1-1 ****** NEED TWO-PAGE HEADER ****** 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