Ninety-five participants raced down the Bayou on Saturday, October 13 at the 3rd Annual Greens Bayou Regatta. Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle gave inspiring words to cast the racers on their way from Brock Park Golf Course.
Fifty-nine boats arrived at Thomas Bell Foster Park for the finish line festivities, set up by Doug Coenen and a small army of outstanding volunteers. Thomas Bell Foster Park is a recipient of tremendous recent enhancements thanks to Global Care Day volunteers from LyondellBasell and contractor services by Craig & Heidt, Inc. Racers cruised into the newly cleared takeout site with ease and spectators welcomed them from the grassy bank.
Racers then enjoyed a delicious hot meal donated and prepared by Mr. Barry Ross and his family and graciously served up by Rita Rodriguez and her crew. 11 Below Brewing ensured participants had the option of enjoying a cold beer after a long 7.5 mile paddle. During the closing ceremony, SWA Group was awarded the Corporate Cup with Jacob Galles and Garett Dietrick coming in first place (1:47:57) and Clark Condon’s Spencer Harvey and Jake Salzman in a close second (1:48:10). All other results from the race can be found here. Port Houston’s team, Garret Berg and Fatima DeLeon won The Styrofoam Cup – the award for most trash collected along the racecourse. They hauled in a canoe full of plastic bottles, Styrofoam products and even a cooler!
The Top Individual Fundraiser was Christina Domalakes who won gear donated by Whole Earth Provision Co. She raised over $500 in sponsorship from friends, family and co-workers! This has set a record for the most raised by a single person!
In total, the event raised $11,010 to continue developing access points to launch boats on Greens Bayou. The Coalition aims to increase recreational opportunity to an underutilized waterway for a most deserving community. They will continue to partner with organizations such as Houston Parks Board to establish pocket parks and kayak launches on Greens Bayou.
The Coalition would like to extend thanks to all of the sponsors again for their contribution to making this the largest and most successful Regatta yet: Port Houston, LyondellBasell Industries, Craig & Heidt Inc., SWCA Environmental Consultants, Radcliffe Bobbitt Adams Polley PLLC, The Pines at Woodcreek, Clark Condon Associates Inc., Resource Environmental Solutions, SWA Group, Costello Inc., The Rotary Club of North Shore, The Ground Up, HomeAdvisor, and MicroLife Fertilizers.
Finally, The Coalition acknowledges the invaluable in-kind supporters: City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Special Events, Harris County Commissioner Precinct 4, Waste Management, 11 Below Brewing, METRO, KIND Snacks, Whole Earth Provision Co., Chipotle, Starbucks, Jacinto City Fire Department, Aztec Rentals, Houston Canoe Club, Magoo’s Print Shop, Precinct2gether, Wal-Mart, HEB, and Jason’s Deli.