Futile Dream or Fast Approaching Reality?

Since 2002, the City of Celeste has been trying to get a park built here in our little town. Mayor Pat Jones and the Council have waded through the river of red tape involved in filling out grant paper work with the Texas Parks and Wildlife, not once, but twice. The first grant request was disapproved. We lost out to larger towns and cities here in North Texas. When the first grant was disapproved, privately I thought it was a futile attempt at best. However Mayor Jones did not let this disappointment slow her down. She continued to fill out the mountains of paperwork and talk to various local business leaders and civic groups. Her efforts paid off in spades. She managed to get cash in hand donations, as well as pledges from local groups like the Lions Club and Texas New Mexico Power that would cover half of the cost of the Park. Let me Stress this, NO CELESTE CITY TAX DOLLARS would be spent on the park. It would be a community park built through the generosity and civic pride of the residents of Celeste.

On the second try, the Grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife was approved. The Celeste City park began to look like it could be a reality. A park that would have Benches, a Pavilion, Picnic tables. hopscotch facilities and would be Handicap friendly.

Now we, the citizens of Celeste, NEED to show that we will support the building of this park. On Tuesday, July 25th at 7 PM, there will be a meeting at the Middle School Auditorium to discuss the park. We need the Lions Club to be there. We need the Masonic Lodge to be there. We need the CYSA to be there. We need the Soccer League to be there. We need the Boy Scouts & the Girl Scouts to be there. We need the Church leaders from all of our local churches to be in attendance. We
need all our elected officials to be there, the City Council, the School Board, the County Commissioner and the Justice of the Peace for our section of the County. Most of all ,we need everyone who loves Celeste and wants our great little town to continue to thrive, to show up at this meeting. It is US, the average Joe's and Jane's of Celeste, who can, and will, make a difference. We the citizens of Celeste need to pack the auditorium and show the "Powers that Be" that we not only want this park, but our kids deserve to have a place where they can play safely. Our families deserve a place where they can go for a picnic. Let's show our Civic Pride!!!




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