[Article from the Houston Chronicle] Hardy beautification project complete

Connector adds 30,000 containers of vegetation

Harris County and state officials commemorated a beautification project for commuters along the Hardy Toll Road to Bush Intercontinental Airport.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Hardy Toll Road Airport Connector Enhancement Project was last Thursday. The project was the culmination of joint efforts by the North Houston Association, Harris County Toll Road Authority, Trees for Houston, Houston Airport System and the Texas Department of Transportation to beautify the corridor of toll road that leads to JFK Blvd at Bush Intercontinental Airport.

“The North Houston Association is a nonprofit organization that identifies, advocates and supports project and initiatives which advance the business environment and improve the quality of life in North Harris and Montgomery counties,” said state Sen. Jon Lindsay, R- Houston, president of the North Houston Association. “This project was very much in line with our purpose and mission and we are fortunate to have had a great working relationship with all of the entities involved.” Speakers that were on hand for the ceremony were: Lindsay, Houston City Councilman Michael Berry, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole, Rick Vacar of the Houston Airport System, and Gary Trietsch of Texas Department of Transportation, Houston district. About 75 people attended the ceremony as each received packets of wildflower seeds to pass on the green thumb effect of the project. “The project sought to enhance north Houstons natural beauty by adding more natural-

ized, native vegetation and complimenting this with color,” Eversole said. “The vegetation also serves to screen unsightly views and provides continuity in the transition from the Hardy Toll Road into the airport.”
The project, which was selected by the Texas Transportation Commission under the Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program, encompasses just under 21 acres and 30,000 containers of vegetation.

“We responded to the requests of north Houston residents in developing this project,” Lindsay said. “This corridor is the gateway to the city and state and giving consideration to the number of international passengers that are flying into and out of Bush Intercontinental Airport daily, this project will ensure visitors are left with a positive image of north Houston and the region as a whole.” The project received the Mayors Proud Partners Award last month at the Keep Houston Beautiful 20th annual awards presentation. “We are pleased to be chosen for this award not only because of the beautification this project brings to the area, but also be-‘ cause of our partnerships,” said, Paula Lenz, executive director of North Houston Association.’ “This demonstrates synergy to make Houston an even better- place to live and work.”

[Article from the Observer] Ribbon cutting marks completion of Hardy toll road beatification project

When homeward-bound Houston and Harris County residents arrive at George Bush Intercontinental Airport and take the Hardy Toll Road exit a short distance before Greens Road, they experience a totally different view than when the ramp officially opened in late January 2000. A beautification project, that includes the landscaping of almost 21 acres along the connecting roadway and the planting of some 30,000 containers of vegetation, has made a noticeable difference. To mark completion of the award-winning beautification project—officially designated as the Hardy Toll Road Airport Connector Enhancement Project— a crowd of some 75 people, including state, county and city officials and area residents gathered at the site for a 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony on Senator Jon Lindsay.

North Houston Association president, told the audience how this project is “creating a positive image of the north Houston area” with the many visitors whose impressions of Houston are made initially upon arrival at the airport. Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversóle also emphasized how the project enhances the natural beauty of north Houston with its naturalized, native vegetation and […] position from the toll road and the airport. Other officials making brief remarks were Michael Berry. City of Houston council member; Rick Vacar of the Houston Airport System; Gary Trietsch of the Texas Department of Transportation; and David Graham, president of Trees for Houston. Earlier in September, Houston Mayor Bill White recognized the enhancement project with a 2004 Proud Partners […]

Houston Beautiful awards luncheon. Lindsay accepted the award for the project partners. The project is the largest landscaping project that the Houston District of TxDOT has undertaken, according to Paula Lenz, North Houston Association executive director. It was selected by the Texas Transportation Commission under the statewide transportation enhancement program (STEPl-2002. Plantings at the site. according […]

Texas. Inc., landscaping contractor for the project, include 1,600 bald cypress trees, 4,400 loblolly pines, 1,800 longleaf pines, 4,300 red, white and pink crepe myrtles. 4.300 wax myrtles, 2.500 Galveston eucalyptus shrubs, 7,000 red, white and pink oleanders, 60 fig ivy, and 1,100 glossy abelias. Construction cost of the project totaled $1.5 million, with 38 percent of the cost being assumed by the local participating entities, Lenz reports.

[…] the local project included the Houston Airport System, SI50.000; Trees for Houston. $25,000; North Houston Association. $5,000; and the Harris County Toll Road Authority, $435,000. as well as payment for the design fees. A nonprofit organization. North Houston Association identifies advocates and supports projects and initiatives that advance the business environment and improve the quality of life in North Harris and […]

[Article from The Leader] Airport beautification project completed

Local and stale dignitaries last week joined representatives of the North Houston Association and other partner groups in a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the Hardy Toll Road Airport Connection Beautification Project.  The $1 million project, which encompassed 21 acres and 30.000 containers of vegetation, was the largest landscaping project that the Houston district of the Texas Department of Transportation had ever undertaken. HLS Construction of Texas in January was awarded the bid for the project, which added more naturalized, native vegetation along the road that connects the toll road to Bush Intercontinental Airport. One of the speakers at the dedication. TxDOT’s Gary Triest, had high praise for HLS. ‘They did a fantastic job,” he said. Not only was the contractor’s bid under TxDOT’s estimate, but the firm also finished in record lime. Triest said. “We took bids in January, and were standing out here today.” he said. “That’s highly unusual.”

Four entities contributed to the local share of the project. The Harris County Toll Road Authority contributed the lion’s share of $435,000; Houston Airport System contributed $150,000; Trees for Houston, $25,000; and North Houston Association, $5,000. Other speakers at the Sept. 30 ribbon-cutting included Sen. Jon Lindsay, president of the North Houston Association; County Commissioner Jerry Eversóle, Council member Michael Berry and Rick Vacar with Houston Airport System. “This project is very much in line with our purpose and mission.” said Lindsay, “and we are fortunate to have a real working relationship with all of the entities involved, including the Texas Department of Transportation, Harris County Toll Road Authority and the Houston Airport System.” Lindsay noted the efforts of McCreight. former NH A executive director who now works for HNTB Corp. “When we got turned down for funding the first time, she didn’t quit.” said Lindsay. Eversole, described by Lindsay as one of the major proponents of the project, gave kudos to both HLS and Trees for Houston. “There’s a lot of contractors knocking down trees and making fields.” he said. “HLS and Trees for Houston should be commended for making forests.” “It’s great to see this project come to fruition,” said Vacar, noting that “an enormous amount of landscaping had been accomplished in the last several weeks.” Berry said the beautification project “is one more example of the great things we’re doing at the airport. This has been all about teamwork.”