Dedication ceremonies for the new SPARK Park at Hollibrook Elementary School were held Nov. 15 at the rebuilt campus. Despite rain, more than 100 students, teachers and community members celebrated another positive step forward in school and neighborhood redevelopment.
The new SPARK Park at Hollibrook Elementary is a cooperative effort by the City of Houston, Hollibrook students and parents, and Spring Branch ISD. The outdoor park at the newly rebuilt school was designed by Laura Sachtleben of SHW Group Architects. It includes new playground equipment and an outdoor classroom.
Hollibrook Elementary art teacher Mary Tavares worked with campus students on the tiles used to decorate the outdoor classroom, which included decorative items donated by the area retailer Charming Charlie. The retailer has donated several truckloads of broken or discarded jewelry to 75 public schools across the region to use in educational and fine arts projects.
In addition, Trees for Houston has planted 18 trees around the park located in front of the rebuilt elementary school, one of 13 elementary schools being rebuilt under SBISD’s 2007 Bond Plan.
The school and community raised $5,000 from fund-raising events for the park. Other funds are: SBISD, $5,000; City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department, $75,000; Spring Branch Management District, $15,000; and Fiesta, $5,000. The project’s contractor was All Play.
The dedication, held on a rainy afternoon, included remarks from Kathleen Ownby, executive director of SPARK Park, and SBISD Superintendent of Schools Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed.D., SPARK Board Member Carol Fox, and the outgoing District A City Council Member Brenda Stardig.
Several speakers noted that the school parks improve Spring Branch communities. “These parks make our neighborhoods a better place to live and improve our quality of life,” Council Member Stardig said.
Superintendent Klussmann thanked Ownby for the great vision of her pioneering mother, former City Council Member Eleanor Tinsley, now deceased, who created the idea behind the nonprofit SPARK Park group.
Representatives from U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas State Rep. Jessica Farrar, and State Sen. John Whitmire presented state flags or certificates of recognition at the ceremony.
As a part of the event, Hollibrook Elementary students read special poems and the third-grade class performed the “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow,” perfect choice for a rainy event day.
In her closing remarks, Hollibrook Elementary Principal Elsa Delgado thanked all involved for creating an outdoor park and classroom setting that will be used by students and community in the many years ahead.