Dear Friends,
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Waco mayor Virginia DuPuy
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Waco is experiencing an extraordinary renaissance of civic engagement. Visionary investment in major construction projects is fundamentally shifting the landscape and how we as a community "do business." The virtual heart as exemplified in pride and values, coupled with strategic planning of key major projects, is forever altering the face of our central city. Some of the best planning among new and experienced leadership in public, private, professional and volunteer sectors is converging to make the right things happen. This growing civic engagement is healthy, productive and deeply encouraging to our citizenry.
On the southern entrance to our community, the terrain is flanked with new construction in Caterpillar, Coca Cola and Tractor Supply Distribution centers, bringing new jobs and millions of dollars in construction investment. The beautiful new Hillcrest Hospital affords a spectacular community portal on the Southern I35 side. The recently completed TxDOT "concrete ribbon" flyover at that intersection moves traffic seamlessly off Hwy 6 into I35 northbound lanes.
The Hillcrest construction, coupled with the recent completion of the Providence Hospital expansion, makes available significant new healthcare facilities, including a major Providence expansion of emergency room capacity. The Waco VA Hospital whose fate only two years ago was in question, is now boasting $49,000,000 in building renovations for expansion of their"VA Center of Excellence" medical research and services that represent only a portion of the projected federal investment in our Waco Veteran Mental Health Care services. Additionally,local health care providers are collaborating with our educational institutions to meet the growing medical healthcare education demands.
Waco's enviable strategic advantage as home to three institutions of higher learning, Baylor, MCC and TSTC, afford a range of opportunities for joint research ventures in communications technology, biology, physics, engineering, etc., of great interest to area businesses, research that can lead to market process and product innovation. Even above these quality higher education opportunities available in our community, "early college" dual credit courses for high school students, keep students engaged, career focused and positioned to reduce college education costs.
Another of our region's major assets is the Brazos River Corridor from Lake Waco, past the River Bend Park and the MCC Amphitheater on the Brazos, up the Bosque River at the confluence to the Mammoth Site, back south on the Brazos flowing past Cameron Park East and limestone Lovers' Leap cliffs in Cameron Park, past the Zoo, (soon to host the an Asian Forest Exhibit with Orangutangs and Komono Dragons, moving south, past Downtown Waco and the Suspension Bridge past Indian Springs and MLK Parks. Continuing to flow south past Historic Homes and Museums: Dr. Pepper (expanding), Texas Ranger (expanding), Texas Sports Hall of Fame (expanding), and the Mayborn Museum, past the Baylor Campus and Sports Complexes (also expanding), the Marina and the Ferrell Center to the recently completed Weir Dam, which now affords the Corridor a constant level Brazos River.
This Brazos River community treasure, rich with natural and cultural history is considered by Waco and Sister City residents to be the "Heart of the Community" projected to emerge as the centerpiece of tourism and community life. A National Parks Service Grant (Rivers Trails Conservation Assistance) is assisting the City in development of a Brazos River Corridor comprehensive plan. The resulting plans will include land and water use guidelines, protect its natural beauty and provide the framework for new businesses, river transportation access, running and bike trails, preservation and enhancement of outdoor areas, tourist friendly signage, coupled with residential property development, restaurants, and of course, an expanding river walk.
Adjacent to the River, nearing completion is the newly reconstructed Hilton Hotel, completing a multi-million dollar renovation complete with a mid-size Conference Center adjacent to the Convention Center. Last year, Waco citizens approved a $63 million bond package to provide significant upgrades to the Waco Convention Center, build two new fire stations, provide a Ranger Hall of Fame expansion and include major upgrades to our city parks system, the largest investment for Cameron Park, to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2010. Police Headquarters will be moved to a renovated Hillcrest Tower and a new West Branch Library will be built with major renovation and upgrades to occur at Central and East Waco Libraries. The South Waco Library is now moving from the South Waco Rec Center to a new location freeing up space for the South Waco Recon Center renovations now in the design phase.
Across from City Hall, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce is nearing completion of its (environmentally friendly LEED Building) headquarters adjacent to the Austin Avenue Loft Housing Development that is breaking ground, settling contracts for their retail and urban lofts. Our City on the Square is already a hub of construction that will forever alter the front door of our community. Public art graces the area's green space, with an increasing number of community events adding community buzz. Downtown Merchants are encouraging the theater and culinary arts scene that grows ever stronger! One and a half size bronze sculpture of a Texas Ranger on a horse recently unveiled at the Texas Ranger Museum is the first of The Branding of the Brazos bronze series of cowboys and cattle that will trail the river to the Suspension Bridge, symbolizing the Chisolm Trail cattle drives, for which the bridge was originally built.
Whether traveling I35 from the North or entering from the South, moving into Downtown on to the Brazos River Corridor, the traveler will discover beats of a strong heart, symbolic of a vibrant City, rapidly emerging as a river city, a Community of Choice, a place to live, work, play, and celebrate life on the Brazos, now and for years to come.
— Mayor Virginia DuPuy
