The Park Project Update

5/3/2024

Hesed House Increases Facility Connectivity

May 5, 2024: Thanks to generous funding from Bay Area Council on Drugs and Alcohol (BACODA), CenterPoint Energy Foundation, and multiple individual donors, Hesed House is completing 2,882 square feet of permeable sidewalks to connect facilities. This project, originally planned for completion in early Fall of 2023, was met with significant challenges and delays, but is now being completed thanks to Sharon and Jelsea Brank, the new owners of Piper Whitney Construction.

The mother and daughter team have gone above and beyond to see this project through, understanding the importance of accessibility for Hesed House patrons, and the community at large. Accessibility, coupled with the need for responsible infrastructure that doesn’t contribute to storm water runoff in a neighborhood impacted by river flooding, means using materials and practices that cost more than traditional ones, but will help increase ecological resilience in a community that has continued to become more vulnerable with every flood event.

Hesed House believes responsibly built, inclusive community spaces can help increase social and ecological resilience, resulting in increased community resilience and a higher quality of life for Wharton area residents. This phase of construction is just the beginning of what Hesed House hopes will become a vibrant outdoor gathering space for families visiting Dinosaur Park with a lighted and shaded plaza area, synthetic turf, and amenities such as picnic tables, benches, trash receptacles, bike racks, and of course, more parking space.

Hesed House of Wharton is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (EIN: 84-2536207) located on City of Wharton property at: 421 W. Colorado St., Wharton, TX 77488. Donations to The Park Project in any amount are welcomed. To partner, or for more information on Hesed House, click HERE, or contact Executive Director, Stephanie Konvicka at skonvicka@hesedhousewtx.org

3/17/23

Hesed House Extends Lease Agreement with The City of Wharton

Monday, March 12, 2023: Wharton City Council unanimously voted to extend the length of the contract between themselves and Hesed House of Wharton on current facilities. In addition to extending the length, the contract will also now include the properties at 501 W. Colorado and 505 W. Colorado Street. This new agreement was made at the request of Hesed House of Wharton Board of Directors.

Hesed House of Wharton plans to remodel the property at 505 W. Colorado to become a community technology center. The goal for the Hesed House of Wharton Connected Learning Center is to offer technology-based programs focusing on bridging the Digital Divide and to provide hands-on learning opportunities leading to resilience and career development for under-served community members in a space that can also be utilized for long-term disaster recovery operations in the event of a community disaster.

Hesed House plans to begin the construction process as early as April with the hope of opening to the public in Fall of 2023. This facility is one of four houses Hesed House of Wharton is renovating as part of The Park Project, a capital campaign to activate property adjacent to Dinosaur Park that has been acquired by the City of Wharton due to impending levee construction. In an effort to maintain historical integrity of the neighborhood, increase program capacity, and increase quality of life for the Wharton area community, Hesed House of Wharton is undertaking this ambitious campaign to renovate structures and grounds and add accessible parking to make Dinosaur Park a place for the community to gather and grow together.

Hesed House of Wharton is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (EIN: 84-2536207)

Located at: 421 W. Colorado St., Wharton, TX 77488. To partner, or for more information on Hesed House, click HERE, or contact Executive Director, Stephanie Konvicka at skonvicka@hesedhousewtx.org

It was just this time last year that construction was getting started on our new Welcome Center. We now have another completed house dedicated to art and cooking education and are beginning construction on the last of the three new houses. We recently hosted Halloween in the Park and look forward to year round community events. Our hope is that this park will become a gathering place for a vibrant arts and culture community. But none of this matters if the park isn’t accessible for all community members.

We are committed to making Dinosaur Park accessible and inclusive. Inclusivity comes at a cost, though. Permeable surfaces for sidewalks and paths allow for increased social and ecological resilience. What we build matters to the wellbeing of our neighbors and environment, and we are working with Piper Whitney to build surfaces that will be the best fit for our park here on the river so that we create a public space that can be an asset to our community for years to come.

We have had the most amazing partners throughout this project. Our volunteers have committed hundreds of hours and our funding partners have contributed over $500,000 to make The Park Project a reality for Wharton. As we prepare to begin construction on the last house and paths to connect all of the spaces in the park, we need your help. Want to help us build paths that are ADA compliant and will actually help our environment thrive? Want to help us push through and finish a house that will provide space for counseling and support groups? Want to help us cultivate beautiful park grounds where we can spotlight public art, including multiple sculptures carved from trees that once shaded these grounds?

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

  • When you give to GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, you help us maintain daily operations so we can place our attention on building programming that increases the quality of life for our community members.

  • When you give to WHARTON GROWS, you help us build Earth Lab programming and create garden spaces here in the park and throughout the community.

  • When you give to THE PARK PROJECT, you help us continue construction, including paths and the addition of park amenities including accessible trash receptacles, benches, picnic tables, and bike racks.

Your charitable contributions, whether through services, materials, or financial support, are tax deductible. Financial contributions can be made online right here. Want to designate your contribution for a particular element of The Park Project? We have several project elements to choose from and would love to visit with you. We love celebrating our gifts publicly, but we know sometimes our supporters prefer anonymity. We welcome anonymous donations, as well.

We also could not be our best without volunteers who contribute time, talent, and a lot of energy to keep us moving forward. We aren’t us without you. In fact, we are our best us because of you. Let’s keep growing, friends.

Want to help? Send us a message or email, or give us a call.