY KEY ROLE, UH, IN FLOODING PREVENTION AND GETTING WATER WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE AND KEEPING IT AWAY FROM WHERE IT SHOULDN'T BE.
AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TODAY TO HAVE US ARMY CORPS MAJOR JOSHUA HAYNES HERE WITH US.
UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND WE PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOUR TEAM HAS DONE TO HELP MAKE OUR GREAT CITY AN EVEN BETTER PLACE IN WICHITA CALL HOME.
THANK YOU, MR. SIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
UM, AND REALLY IT IS THE TEAM, UH, THEY'RE AT FORT WORTH AND HERE IN AUSTIN.
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UH, THAT ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS FOR THE CITY.SIR CONGRESSMAN DOUG DELEGATE.
MAYOR WA MAYOR, MAYOR WATSON, EXCUSE ME.
UM, MR. AGUIRE AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, GOOD MORNING.
IT IS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR FOR ME TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING AND JOINTLY CELEBRATE THE SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN PRESERVING THE IMPORTANCE AND OF THE ECOSYSTEM OF WALLER CREEK, AND WORK ON THE CONFLUENCE THAT BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY THANK CONGRESSMAN ETT AND FOR THE, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT.
AND AGAIN, AND WE, WE WE'RE HERE TO PROVIDE ANY SUPPORT WE CAN.
WITHOUT YOUR HARD WORK AND BEING IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
THIS SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT ECOSYSTEM IS ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH, THROUGH AND BECAUSE OF YOUR DEDICATION.
A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE MISSION OF THE UNITED STATES CORPS MILL, UH, ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS TO DRIVE MAJOR CIVIL WORKS PROJECTS THROUGH OUR COUNTRY TO PREVENT FLOODING WITHIN URBAN AREAS.
THE GREENWAY PROJECT SPEAKS TO ANOTHER PART OF OUR MISSION, AND THAT IS BEING ONE OF THE GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES WHO OVERSEES THE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THE FEDERAL AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH WATER WATERLOO GREENWAY CONSERVANCY IS A PRIME CASE STUDY OF WHAT IS AND CAN BE DONE.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IN JOBS ACT OF 2022 IS PROVIDING OVER 9 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING AND CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT.
IMPORTANT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES OF THE CONFLUENCE.
ONE OF THE KEY FEATURES OF THIS PROJECT IS A BIOFILTRATION POND OF THE, OF THE WEST END OF THE PALM PARK.
THIS WILL BE A GREEN WATER QUALITY TREATMENT FEATURE USING AN ORGANIC FILTRATION MEDIA WITH VEGETATION INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL SAND FILTER.
AND THIS WILL REMOVE ANY OF THE, UH, MOST OF THE POLLUTANTS AND MANAGE THE STORMWATER RUNOFF.
THE POND WILL ALSO PROVIDE EXTENDED DETENTION WITH FOR THAT RUNOFF IN, IN STORMS THAT WILL ENHANCE THE BASE OVERFLOW, PROVIDING PROPER FAIR WEATHER RUNOFF FOR, FROM TEMPORARY WATERSHED AND REDUCE STREAM EROSION.
I AM PROUD TO BE STANDING HERE WITH OUR KEY PARTNERSHIPS, OUR KEY PARTNERS TO HELP IN CONTINUE THE RESTORATION OF AUSTIN'S ECOLOGICAL VISION OF THE WATERLOO AND GREENERY PROJECTS.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME, THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR FOR BEING TO, FOR THE COURT TO BE HERE.
WE CERTAINLY DO APPRECIATE IT.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR REMARKS.
NOW, UM, CONGRESSMAN DOGGETT REFERENCED THE CORPS, INTRODUCED THE MAJOR, HE REFERENCED THE MONEY, BUT HE WAS TOO MODEST TO SAY THAT IT WAS LLOYD DOGGETT WHO HELPED CREATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CORE AND SECURE THE VERY FIRST FEDERAL DOLLARS IN THIS PROJECT.
IF, IF JOHN CORN WERE HERE, WE'D BRAG ON HIM TOO, BECAUSE HE WAS, UH, VERY HELPFUL YEARS AGO WITH, UH, PASSING THE INFRAS EN ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.
AND THAT'S WHAT HELPED ENABLE THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
SO CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU, SENATOR CORNING.
WE GOT A LOT MORE WORK TO DO HERE, UH, WITH THE CORE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, CITY GOVERNMENT.
BUT YOU CANNOT OVEREMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL PHILANTHROPY AND LOCAL PHILANTHROPISTS.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY BLESSED, UH, WITH GENEROUS PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE SOME WHO HAVE STEPPED FORWARD TO PROVIDE 12 MILLION IN SUPPORT SO THAT WE COULD BE HERE TODAY FOR THIS GROUNDBREAKING.
SO, AGAIN, I'LL, I'LL ASK YOU TO HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL WE GET TO THE END.
UH, BUT WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY WONDERFUL FOLKS, AND YOU'LL KNOW MANY OF THEM.
SO, THE BUENA VISTA FOUNDATION AND CARMEL AND TOM BORDERS, UH, COLIN CORGAN, THE FONDANT FOUNDATION, THE HARTMAN FAMILY SUGAR CREEK FOUNDATION, TE HAMOS FOUNDATION.
AND YOU COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT TITO'S HANDMADE VODKA BY GOLLY.
SO NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK LYNN DOBSON WITH THE TOMOS FOUNDATION TO COME UP AND SHARE WITH YOU WHAT INSPIRED LYNN AND, UH, THE TOMOS FOUNDATION TO MAKE A LEAD GIFT.
I'M FILLED WITH SUCH GRATITUDE, YOU GUYS.
UM, THANKS EVERYONE FOR COMING.
I THINK THERE'S LIKE 300 PEOPLE HERE.
OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY WAS CHOSEN AS THE SITE FOR THE STATE CAPITOL BECAUSE OF OUR WATERWAYS.
THE CONNECTIVE ARTERIES THAT ARE THE HEARTBEAT
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OF OUR CITY.OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO BE DEFINED BY ITS NATURAL BEAUTY, ITS PARKS AND TRAILS, BECAUSE GENERATIONS OF AUSTINITES HAVE DEVOTED THEMSELVES FIERCELY TO PROTECTING AND SHARING OUR NATURAL TREASURES WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WITH OUR VISITORS.
LADY BIRD LAKE, THE ANN AND ROY BUTLER, HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, BARTON SPRINGS, SHO CREEK, ZILKER PARK, BARTON CREEK, GREEN BELT, PEAS PARK.
UM, AND NOW THE LOWER AREAS OF WALLER CREEK ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO A BEAUTIFUL CREATIVE SYSTEM OF PARTS AND TRAILS CALLED WATERLOO GREENWAY, LADY BIRD JOHNSON, ROBERTA CRENSHAW, ANNE BUTLER, BEVERLY SHEFFIELD, MARY ARNOLD, GEORGE COFER ARE SOME OF THE VISIONARY CONSERVATION PIONEERS WHO ENSURED THAT NATURE IS THE CENTER OF OUR DAILY LIFE.
DRIVEN BY THE COMMITMENT THAT CONNECTION TO OUR PUBLIC SPACES IS CENTRAL TO OUR WELLBEING.
WOULDN'T Y'ALL AGREE? WE KNOW THAT'S TRUE.
I ALWAYS SAY I HAVE A GREEN THUMB AND A GREEN HEART.
UM, IT'S WHERE WE F FIND CONNECTION WITH EACH OTHER.
I OFTEN HAVE MEETINGS WALKING THE TRAIL.
I DON'T HAVE COFFEE MEETINGS ANYMORE.
UM, PLANTS AND TREES ARE MIRACULOUS.
I'VE BEEN A PLANT LOVER SINCE MY COLLEGE DAYS AT UT.
I THINK I COUNTED ONE TIME IN MY LITTLE APARTMENT OVER THERE ON SAN GABRIEL.
I THINK I HAD 32 POTTED PLANTS IN THERE.
UM, OUR HEROIN LADY BIRD JOHNSON, HAS A BEAUTIFUL QUOTE.
THE ENVIRONMENT IS WHERE WE ALL MEET, WHERE WE ALL HAVE A MUTUAL INTEREST.
IT IS THE ONE THING ALL OF US SHARE.
IT IS NOT ONLY A MIRROR OF OURSELVES, BUT A FOCUSING LENS ON WHAT WE CAN BECOME.
THIS BELIEF INSPIRED MY HUSBAND, GREG, AND I TO INVEST IN THE CONFLUENCE ON WATERLOO GREENWAY.
OUR FOUNDATION NAME TO HAMOS FOUNDATION IS FROM THE SPANISH VERB TO HEAD.
WE WANTED TO JOIN WATERLOO GREENWAY TO WEAVE OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, TO OFFER A PLACE OF JOY AND WONDER FOR ALL.
I JUST WATCHED THIS LITTLE SWEET LITTLE BABY WALKING OVER HERE.
WE CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THE CONFLUENCE OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS UNDER THIS MAGNIFICENT LIVE OAK, WHICH IS RIGHT OVER HERE, Y'ALL, IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.
THERE'S A LOT OF POISON IVY UNDERNEATH.
UH, WE ARE LONGTIME SUPPORTERS OF THE TRAIL CONSERVANCIES SINCE THE BEGINNING.
I HAVE BEEN A RUNNER FOR MANY, MANY DECADES, AND I'VE PROBABLY WALKED THE TRAIL, UH, RUN THE TRAIL EVERY WEEK IN THE LAST FOUR DECADES.
IT IS A PLACE OF HOPE AND PEACE FOR ME.
WE ALL NEED HOPE AND PEACE THESE DAYS.
WE ARE EXCITED TO HELP CREATE A PUBLIC GATHERING SPACE RIGHT HERE WHERE THE TRAIL AND THE LAKE INTERSECT.
WITH WATERLOO GREENWAY IN THE PANDEMIC, WE ALL LEARNED HOW MUCH WE NEED THE RENEWAL OF OUR NATURAL SPACES.
THE NATURAL WORLD PROVIDES SUCH RESTORATION WITH ALL THE ROBUST GROWTH IN OUR DOWNTOWN, WE MUST CREATE AND STEWARD OUR NATIONAL TREASURES AND KEEP THEM ACCESSIBLE.
EVERYONE'S EQUAL ON THE TRAIL.
PLEASE LET US COLLABORATE GENEROUSLY AND THOUGHTFULLY TO PROTECT AND GROW OUR GREEN SPACES, WHICH HELPS DEFINE OUR GOOD VALUES AND IDENTITIES.
AND SO I'LL END WITH THE AMAZING PIONEER, THE AMAZING CONSERVATIONIST, ROBERTA CRENSHAW, WHO WISELY SAID THE CHALLENGE OF BEAUTY OUGHT TO BE EVERYONE'S CHALLENGE.
AND GREG AND TOMOS, GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR LEAD GIFT.
DID YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT EVERYBODY'S JOB? SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE RAISED A BUNCH OF MONEY.
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TALKED ABOUT 12 MILLION BUCKS.UH, WE NEED TO RAISE A LITTLE MORE MONEY.
AND, UH, EVIE TELLS ME IT'S 10 MILLION WORTH OF MORE MONEY.
SO LET, LET ME TELL YOU, WE'VE GOT GREAT LEADERSHIP, GREAT BOARD, GREAT FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE.
WE, WE NEED THIS COMMUNITY TO STEP FORWARD TOGETHER.
UH, YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY IT MANY TIMES, BUT MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK.
WE NEED YOUR ADVOCACY IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE NEED YOU TO HELP US IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO HAVE MONEY BURNING A HOLE IN THEIR POCKET AND WANT TO PUT IT TO GOOD USE RIGHT HERE AS WE CREATE OUR VERSION OF CENTRAL PARK.
UH, THIS WILL BE A LEGACY ASSET.
I MEAN, I HOPE MY GRANDKIDS, GRANDKIDS WILL BE PLAYING IN THIS PARK.
SO I MENTIONED GOOD LEADERSHIP.
I'M GONNA INTRODUCE OUR FEARLESS LEADER, JESUS SIGUIRI, TO COME UP AND TELL US ALL ABOUT IT.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UH, SO EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
THANK YOU, GARY, YOU AND CHRIS AND YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO ASK FOLKS TO OPEN THEIR WALLET CUZ YOU DO THAT.
UM, AND, AND, AND OF COURSE TO THE TWO OF YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR INVESTMENT IN THIS PROJECT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, UH, I WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY, MR. MAYOR, CONGRESSMAN MAJOR.
UH, I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT THAT REALLY IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION PROJECT.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.
ALL OF OUR DONORS, LYNN AND GREG AND EVERYONE ELSE.
THERE'S LOTS OF FOLKS HERE WHO'VE SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT ALONG THE WAY.
UH, AGAIN, WE, WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT ALL OF YOU.
UM, I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT MANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE, BOTH FORMER AND PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS.
YOU KNOW, SHAKE YOUR HAND AND, AND LET'S BE RECOGNIZED.
THESE ARE FOLKS AT WORK ALL DAY TO HELP US BRING THIS FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
SO TODAY IS, IS REALLY A SYMBOLIC DATE.
MARKS AN EXCITING STEP FORWARD IN THIS PROJECT IN REALIZING THIS FULL VISION OF THE WATERLOO GREEN WAVE.
AND THIS IS A VISION THAT HAS BEEN THE DREAM OF MANY FOLKS LIKE TOM AND MELBA AND MELANIE AND LOTS OF FOLKS ALONG THE WAY.
AND THIS DREAM IS REALLY BECOMING A REALITY BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU.
AND IT'LL BE A REALITY FOR EVERYONE.
UH, I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE AND THANK ALL OF OUR CITY PARTNERS.
I KNOW, UH, DIRECTOR OF MOR MORALE AND MC, UH, MCNEELY, WHO ARE HERE FROM PARKS AND RECREATION AND FROM WATERSHED WHO WORK WITH US EVERY DAY AND, UH, ALL OF YOUR TEAMS. AND, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WITHOUT YOUR YOUR, UM, SUPPORT EXPERTISE AND COLLABORATION, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST YOU PLACE IN US.
SO WATERLOO GREENWAY SERVES AS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF THIS SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIP.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, UH, IT'S BEEN OVER 10 YEARS SINCE THIS PARTNERSHIP WAS FORMED AND WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER TOWARDS THIS COMMON GOAL.
AND THE IDEA IS PRETTY SIMPLE TO BUILD A BEAUTIFUL, INCLUSIVE SET OF GREEN SPACES THAT ARE GONNA BENEFIT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
SINCE WE OPENED WATERLOO PARK AND, AND HOPEFULLY YOU'VE ALL BEEN THERE, WE'VE SEEN LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO ENJOY NATURE, ENJOY LIVE MUSIC, ENJOY CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND SO MUCH MORE, AND TO COME TOGETHER TO BUILD COMMUNITY.
AS YOU'VE HEARD TODAY, THIS NEXT PHASE THAT WE'RE IN IS THE CONFLUENCE, AND THIS IS THE SECOND PHASE OF A 35 ACRE CONNECTED PARK SYSTEM THAT'S GONNA STRETCH FROM WATERLOO PARK JUST SOUTH OF UNIVERSITY, ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE TO LADY BIRD LAKE.
SO THIS PROJECT IS SO EXCITING.
IT'S LOCATED IN ONE OF THE MOST ECOLOGICALLY DIVERSE PARTS OF WATER WALLER CREEK.
THIS CONFLUENCE WILL BOUNCE THE NEED TO CAREFULLY RESTORE AND REBUILD THIS SENSITIVE AREA, BUT ALSO WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THIS BEAUTIFUL LAND ACCESSIBLE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WE'RE GONNA WORK TO REBUILD THE CREEK BANKS THAT HAVE BEEN BADLY ERODED BY DECADES OF FLOODING.
WE'RE GONNA PLANT MORE THAN 200,000 PLANTS, 1500 TREES IN THIS SPACE.
UH, OF COURSE WHAT THIS WILL DO, IT'LL REDUCE THINGS LIKE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IS GONNA GREATLY STRENGTHEN THIS ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION.
IT'LL LOWER THE TEMPERATURE AND REDUCE THE HEAT, HEAT ISLAND EFFECT, WHICH ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR US EVEN ON A DAY LIKE TODAY.
UM, VISITORS WHO COME TO THIS PART OF THE GREENWAY WILL ENJOY STUNNING VIEWS OF, OF, OF THE WORK THAT WE DO FROM THESE THREE BEAUTIFUL PEDESTRIAN SUSPENSION BRIDGES THAT ARE GONNA BE LAID ON TOP OF THE, ACROSS THE CREEK.
AND THEY'RE GONNA CREATE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT EASTWEST CONNECTIONS, UH, IN OUR CITY.
REALLY COMMITTED TO A UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE TRAIL FROM FOURTH STREET ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE WATER, UH, INCLUDING CONNECTING TO THIS BELOVED BUTLER TRAIL.
UH, WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE A REALLY EXCITING BOARDWALK THAT WILL GO UNDER AT CREEK LEVEL UNDER SETH ART CHAVEZ AND ALLOW FOLKS TO CONNECT NORTH AND SOUTH, UH, IN THIS VERY BUSY SPACE.
IN ADDITION, ADDITION, WE'RE GONNA HAVE MULTIPLE GREEN SPACES, MUCH LIKE WHAT WE'RE IN HERE TODAY THAT ARE GONNA BE RESTORED AND ENABLE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PUBLIC GATHERINGS IN SOME OF THE LESS SENSITIVE AREAS OF THE PARK.
SO, AS I SAID, THE RESPONSE WE'VE SEEN ALREADY FROM THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOR WATERLOO PARK REALLY REINFORCES AND BUILDS THIS MOMENTUM FOR US TO COMPLETE THIS PLAN AND, AND BRING THIS FULL VISION OF WATER RE REGION WAY
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TO REALITY.BUT AS GARY AND OTHERS HAVE SAID, WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.
AND AS IF YOU'VE HEARD AS AND AS YOU'VE HEARD TODAY, IT REALLY DOES TAKE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO COMPLETE THIS TYPE OF ONCE IN A GENERATION PROJECT THAT INCLUDES, OF COURSE, OUR PARTNERS IN THE CITY AS WELL AS OUR COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS.
AND WE REALLY ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR, YOUR PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT.
AGAIN, I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR SUPPORTING WATERLOO GREENWAY AND CELEBRATING THIS MILESTONE FOR US.
WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU AND YOUR STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO AUSTIN'S GREEN SPACE FOR EVERYONE.
I ALSO WANNA THANK THE PROJECT TEAM, UH, SOME FOLKS WHO ARE HERE TODAY WHO ARE GONNA BRING THIS VISION TO LIFE ON THE CONFLUENCE.
THE DESIGN TEAM IS LED BY MICHAEL VANVALKENBERG ASSOCIATES AND THEIR LEAD PLANNER AND DESIGNER GU SHEPHERD HERE IS HERE TODAY, AND I'M SURE HE'LL BE EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT THIS VISION TO WITH YOU.
AND WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO, TO WELCOME OUR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR, JAY REESE AND THEIR FO THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE AS WELL.
THEY'RE GONNA WORK TOGETHER WITH US TO DELIVER THIS PROJECT FOR MANY AUSTINITES TO BE PROUD FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
AND FINALLY, I THINK I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE, THE, THE, THE STAFF OF WATERLOO GREENWAY, THE FORMER AND CURRENT STAFF OF WATERLOO GREENWAY CURRENT, INCLUDING OUR, OUR FORMER CEO HERE AT PETE MULLEN.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GREAT WORK EACH AND EVERY DAY TO BRING THIS VISION TO REALITY.
IT'S NOT EASY WORK THAT YOU ALL MAKE IT LOOK EASY.
AND ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR FUTURE NEIGHBORS AROUND US AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR COLLABORATION AND PLANNING EFFORTS.
OF COURSE, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, RIGHT BEHIND US HERE, THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, AND OUR PARTNERS AT THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY.
SO AN EVENT LIKE THIS WOULDN'T BE, UH, AN EVENT LIKE THIS WITHOUT SOME CEREMONY.
SO WE'RE GONNA ASK YOU TO JOIN US TO TAKE A SPECIAL MOMENT IN CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE TODAY'S MILESTONE.
I THINK MANY OF YOU JOINED THE GROUP IN 2017 FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING OF WATERLOO PARK AND THAT INCREDIBLE MOMENT WHEN FOLKS STARTED TURNING DIRT ON THIS 35 ACRE PROJECT.
SO TODAY WE WANNA KEEP THAT MOMENTUM GOING WITH THE CEREMONIAL WISHES FOR WATERLOO.
SO AS YOU CAME IN AND CHECKED AT THE TABLE, Y'ALL RECEIVED A PIECE OF SEED PAPER WITH YOUR PROGRAM.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, AND SOME FOLKS HAVE ALREADY STARTED, WE'RE GONNA COLLECTIVELY SHARE OUR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR PHASE TWO.
THIS CEREMONY WILL REALLY RE REPRESENT ALL OF US IN THIS OPPORTUNITY OF BRINGING OUR WISHES TO LIFE.
SO TO KICK IT OFF, I'M GONNA INVITE SOME OF OUR SPECIAL INVITED GUESTS TO COME TO THE FRONT AND SHARE THEIR WISHES.
UH, FOLLOWED BY, WE'LL DO A QUICK PHOTO MOMENT CUZ AGAIN, YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS WITHOUT A QUICK PHOTO MOMENT.
AND THEN WE'LL INVITE THE REST OF YOU TO JOIN US.
AND AS WE START OFF, I'D LIKE TO SHARE MY WISH FOR WATERLOO.
AND THAT IS REALLY FOR A, A, A SERIES OF INCLUSIVE GREEN SPACES FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY TO ENJOY.
SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE FOLKS TO COME UP RIGHT THERE AND, AND WE'LL HAVE SOME FOLKS UP ON THE STAGE IF YOU WANNA MAKE ROOM.
I'LL ASK YOU TO WALK OVER AND PIN THEM.
IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T CARE, BUT I CAN'T EVEN LOOK AWAY TODAY.
A GAVE YESTERDAY TWICE AS I RECALL, ONE BLESSED ME OUT, WALKED AWAY, AND ONE SAID, HUH.