Days after hosting Community Day, the Houston Dynamo continued their significant involvement in the Houston community by announcing major improvements to Melrose Park in north Houston, in conjunction with the Houston Area Chevrolet Dealers.
In an afternoon press conference at Melrose Park, located off of Little York Road between I-45 and the Hardy Toll Road, the Dynamo and Chevrolet held the ceremonial groundbreaking for an overhaul of the park's irrigation system, cheered on by about one hundred local children.
"It's special for us to look out and see how excited everybody is about this project," Dynamo Chief Operating Officer Chris Canetti said. "When we see that excitement, we realize that we're doing the right thing, and we get even more excited about working with the community on projects like this."
Houston Parks and Recreation Department director Joe Turner thanked the Dynamo and Chevrolet for their donation and pledged to build an improved fence around the park as part of the renovation.
"We rely on the support of our business and communities and professional teams to offer us amenities that we need in all our parks," Turner said. "The Houston Dynamo and Chevrolet are funding much-needed improvements to the soccer field. As a result, we will soon have irrigation installed to help improve the field's playing condition.
I'm also happy to announce that because of the partnership with these guys, once we do finish the irrigation, we will be fencing the park so it will be a better facility for us to play in."
Dynamo players Craig Waibel and Franco Caraccio were on hand to sign autographs and pose for numerous pictures with fans, kids, and soccer teams that were on hand.
"As a team and as the players that represent the organization, we're continuously looking for ways to give back to our community, to give back to the people that matter to us, the people that are the reason we have a job," Waibel said. "I hope this field is something you guys can play on for years and years, keep it in good shape, and keep the game growing in Houston. Eventually, hopefully, one of you will be holding this microphone as a player for the Houston Dynamo."
The Houston Area Chevrolet Dealers and the Dynamo unveiled a sign commemorating the project, which is slated to be completed by the end of the summer.
"The Houston Chevy Dealers live, work and play in this community, so we're thrilled to be part of something that's revitalizing a park where children play and where we can come together as a community," Houston Area Chevrolet Dealers treasurer Sharilyn Durdin.
