Diggin' it at Evelyn's Park

City of Bellaire officials, representatives of the Evelyn’s Park Conservancy and dozens of Bellaire residents turned out Thursday evening for a groundbreaking the city’s newest park.
The long-awaited groundbreaking at Evelyn’s Park, located on Bellaire Blvd. at Newcastle, represents years of hard work by city leaders, volunteers and donors.

When the historic Teas Nursery closed in December, 2009, the Jerry and Maury Rubenstein Foundation acquired the 5-acre site, with the vision of maintaining a green space in the heart of Bellaire. The Foundation donated the land to the city of Bellaire, on the condition that it would be developed as a park.
The Evelyn’s Park Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, raised funds for the new park and Bellaire voters approved a $5 million bond referendum in 2013.
The groundbreaking ceremony included a special arts project, where participants were invited to paint a fence picket for a display in the park. The art project was sponsored by the Bellaire Cultural Arts Commission.
Several Bellaire officials were present — with the exception of Bellaire Mayor Phil Nauert, who announced earlier this week that he had to be in court to challenge a traffic ticket he received from “an overzealous” police officer.
Councilmembers Roman Reed, Andrew Friedberg and Jim Avioli participated in the traditional shovel-in-dirt ceremony, along with State Rep. Sara Davis and Evelyn’s Park Conservancy president Patricia King-Ritter.
Also on hand were representatives of The Linbeck Construction Group, the construction manager for the $6.3 million first phase of construction at the park.
Keith Rubenstein, the grandson of Evelyn Rubenstein for whom the park is named, thanked the many Bellaire residents who donated funds and volunteered in the effort to make the park a reality.

King-Ritter said, “We are excited we are building an urban oasis for all to enjoy.”
Davis congratulated all of the participants who envisioned the new park in Bellaire.
“This will be here for generations to come,” Davis said.
And, Councilman Reed said that the city council had worked hard to insure that residents’ money would be well-spent in the first phase of construction and maintenance of the park.