VIA SPARK PARK: NEWS RELEASE

The park is a cooperative venture between Frazier Elementary parents, students, and community. Landscape architect Carmen Posey worked with the SPARK committee to design the park. GameTime was the playground contractor. Artist Rose Toro collaborated with staff, students, and families to create public art on the wall facing the SPARK Park, the gazebo, and five picnic tables. Owl and chess motifs—symbols of school pride—anchor the design, combining color, community art, and functional chess boards to enhance the walking trail, play areas, gazebo, and basketball court. Through artist-led workshops, approximately 450 students created broken-tile mosaics that form an open wall mural of an owl with books, nature, and chess pieces. Family workshops contributed mosaic designs for five picnic tables in the gazebo area, with chessboards. The space was further enhanced with painted railings and hand-cut wood silhouettes of the six chess pieces on each column of the gazebo. Trees for Houston planted 9 Bald Cypress and 8 Shumard Oak trees in the park.

The school raised $10,000 through Vertical Raise. City of Houston Council Member Evans-Shabazz contributed $25,000 from Council District Service Funds. The SPARK Park received $235,700 of "park desert" funding from the Kinder Foundation, Houston Endowment, Cullen, and the Brown Foundation. The SPARK Park at Frazier Elementary helps fulfill a city/county goal of residents having a ten minute or half mile walk to a park. The total cost for the SPARK Park was $270,700.

In honor of the occasion, Will Carter from Congressman Brian Babin’s office will present a US flag that has flown over the Capitol in Washington D.C. Kenya Flores Melendez from State Representative Mary Ann Perez’ office will present a Texas flag that has flown over the Capitol in Austin. Stephanie Tanner from State Senator Mayes Middleton’s office will present a certificate of recognition.

Those helping Principal Kristina Ponce dedicate the SPARK Park are: Will Carter, US Congressman Brian Babin’s office Stephanie Tanner, State Senator Mayes Middleton’s office Kenya Flores Melendez, State Representative Mary Ann Perez’ office Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, Houston City Council Member, Dist. D Dr. Toni Lopez, Superintendent PISD PISD Board & Administration Rose Toro, artist Joel Niece, GameTime SPARK Board Members

P.O. Box 1562 | Houston, Texas 77251 | Ph: (832) 393-0911 SPARK Park Official