ChevronTexaco
donates 130-acre golf course
HOUSTON,
Jan. 24, 2005 – ChevronTexaco
today announced the donation of a 130-acre golf course,
formerly The Texaco Country Club, to the Houston Parks
Board and the City of Houston. The golf course,
combined with an adjacent 34-acre tract of parkland
acquired by the Houston Parks Board, is now a 164-acre
new city park named Coolgreen Park.
The
park is adjacent to Greens Bayou just east of Loop 610,
at the intersection of Maxey Road and Coolgreen Street.
In addition to a public golf course open for play, the
park features wooded acreage that harbors amazing wildlife
such as deer, raccoons, fox, herons, egret, kingfishers
and ducks.
Established
in 1924 for the benefit of Texaco’s employees and
retirees, the Texaco Country Club has been a semi-private
golf course for 80 years. Membership consisted
of Texaco retirees, ChevronTexaco employees and others. Texaco
retirees have been operating the course and will continue
to be involved in its management.
To contact the Golf Shop or schedule
a tee time, call (713) 453-7501. To contact the Grill,
call (713) 453-2144.
“Houston
needs more park space and I applaud ChevronTexaco’s
corporate stewardship in making such a significant
addition,” said Houston Mayor
Bill White at a press conference today at city hall
announcing the donation. “I
hope others will follow ChevronTexaco’s leadership.”
Also
at the press conference, Ray Wilcox, Vice President ChevronTexaco
Corporation and President of ChevronTexaco Exploration
and Production Company, said, “We are pleased to make this donation of land, and proud to be a partner with the city and the Houston Parks Board in providing additional park space for everyone to enjoy. Our vision is to be the global energy company most admired for our people, partnership and performance. This unique donation is an action based on achieving that vision.”
Rob
Rowland, Chairman of the Houston Parks Board, said, “We
are all delighted to be celebrating this donation. Over
the years Houston has been blessed with great philanthropy
exhibited by Houston’s civic-minded individuals
and families. Almost all of Houston’s significant
parks were created with the leadership of those private
individuals and families. A gift like this from the corporate
world is particularly significant because, according
to the Houston Parks Board’s records, it is the
first such corporate gift of a large park to Houston.”
Also
at the press conference was long time Houston Parks Board
member and well known green space advocate, Terry Hershey. She
said, “Across Maxey Road from this
new park is another one of the Houston Parks Board’s
acquisitions, the 717-acre Herman Brown Park. ChevronTexaco’s
donation will increase the critical mass of the existing
adjacent parklands, and provide a meaningful and sustaining
natural connection for wildlife between Greens Bayou,
Hunting Bayou and beyond.”
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.,
another leader in the business community, assisted greatly
in this transaction by providing pro bono legal
services for the Houston Parks Board, including assistance
in negotiation and structuring of the transaction, drafting
of the agreements, and environmental and tax advice.
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