Mayor Whitmire must keep Turner’s parks legacy going (Opinion)

Regarding “Texas Children’s Hospital donates $1.5M to MacGregor Park renovation,” (Dec. 28): I read in the Chronicle that Texas Children’s Hospital has added $1.5 million to the MacGregor Park renovations. Thank you to the Kinder Foundation for donating $27 million. MacGregor Park is a large 65 acres, so it can accommodate many. The additions and upgrades will really make this park a better place to enjoy. Houston’s parks do need upgrades. Parks are so important for walking, and for hosting children’s playgrounds, baseball, family celebrations and so forth. 

Houston has 382 parks. Fifty were selected for Phase 1, and 22 were contracted, including in the Edgebrook community of Freeway Manor, Sun Valley and Gulfway Terrace. Freeway Manor Park was selected as the 11th park. We want to thank District E Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin who helped make this happen. Calpine and Baxter Trust also stepped up with the necessary funds. 

Freeway Manor Park is over six decades old and showed its age. The children’s playground was inadequate, old and not safe. The walking trail was asphalt that was broken, deteriorated and not safe to walk. This was addressed. Now we have better ballpark lighting, a soccer field and more gathering areas for barbecue and celebrations. We are really proud to have received these changes and upgrades to our park. We hope the new mayor will continue this program and many large corporations step up and fund as the Kinder Foundation and Texas Children’s have done.

I am delighted to read about the financial support that renovation at MacGregor Park has received from Texas Children’s Hospital and the Kinder Foundation.

Among my happiest childhood memories are hot summer days in the ’50s when my dad’s best friend, J. D. Gardner, would have the afternoon off and drive to my home in Pecan Villas to take my sister and me and his children to swim in the large pool at MacGregor Park. A cooling dip in the pool followed by treats at the concession stand made for memorable afternoons. 

I am unable to find specific renovations that the pool will receive and look forward to reading about them. 

Jeanette Jones Russell, Houston

Reyes fought diligently until the end for Latinos’ political empowerment. Most of his family were migrant farm workers who struggled to eke out a living, and as a child that crystallized his decision to fight for empowerment of the disenfranchised. He was the founder of Harris County Mexican American Democrats, which is now Harris County Tejano Democrats, and sat on the board of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Reyes’ influence touched many, many young people in the areas of education, political power and civic engagement.   

Again, Latinos are left out of coverage. Inclusion not only honors their memory but also promotes a more diverse representation of noteworthy Latino individuals we have lost. I encourage the Chronicle to enhance its inclusivity and better reflect the Latino demographics in Houston.     

As a dedicated doctoral student at the University of Houston, specializing in the preservation and restoration of Latino history, I am writing with  heartfelt concern regarding the recent coverage in Dec. 31’s edition of the Chronicle.

It deeply troubles me to observe the continued absence of Latino representation in your publication, especially in a city where 45% of the population identifies as Hispanic. Such an omission diminishes the impact and magnitude of loss on the Latino population.

Moreover, the oversight of a significant icon in Latino history, Frumencio Reyes, is equally distressing. Reyes’ contributions and leadership within the community have been pivotal, yet his absence from your coverage perpetuates an ongoing cycle of neglect and erasure of Latino voices and achievements.

The absence of equitable representation in your coverage not only undermines the diversity of our city but also perpetuates a narrative that neglects the significant contributions and struggles faced by the Latino community.

I implore the Chronicle to reconsider the narrative presented in the article. It’s imperative to acknowledge the pivotal contributions, achievements and the richness of cultural heritage that the Latino community brings to our city.

I respectfully urge you to include statistics that accurately represent the impact on the Latino community and to honor icons like Reyes, whose legacy deserves recognition in your publication. By doing so, we can collectively work towards fostering an environment of unity and respect while educating and inspiring inclusivity within our city.