NEWSBRIEFS

$52M redesign of Hermann Park will add play areas, dog park, enhance green spaces

Some big changes are coming to Hermann Park soon. A $52 million project is going to create Te Commons, the McWilliams Dog park, a new playground and add more plants to the area. Te project is being spearheaded by the Hermann Park Conservancy. Te Commons community areas will be built in the 26-acre southwest part of the park. Te conservancy said they want to restore habitats in Te Commons and add more than a thousand trees and thousands of plants to help provide a home for local birds and animals. Tere will be a two-acre playground that will be accessible for all children. Te Swing Hill will be a traditional playground with new swings, and it will be close to the Picnic Pavilion. Tere will also be a Gorilla Forrest in honor of the neighboring zoo. Tere will also be a Live Oak Terrace with tables and chairs and a two-acre dog park. Construction is already underway and Te Commons are expected to be completely built by January 2024.

Final Four economic impact

estimated to be $270m

Houston event organizers are estimating a $270-million economic impact for the city afer the end of 2023’s College Basketball

Final Four in early April. Te number is based on various factors, including money spent at hotels, restaurants, and bars by visitors from out of town and from Houston. In comparison, the 2016 Final Four in Houston had a $250 million economic impact. Ofcials say the number takes the Fan Fest and Music Fest into consideration as well.

Harris County Department of Education hosts job fair

Te Harris County Department of Education will host a job fair at its administration building located at 6300 Irvington Blvd., Houston, TX, 77022, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, April 22. HCDE is hiring for various positions that support the Department’s instructional programs and support divisions, including certifed and substitute teachers; non-certified early childhood education teachers; non-certified adult education teachers; administrators; paraprofessionals; licensed physical, occupational, and music therapists; facilities and custodial staf; and professionals in the Information Technology, research and evaluation, accounting, and afterschool time fields. To view and apply for open positions, visit TeachHarrisCounty.org.

More than 1,600 jobs available at Turnaround Houston Job Fair

Te city of Houston is hosting a job fair later this month for people looking for work. Te Turnaround Houston Job and Readiness Fair will be hosted on Tursday, April 27 at the Alief Community Center Gymnasium from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. More than 30 employers and resource organizations are expected to be at the job fair, and several of them will have hiring managers hosting on-the-spot interviews.To register for this event, go to https://tinyurl.com/pwfky39 .

Call for Artists: Applications open for Fall 2023 Bayou City Art Festival

Bayou City Art Festival, produced by the Art Colony Association Inc. (ACA) and benefting Houston nonprofts, is inviting artists to apply for the opportunity to showcase and sell their art at the nation’s premier spring outdoor art festival in the U.S. scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, October 14-15, 2023. Te artist application deadline for the spring 2023 Bayou City Art Festival is Sunday, June 18, 2023, at midnight CST. ACA produces a Bayou City Art Festival in the spring and in the fall and has provided a venue for more than 20,000 artists to showcase their work to thousands of art lovers from all over the world. Attendees have the opportunity to personally meet the artists, view original works, and purchase worldclass art. Only 300 artists will be selected to exhibit at Bayou City Art Festival. Cash prizes are awarded for “Best in Show,” second and third place, as selected by on-site judges at the festival. Ribbons are awarded for “Best Booth” and all winners receive jury exempt status for two years as well as priority booth placement. Apply at https://www. zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=10785.