BP Classic Volunteers from across North America win special recognition from
the Keep Houston Beautiful Campgaign
12/08/2009
 From Planet BP: BP Classic project garners Houston award. Work by BP volunteers to transform raw land into a sea of green at Texas City’s
western gateway has garnered recognition from the city’s large neighbor to the
north.
Some of those volunteers were on hand when the city of Texas City received special
recognition from the Keep Houston Beautiful campaign and the 2009 Mayor’s Proud
Partners competition at an awards luncheon on Nov. 16 at the Houston Post Oak
Hilton Hotel.
The beautification work was done on June 24 by 160 BP Classic volunteers who
planted 4,000 hardy grasses around the city’s distinctive metal Western sculptures
of longhorn and a windmill in a large area between FM 1764 and Interstate Highway
45.
BP Texas City hosted the 25th annual BP Classic, a four-day volunteer and athletic
event with teams from BP facilities across North America. The landscaping project
is among a long list of remarkable projects completed by BP Classic volunteers,
who leave a positive and lasting impact on host communities.
Today, the area that BP volunteers lovingly nicknamed “Longhorn Park” comes alive
as a showpiece for the Texas City community. Southeast Texas winds and sunlight
tease the specially selected grasses until they mimic shimmering waves.
John Amato, refinery Process Safety Management (PSM) coordinator for the Utilities
group and president of the volunteers, explained how the successful public-private
partnership came about.
“We asked for a project that the city really needed,” said Amato. “When we first
met with Texas City Mayor Matt Doyle to see how we could help, he asked us to
paint and rebuild some city park fences. We told him we wanted something bigger,
and he came through with the beautification of FM 1764, which had been indefinitely
postponed by a blowhard named Ike.”
Designed with feasibility and safety in mind, the summertime project included
an onsite barbeque, shade-giving tents and plenty of ice-cold water. Enthusiasm
and sheer numbers reduced what would have been an 8-hour job to just 3.
Tina Lyons, PSM technical specialist for Texas City Chemicals (TCC) and event
coordinator for the BP Classic, said, “Sixty engineering interns from Westlake
added to our ranks. We had engineers, operators, machinists, management, plant
managers, lots of admins, maintenance folks, and some spouses and kids. What we
accomplished was amazing.”
The sea of orange t-shirts became celebrities when they were spotted by a passing
news crew from KPRC Channel 2. The sight was irresistible and became a featured
story on that night’s newscast.
After the volunteers finished their work, landscaping professionals came in to
add agave and groupings of crepe myrtles as well as other plants that required
expert attention.
The project’s effect is just what the mayor of Texas City desired for the community—a
showcase entrance to the city.
Amato said, “I live here in Texas City and I love when people tell me how beautiful
it is driving in. And I’m proud that BP volunteers could give back to this community
by doing the lion’s share of work and saving Texas City taxpayers a bunch of money.”
Lyons added, “I never get tired of seeing the results of what we did. It seems
like the colors change every day when I drive by.”
Seventeen Proud Partner awards were given along with 15 certificates of recognition.
This marks the first year in the organization’s 25-year history that awards were
presented—four in all—to gateway communities outside the Houston city limits.
Texas City was nominated for FM 1764 by HLS Enterprises, the landscaping company
that designed and contributed to the planting of the project.
All nominations are judged by the same criteria—numbers of volunteers, positive
visual impact and a sustainability plan. Also, judges give higher marks when corporate
involvement is present.
 2009 Photo Album
10/09/2009
See all of the photos from the action at the 2009 BP Classic in Texas City on
the Photo Albums page...
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