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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of the Houston area are gathering at |
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Southside Place Park, also known as Fire Truck Park, on April 12, |
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2025, for the dedication of an Official Texas Historical Marker |
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from the Texas Historical Commission; and |
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WHEREAS, The land that would later become Southside Place |
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Park was once part of the Harris County Poor Farm, a facility for |
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the indigent; in 1924, Edward Lillo Crain purchased the southern |
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tract of the site, as well as frontage along Bellaire Boulevard, for |
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a new suburban neighborhood named Southside Place; he set aside |
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eight lots and built out the park first, and early amenities |
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included a swimming pool, a wading pool, a bathhouse, a tennis |
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court, and play equipment, all of which distinguished the |
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development from others in the Houston area; the Southside Place |
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Park Association operated the space for 80 years, and ownership was |
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later transferred to the City of Southside Place; and |
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WHEREAS, An integral part of the history of the park, the |
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city's first fire truck was retired in 1970 and repurposed into a |
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play structure, serving as a beloved landmark at the park entrance |
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for 42 years; in 2011, the Southside Place Park Board and the |
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Southside Fire Truck Park Fund determined it was time for a complete |
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remodel of the property, and renovations were unveiled the |
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following year; the pool was replaced by Water Technology Inc., |
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which constructed six lap lanes, a separated diving area with a drop |
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slide, and a shallow-water teaching area; today, the park offers |
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many programs as well as rentals of the clubhouse, pavilion, and |
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pool for local residents; and |
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WHEREAS, For a century, Southside Place Park has served as a |
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sanctuary for relaxation and recreation, and the placement of a |
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marker will allow future visitors to further appreciate the rich |
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heritage of the community; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of an Official Texas |
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Historical Marker for Southside Place Park and commend all those |
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involved in securing this designation for their efforts; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the City of Southside Place as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Johnson |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 768 was adopted by the House on April |
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17, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 132, Nays 8, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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