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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 331
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Grand Prairie are gathering in |
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Austin on March 1, 2017, to celebrate Grand Prairie Day at the |
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State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded during the Civil War and originally known |
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as Deckman, the city was renamed Grand Prairie in the 1870s, and the |
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Texas and Pacific Railway was built to the site in 1876; by 1890, |
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the community boasted a public school, a steam gristmill-cotton |
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gin, a broom factory, and a wagon factory; in 1928, Hensley Field |
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was built just two miles east of Grand Prairie, and the field |
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became the hub for area army operations; and |
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WHEREAS, Grand Prairie experienced a substantial boom |
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during World War II, when a military flight training center and |
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an aircraft production factory were established nearby, bringing |
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the city's population from 1,595 to approximately 18,000; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Grand Prairie continues to grow, and the |
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community has been nationally ranked by WalletHub as the 13th |
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best city for families and the 30th best city for jobs, and Forbes |
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named it one of the best places to retire in the United States; |
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furthermore, crime has dropped 37 percent since 2010, and |
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according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas |
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Department of Public Safety, Grand Prairie is the eighth safest |
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major city in Texas with a population of more than 100,000; the |
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Grand Prairie Police Department earned a White House Champions of |
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Change award for its Youth Boxing Program in 2015, and the Grand |
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Prairie Fire Department has achieved the coveted ISO 1 rating and |
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was awarded the American Heart Association's Gold Standard for |
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EMS service; and |
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WHEREAS, Grand Prairie appeals to visitors and residents |
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alike who enjoy such attractions as Lone Star Park, Verizon |
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Theatre, and Uptown Theater, as well as popular annual events |
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including the Prairie Dog Chili Cookoff, the Prairie Lights |
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Christmas display, and the National Championship Indian Pow Wow; |
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moreover, there are ample opportunities for recreation at scenic |
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Joe Pool Lake, Mountain Creek Lake, Lynn Creek Park, and Loyd |
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Park, and the city has begun construction on the Epic life |
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center, which will include an indoor water park and an |
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all-accessible playground; and |
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WHEREAS, Grand Prairie's excellent location and numerous |
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amenities make it an ideal community in which to live and work, |
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and its citizens may indeed take great pride in their |
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contributions to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize March 1, 2017, as Grand Prairie Day |
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at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation |
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sincere best wishes for an enjoyable day in Austin. |
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Hancock, Birdwell, West |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 1, 2017. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |