The Heritage Park staff and contractors have been working diligently since the ground breaking on the multiple facets required to make Heritage Park a reality. Updates on the important facets of the park are as follows:
COMMITTEE:
We were saddened to hear of J. Willis’s passing. We take great pride and comfort in that his legacy through Heritage Park, will be a constant reminder of his love for San Angelo, TX.
MARKETING:
Heritage Park was well represented during the three weeks of San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. Heritage Park had Information Stations in several areas at The Fairgrounds including: The Spur Club at the Spur Arena, The Pendleton Room in the Coliseum, The Premium Sale in the Show Barn, The Wine Tent and lastly a display one evening at the Non-Profit Table in the Exhibit Pavilion. The information stations included Full Park Renderings displaying the Park Features, Engraved Paver Samples and Brochures.
The Rodeo Exposure was not limited to the Fairgrounds. Mr. Boots, Bills Man Shop, M.L. Leddy’s and Cavender’s Western Wear Stores all agreed to have a HP Display for the month of February.
Additionally, Heritage Park was discussed at the Winter Meeting of the Sheep and Goat Raisers Association on February 17, 2018. The concept was well received and several ranchers committed to purchasing engraved bricks.
Marketing continues through personal presentations to various civic organizations and groups. Presentations have been made to two Lions Clubs, two Rotary groups, the Newtimers Club, Master Gardeners and The Desk and Derrick. Candis and Kara have been busy placing HP Flyer Posters all over town. Bricks and our Heritage Park renderings are currently on display in several places around San Angelo.
If anyone on the committee would help place additional flyer posters around town, it would be Greatly Appreciated!
PUBLICATIONS:
Just this past Sunday, the front page of the San Angelo Standard Times Scene Section had an extensive article about Fort Concho Schools adoption of Heritage Park as one of their Texas Research Institute Young Scholars (TRIYS) program.
ENGRAVED BRICK CAMPAIGN:
Heritage Park’s Brick Campaign is off to a STRONG START! The final design of HP’s two entrances enables HP to sell Qty. 140 8x8 bricks and Qty. 454 4x4 bricks as part of our Community Outreach Campaign. To date, $34,275 has been received from the sale of 86 engraved bricks. We are extremely pleased about the brick response, especially from our local schools.
SCHOOL CURRICULUM:
We are very excited about the progress of our Heritage Park School Curriculum Program. Recently we contacted Michelle Sedberry from ESC 17 in Lubbock, Julie Hodges from the Texas Tech National Ranching Heritage Center and SAISD curriculum experts, Shelly Hullihen and Dr. Jana Rueter, to format our plans for the Park's educational component and student field trips.
BRONZE SCULPTURE:
“I don't have a huge update on the Rancher and horse project other than that Doug (the foundry) promises to have it ready by this summer. I have included a mold and investment picture. The investment picture is the yellow crusty looking picture and that is what the bronze will be poured into for a section of that project. The best news is that Doug Pogue finished my over life-size lion for Cornerstone Christian School which means he can give his full attention to the task at hand of our Heritage Park statue. Getting paid on that project enabled him to buy more bronze and the materials he needed. The next time I go to The Foundry to deliver the Ken Gunter Memorial, I will hopefully have more progress to report. Anyone that would like to is welcome to come to my studio at 30 West Concho and see the lion before it is installed April 4th. Seeing and laying hands on that lion will give everyone a better idea of how the horse and rancher or will be on final appearance. Thank you for your patience.” (per Scott Sustek)
CONSTRUCTION
We are getting closer and closer to starting our foundation work!
David Mazur has applied for the Building Permit with the City and construction fencing is in place!!!!!
David, Lee & Stacia are working with In-Kind Donors such as Principle LED (lights), Ener-Tel (Security & Audio), West Central Wireless (High Speed Internet) and Huffman Air Conditioning (HVAC), as well as the Electrician to lay the ground work for the infrastructure of the working components of the Park. This has been a time consuming task however, we are nearing completion. Once all these pieces are finalized, we will be able to start digging holes.
After an extensive search to find the best contractor to provide the best service at the best price – we are pleased to announce that we found a local contractor who has the talent and ability to fabricate the Leaf Structures here in San Angelo! A+ Fabrication has been an established business for over 30 years. After meeting with Stacy Contreras, we feel confident that we have made the right choice by trusting his family business with this important component of the HP project.
VIDEO HISTORIES:
We decided to wait until after the Rodeo (and flu season) to start developing our family histories. Letters will be going out to sponsor level donors soon with information about how their family videos and ranch history’s will be assimilated. Kara and Candis will meet with them personally to formalize and customize each family's individual story.
FUNDRAISING:
Our ranching community continues to be highly supportive of Heritage Park. We have enough cash to get started with construction while the committee continues to tie up loose ends with a handful of sponsor donors. The brick campaign is “getting the word out”, with the “big sales push” expected as the Park nears completion in the Fall.
Thank you again for your commitment to this Project! Look for “dirt in the air” in the next few weeks.