| 2 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Residents of the Houston area are gathering at |
|---|
| 8 | 9 | | Southside Place Park, also known as Fire Truck Park, on April 12, |
|---|
| 9 | 10 | | 2025, for the dedication of an Official Texas Historical Marker |
|---|
| 10 | 11 | | from the Texas Historical Commission; and |
|---|
| 11 | 12 | | WHEREAS, The land that would later become Southside Place |
|---|
| 12 | 13 | | Park was once part of the Harris County Poor Farm, a facility for |
|---|
| 13 | 14 | | the indigent; in 1924, Edward Lillo Crain purchased the southern |
|---|
| 14 | 15 | | tract of the site, as well as frontage along Bellaire Boulevard, for |
|---|
| 15 | 16 | | a new suburban neighborhood named Southside Place; he set aside |
|---|
| 16 | 17 | | eight lots and built out the park first, and early amenities |
|---|
| 17 | 18 | | included a swimming pool, a wading pool, a bathhouse, a tennis |
|---|
| 18 | 19 | | court, and play equipment, all of which distinguished the |
|---|
| 19 | 20 | | development from others in the Houston area; the Southside Place |
|---|
| 20 | 21 | | Park Association operated the space for 80 years, and ownership was |
|---|
| 21 | 22 | | later transferred to the City of Southside Place; and |
|---|
| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, An integral part of the history of the park, the |
|---|
| 23 | 24 | | city's first fire truck was retired in 1970 and repurposed into a |
|---|
| 24 | 25 | | play structure, serving as a beloved landmark at the park entrance |
|---|
| 25 | 26 | | for 42 years; in 2011, the Southside Place Park Board and the |
|---|
| 26 | 27 | | Southside Fire Truck Park Fund determined it was time for a complete |
|---|
| 27 | 28 | | remodel of the property, and renovations were unveiled the |
|---|
| 28 | 29 | | following year; the pool was replaced by Water Technology Inc., |
|---|
| 29 | 30 | | which constructed six lap lanes, a separated diving area with a drop |
|---|
| 30 | 31 | | slide, and a shallow-water teaching area; today, the park offers |
|---|
| 31 | 32 | | many programs as well as rentals of the clubhouse, pavilion, and |
|---|
| 32 | 33 | | pool for local residents; and |
|---|
| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, For a century, Southside Place Park has served as a |
|---|
| 34 | 35 | | sanctuary for relaxation and recreation, and the placement of a |
|---|
| 35 | 36 | | marker will allow future visitors to further appreciate the rich |
|---|
| 36 | 37 | | heritage of the community; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
|---|
| 38 | 39 | | Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of an Official Texas |
|---|
| 39 | 40 | | Historical Marker for Southside Place Park and commend all those |
|---|
| 40 | 41 | | involved in securing this designation for their efforts; and, be it |
|---|
| 41 | 42 | | further |
|---|
| 42 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 43 | 44 | | prepared for the City of Southside Place as an expression of high |
|---|
| 44 | 45 | | regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
|---|