Alief Neighborhood Center Open House Showcases City of Houston’s Newest One-Stop Shop for Array of Services, including Health Services
The City of Houston recently celebrated the new Alief Neighborhood Center, located at 11903 Bellaire Blvd., with an open house event this past Saturday.
The event featured remarks from Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston City Councilmember Tiffany D. Thomas of District F, and other local leaders who spoke about the nearly twenty-year development plan to complete this unique project.
Hundreds of community members explored the innovative facilities, were invited to register for classes and events, and signed up for My LINK library cards.
The Alief Neighborhood Center grand opening aligns with Mayor Turner’s priority to execute and implement in 2023.
“This one-of-a-kind City destination captures the spirit of Alief and will be transformational for this community,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “The Alief Neighborhood Center is a cutting-edge facility for Houston, designed to meet the needs of this incredibly diverse community. This project has been 20 years in the making, and I am proud of the dedication from my team and the advocacy of neighborhood groups and Alief residents.”
Situated on Alief Park, the new facility is larger and houses three COH Departments—the Houston Health Department, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, and the Houston Public Library. The City’s General Services Department managed the 58-million-dollar redevelopment project and will maintain the 70,000 square-foot facility going forward. Page/EYP was the architecture firm that completed the planning and design.
The new park development has an event lawn and game area, a swimming pool, walking paths with distance markers, tennis/pickleball courts, a basketball court, a skatepark, soccer fields, practice field, and futsal courts. For the youth, a playground provides opportunities for both physical activity and social interaction. A large climbing net structure and climbing wall will be the first of its kind in Houston Parks and Recreation Department’s system. Passive and natural spaces provide a place for the community to unwind along with a community garden and outdoor art. The project design preserved several mature live oaks and the southwest corner of the site remained in its natural state. The Houston Parks and Recreation Department will provide enrichment programs for youth, teens, and seniors at the center year-round.
Inside the facility, the Houston Health Department will administer a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinic, as well as an expansion of its Diabetes Awareness and Wellness Network (DAWN), providing free diabetes self-management education and other medical resources for Houstonians diagnosed or at risk of diabetes. The department’s Harris County Area Agency on Aging will offer comprehensive services for adults age 60 and older, including a free meal program, health and wellness classes, arts and crafts, and senior resources.
Reopening in the Alief Neighborhood Center, Houston Public Library’s David M. Henington Regional Library includes state-of-the-art technology with increased computer services, multiple classrooms available by reservation, a BOOKLINK and 24-hour Book Lockers to conveniently retrieve checked-out items. The new library is larger and upgrades preexisting services such as a Passport Office, Teens’ area, and Children’s section. The new reading areas benefit from magnificent views and more seating.
The Alief facility is the third Houston Public Library TECHLink location, providing makerspace equipment and software, fully-equipped video and music recording studios, including a greenscreen wall, multimedia services, and workshops for all ages.
“I am thrilled that Alief now has a one-stop shop for numerous City services,” said Council Member Tiffany Thomas of District F. “The neighborhood now has an upgraded library with a TECHLink bringing new technology to the area, a health clinic for families, a “stair-a-torium” for gatherings, public art created by local artists, and a beautiful City park with nearly every amenity a City can offer. The building has magnificent views from every window—whether in the lounge seating, in the teen reading area, the fitness center, or in the indoor walking track, the views are calming and inspiring.”
Following the ribbon-cutting and remarks delivered by Mayor Turner, Council Member Thomas, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Representative Hubert Vo (TX-149), and Barbara Quattro of Super Neighborhood 25, members of the community were invited to tour new spaces in the building and engage with city employees during the open house event hosted by various city departments.
Families and visitors can apply for MY Link library cards; enjoy winter-themed craft activities for all ages and interactive storytimes.
Health department activities at the grand opening included a healthy cooking demonstration by Alief WIC and an exercise class and a community garden tour offered by the DAWN center. AAA presented an overview of its programs and an opportunity to sign up for senior services.
“When the idea was presented to my administration, I said it was time to stop talking and start doing. So, I worked with my team to move the project forward to get built. And today is the culmination of all the ideas, work, and community feedback. We did it!” exclaimed Mayor Turner.
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