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 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 780
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
 1-4     recognize the Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center in Houston for the
 1-5     many educational, social, and recreational opportunities it offers
 1-6     a historic section of the Bayou City and neighboring residents; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, The Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center is located
 1-8     on part of the land grant originally assigned to John R. Harris,
 1-9     founder of the early Texas community of Harrisburg; in the early
1-10     1900s, the area around what is now the nature center was developed
1-11     into a suburb for Houston families who wanted a combination of both
1-12     city and country living; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Created in 1997, by the Greater Park Place
1-14     Community Development Corporation, the center serves a number of
1-15     community needs; it is used as a site for hands-on environmental
1-16     education programs for area schools and sponsors the popular
1-17     youth program, Summer Nature Discovery Camp; one of its primary
1-18     functions is to provide recreational and after-school activities
1-19     for neighborhood children; and
1-20           WHEREAS, The nature center's staff provide safe and
1-21     constructive activities for the area's young people, and the
1-22     volunteers and patrons establish and strengthen community bonds
 2-1     and encourage the public to use the center for gatherings such
 2-2     as picnics, family reunions, and weddings; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, The center's picturesque grounds include a log
 2-4     cabin, barn, gazebo, pond, woodland trails, and wetlands; it
 2-5     provides a healthy environment for birds and butterflies and
 2-6     offers canoeing and boat rides; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, The community gardens are a major attraction
 2-8     at the center; the gardens promote nutrition and exemplify
 2-9     environmentally responsible cultivation techniques; the gardens
2-10     are tended by volunteers and reflect the culinary preferences of
2-11     the neighborhood's ethnically diverse population; now, therefore,
2-12     be it
2-13           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-14     77th Legislature, hereby commend all those associated with
2-15     the Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center for providing a source of
2-16     education and recreation for area citizens; and, be it further
2-17           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
2-18     the center as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
2-19                                                                Gallegos
2-20                                  ______________________________________
2-21                                          President of the Senate
2-22                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-23                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-24                                  on April 20, 2001.
2-25                                  ______________________________________
2-26                                          Secretary of the Senate
2-27                                  ______________________________________
2-28                                           Member, Texas Senate