Memorial Day Flood of 2015, cont.

The Park, The Flood, The Community, Part 4

(From a series of emails by UHNA President Joan Bartz)

• This past weekend, the UHNA community sponsored its annual Clean-Up the Park day on Saturday, June 13, 2015. Timing for this event was perfect, given the effect on the Park by the Memorial Day flood.

• CLEAN-UP THE PARK

• A huge "thank you" to Jean Allen, the UHNA's Beautification Chairperson, who was the driving force in planning and seeing to fruition this beautiful Clean-Up the Park Day! Such energy, such determination, and such dependability!

• Forty-five members of the University Hills community dedicated their Saturday morning to the removal of flood debris (many, many bags filled), mulching of trees, cleaning out the Loyola street garden area; an unbelievable improvement, and removal of debris still stuck in the fencing, a documentation of the height of the flood.

• Eight of PARD's Jimmy Cone's workforce joined the community members in Saturday's work at the park. These individuals: Sonny Chandler, Darrell Dawson, Delores Reyes, Michael James, Albert Perez, Oscar Garcia, Juan Garcia, Sam Roberts, as well as Dottie Jordan Recreation Center employees; Dir. John Harros, Alice Acevedo, and Marie Ruiz, worked shoulder to shoulder with community members throughout a steamy, hot morning. A member of the Cone crew commented "It sure is nice seeing community members come out and help when something like this happens in the community."

• Business Sponsors for the Clean-Up include: Pizza Patr-on, (and, yes, that is how it is spelled), at 175 Springdale Road, 512-928-9700, Joe Skendevian, Owner, and Jessica Cardoso, on-site Manager; HEB, 7112 Ed Bluestein Blvd, Suite #125, 512-928-5617, Rey Alvarado, Jr., Unit Director; and, Coyote Moss Landscape, 512-574-5496, Wiley Alexander, Owner. Additionally, both Rey Alvarado and Wiley Alexander worked at the park throughout the morning.

1. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, to these sponsors for their involvement in producing only the best for the University Hills community!

3. STILL NEEDED

4. Sanitizing of; (before pool opens) both pools, pool deck, and pool house; all playground equipment; barbeque pits within the flooded area; tennis court slab, seating, net. Get rid of the flood bacteria! *

5. New sealant on tennis court slab (after sanitizing) *

6. Replacement of fencing throughout the park; or complete sanitizing of all fencing retained *

We will continue to advocate for these needs, working with the PARD, from departments represented at the Clean-Up to and including the top level of command for PARD. Hopefully, Tropical Storm Bill will not affect our efforts to return the Park to full beauty and usage, as a community gathering place.