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WELCOME TO, IT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON, AND WE HAVE A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TODAY, AND WE'RE GONNA START OUT WITH ONE OF OUR FAVORITES, MS. SARAH DELIC.
NOW, SARAH, TELL OUR VIEWERS WHAT YOUR TITLE IS.
YES, SO I'M TOURISM MANAGER FOR VISIT GRAND PRAIRIE, WHICH IS THE TOURISM ARM FOR THE CITY, WHICH IS A BIG JOB.
AND YOU HAVE MANY, YOU WORK IN MANY OTHER AREAS, BUT TODAY, WHAT ARE WE FOCUSING ON? SOLAR ECLIPSE.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR APRIL 8TH.
I'M SURE YOU'VE, YOU KNOW, YOUR VIEWERS I'M SURE ARE HEARING ABOUT IT ON THE NEWS AND THINGS, BUT WE ARE GONNA HAVE A SOLAR ECLIPSE ON APRIL 8TH HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
WE ARE SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, UM, PATH OF TOTALITY.
AND SO IF, IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT IS A SOLAR ECLIPSE? IT'S BASICALLY WHEN THE MOON PASSES DIRECTLY BETWEEN THE EARTH AND THE SUN AND IT CREATES DARKNESS AND LIKE THIS WEIRD EERIE GLOW FROM WHEN IT GOES DARK.
SO IT'S GONNA GO DARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.
UM, ABOUT 1 42 IS WHEN WE ARE SCHEDULED, SCHEDULED.
WHEN THE MOON IS
UM, WE'RE GOOD, BUT WE DIDN'T SCHEDULE ANYTHING.
THIS IS JUST HAPPENING AND WE'RE PREPARING FOR IT, BUT IT'S GONNA LAST ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MINUTES.
HOWEVER, THE, THE TIMELINE WILL, YOU KNOW, IT'LL START EARLIER AND THEN IT'LL TAKE LONGER FOR THE, FOR THE SUN TO MOVE.
SO, UM, BUT TOTAL TOTALITY WILL BE ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MINUTES.
AND SARAH, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT THAT? DOES IT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN? SO, IT, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE SOLAR ECLIPSES DO HAPPEN AROUND THE WORLD, UM, FAIRLY OFTEN.
HOWEVER, UM, FOR US, GRAND PRAIRIE WON'T EXPERIENCE ANOTHER, UM, TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE FOR ANOTHER 300 AND SOMETHING YEARS.
NOW, THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT IN, YOU KNOW, UM, 20 SOMETHING YEARS, YOU CAN GO UP TO MONTANA AND VIEW THAT ONE, OR THAT YOU DIDN'T VIEW ONE ANOTHER PART OF THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER TIME.
BUT AS FAR AS GRAND PRAIRIE HAVING THIS EXPERIENCE, IT, IT REALLY IS ONCE IN A LIFETIME.
IT IS ONCE IN A LIFETIME FOR US.
AND TELL US HOW THE CITY IS GOING TO CELEBRATE THE ECLIPSE.
SO SAFETY IS DEFINITELY OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
UM, SO WE HAVE LOTS OF INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE TALKING ABOUT DRIVING SAFETY, VIEWING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.
SO WE WANNA REMIND OUR VIEWERS TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY PLAN ON VIEWING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE, THAT THEY DEFINITELY GET A PAIR OF SOLAR ECLIPSE GLASSES.
'CAUSE IT WILL DAMAGE YOUR EYES IF YOU TRY TO, YOU KNOW, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE IT.
AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL YOU'LL SEE IS SPOTS.
SO MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR SOLAR ECLIPSE GLASSES THAT ARE ISO CERTIFIED.
DRIVING IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE SAFE.
WE DON'T WANT, UM, CARS TO STOP ON THE HIGHWAY OR EVEN ON THE SHOULDER.
LIKE FIND A SAFE PLACE AROUND THAT TIMELINE TO PROPERLY VIEW THE SOLAR CLIPS IF, IF YOU CHOOSE.
BUT DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, POLICE, FIRE, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ARE ALL INVOLVED TO MAKE SURE THAT SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
AND YOU MENTIONED, UH, ISO RATED.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE SOME, UH, THINGS OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT.
SO THEY NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE, BECAUSE IT COULD DAMAGE OUR EYES.
JUST MAKE SURE, AND IF THEY ARE ISO CERTIFIED, IT DOES SAY IT ON THE GLASSES.
UM, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PAIR, WE'RE SELLING UP AT THE TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER FOR $3 A PAIR, UH, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.
BUT WE, WE THINK WE HAVE PLENTY.
SO, UM, FEEL FREE TO STOP BY AND PICK UP YOUR PAIR OF GLASSES.
AND, UH, IS THE CITY DOING ANYTHING AT EPIC CENTRAL? YES.
SO WE HAVE LOTS OF EVENTS SCHEDULED LEADING UP TO TOTALITY.
SO OUR LIBRARY IS DOING LOTS OF FUN PROGRAMMING.
UM, IT'S OPENING WEEKEND, A FARMER'S MARKET, SO THAT'S HAPPENING ON SATURDAY.
WE'RE DOING MARKET ON THE MOVE ON SUNDAY.
YOU CAN ALSO, UM, GO TO THE PLANETARIUM THAT'S AT SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE.
YOU GET A FREE PAIR OF GLASSES AND, UH, VIEW A IMAX TYPE MOVIE OVER, UM, ECLIPSE AND THE INFORMATION FOR THAT.
BUT THE BIG WATCH PARTY IS ON APRIL 8TH AT EPIC CENTRAL, NEAR THE JAMBOX.
FROM 12 TO THREE, WE'LL HAVE LIVE MUSIC AND VENDORS AND LOTS OF GOOD TIMES.
SO BRING YOUR LAWN CHAIR AND COME, COME WATCH THE ECLIPSE WITH US.
AND THE MAIN THING, IT SOUNDS LIKE FUN, THE MAIN THING IS TO BE SAFE TO MAKE SURE YOU AND YOUR KIDS OR WHOEVER YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR WILL HAVE PROPER PROTECTION OR JUST DON'T LOOK AND THEN WATCH IT LATER ON TV.
SO WE HAVE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AND LOTS OF SAFETY TIPS AND ALL OF THAT ON OUR WEBSITE, WHICH IS VISIT GRAND PRAIRIE TX.COM.
SO I WOULD DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK THAT OUT.
AND TELL US THE DATE ONE MORE TIME IN CASE THEY'VE MISSED IT.
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UM, 1 42 IS, IS WHEN IT'S ALL SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.UM, THAT DAY FROM 12 TO THREE WILL BE AT EPIC CENTRAL.
AND I'M SO PROUD OF OUR CITY FOR MAKING THIS, UH, EVENT AVAILABLE AND GETTING THE GLASSES TO EVERYBODY.
WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
GRAHAM PRAIRIE IS CHANGING THE SCHEDULE FOR GARBAGE AND RECYCLING PICKUPS STARTING OCTOBER 2ND.
GARBAGE PICKUPS NORTH OF WARRIOR TRAIL WILL BE ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY.
GARBAGE PICKUPS SOUTH OF WARRIOR TRAIL WILL BE ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY, AND RECYCLING PICKUPS WILL CHANGE TO WEDNESDAY FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW PICKUP SCHEDULE, VISIT GPTX.ORG.
WELCOME BACK, AND WE WELCOME OUR NEXT GUEST.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, KELLY.
AND TELL OUR VIEWERS WHAT YOUR TITLE IS WITH THE CITY OF GRAND PRIX.
I'M THE ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER FOR THE PARK ARTS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AND YOU DO SUCH A GREAT JOB OF THAT.
TELL US WHAT WE CAN EXPECT SOON.
WELL, UH, I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT MAIN STREET FEST TODAY COMING UP, UH, THE END OF APRIL, APRIL 26TH, 27TH, AND 28TH MAIN STREET FEST.
AND THIS IS HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE DONE MAIN STREET FEST? UH, THIS IS OUR 11TH ANNUAL.
IT WAS A ONE DAY EVENT BACK THEN, AND IT'S EXPANDED TO A THREE DAY FESTIVAL NOW.
AND, UH, WHAT HAPPENS AT THE FESTIVAL? UH, A A LOT IS GONNA HAPPEN THIS YEAR AT THE FESTIVAL.
UM, GUESTS ARE GONNA SEE A MUCH LARGER EVENT THIS YEAR, UH, WITH ENHANCED EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT.
UM, THIS YEAR WE'RE GONNA HAVE 74 ARTISAN VENDORS, UH, ARTS AND CRAFTS GOODS VENDORS.
UM, WE HAVE LOTS OF FOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR GUEST.
UH, 16 FOOD VENDORS AND FOOD TRUCKS THIS YEAR.
A VARIETY OF FOOD FROM BARBECUE, CATFISH, UH, STREET TACOS, SNOW CONES, ALL THE FESTIVAL FOOD YOU CAN IMAGINE, UM, INCLUDING THE FOOD THAT THE CARNIVAL HAS THROUGHOUT THEIR AREA.
AND SPEAKING OF CARNIVAL, WITH THAT ENLARGED AREA, WE'RE GONNA BRING APPROXIMATELY 50% MORE RIDES.
SO A LOT MORE CARNIVAL THIS YEAR.
INCLUDING, AND I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE, UH, WE'RE NO LONGER A ONE WHEEL TOWN.
WE ARE NOW A TWO FERRIS WHEEL TOWN, SO, UH, THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ATTRACTIONS WITHIN THE CARNIVAL IS THE FERRIS WHEEL.
SO YES, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TWO FOR EVERYBODY TO ENJOY THIS YEAR.
AND LET'S SEE, I THINK, UM, ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS THAT PEOPLE, THAT REALLY, THAT REALLY DRAW OUR PEOPLE IN IS THE ENTERTAINMENT.
WE HAVE, UH, THREE STAGES OF ENTERTAINMENT.
UM, ONE IS OUR COMMUNITY, UH, STAGE AT THE MARKET SQUARE.
WHICH ARE PARTNERS AT THE GRAND PRAIRIE ARTS COUNCIL WILL BE, UH, PROGRAMMING WITH A VARIETY OF ENTERTAINMENT, INCLUDING LOCAL GROUPS SUCH AS, UH, G-P-I-S-D STUDENTS, UH, IN THE ST.
JOHN'S MEN'S CHOIR FROM OH, RIGHT HERE FROM GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND, AND THAT'S RIGHT BY FARMER'S MARKET, CORRECT? CORRECT, YES.
AND THERE'S ALSO A KID ZONE IN THAT AREA AS WELL.
SO A GREAT PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO HANG OUT DURING THE DAY.
UH, AND THEN WE HAVE A NEW STAGE ON THE CITY HALL LAWN THIS YEAR THAT'LL HAVE A DJ JUST PROVIDING SOME ENTERTAINMENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
AND OF COURSE, OUR MAIN STAGE WITH ALL THE, THE BIG ACTS AND, AND ENTERTAINMENT IN THE EVENING TIMES.
AND WHERE IS THE MAIN STAGE? THE MAIN STAGE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF CITY HALL THIS YEAR, SO RIGHT FRONT AND CENTER.
AND WE'VE GOT SOME EXCITING ENTERTAINMENT ON THE STAGE.
UH, EACH NIGHT THIS YEAR, UH, FRIDAY NIGHT, WE HAVE, UH, MARK CHESTNUT IS OUR HEADLINER THAT NIGHT KYLE PARK IS GONNA OPEN UP FOR HIM.
UH, ON SATURDAY NIGHT WE HAVE MICHAEL SALGADO AS OUR HEADLINER AND JAY PEREZ IS, IS GONNA BE HIS OPENER.
AND THEN ON SUNDAY WE HAVE, UH, PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC FEATURING GEORGE CLINTON AND ALL FUNK RADIO SHOW OPENING FOR HIM.
SO WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN A LOT OF GREAT FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE WHO'VE HEARD OUR HEADLINERS, AND WE THINK IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT TURNOUT FOR THOSE SHOWS.
AND KELLY, IF I COME TO THE ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE STAGES, IS THERE ANY CHARGE FOR THAT? NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THE, UH, ADMISSION TO THE FESTIVAL IS FREE.
JUST COME OUT AND BRING YOUR FAMILY AND ENJOY ALL THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.
SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR FOOD.
HOW ABOUT THE RIDES? SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
THE, UH, OF COURSE ALL THE, THE GOODS FROM THE VENDORS, THERE'S A FEE AND THE, AND THE FOOD, UM, AS WELL AS THE CARNIVAL RIDES.
UM, YOU CAN BUY INDIVIDUAL TICKETS FOR THE RIDES, ALL OF WHICH HAVE DIFFERENT, UH, TICKET AMOUNTS, OR YOU CAN BUY A ALL
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YOU CAN RIDE WRISTBAND.UH, BUT WE DO HAVE AN OFFER THIS YEAR FOR A $25.
ALL YOU CAN RIDE WRISTBAND, UM, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COUPON.
UM, BUT WE ARE DISTRIBUTING THOSE TO GRAND PRAIRIE RESIDENTS, UH, TO UTILIZE ANY OF THE THREE DAYS BEFORE IT WAS ONLY AVAILABLE ON FRIDAY THIS YEAR, WE'RE EXCITED TO, UH, EXTEND THAT ALL THE WAY FRIDAY, SATURDAY, OR SUNDAY.
SO THEY HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE OF THOSE DAYS.
AND THAT WRISTBAND ALLOWS YOU TO RIDE RIDES ALL DAY LONG, AS MUCH AS YOU CAN HANDLE TWO FERRIS WHEELS AND EVERYTHING.
AND, UM, HOW ABOUT PARKING? PARKING IS, UH, FREE.
YOU CAN FIND THAT ANYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN AREA, BUT THERE'S, THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES, UH, KIND OF COMING FROM ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
UH, ONE OTHER THING THAT'S NEW THIS YEAR IS WE ARE, UH, GOING TO HAVE SEVERAL DEDICATED ENTRY POINTS THROUGHOUT THE EVENT.
SO THAT'S JUST TO CO YOU KNOW, ADD A LAYER OF SAFETY AND JUST ENHANCE THAT FLOW OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUTTA THE EVENTS.
THOSE AREAS WILL BE WELL LIT AND WELL MARKED.
KELLY, IS THERE ANYWHERE THAT WE COULD GET A LITTLE MAP OF, UH, WHERE THINGS ARE LOCATED? YES, GREAT QUESTION.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MAP ON MAIN STREET FEST.COM, AS WELL AS SOME MAPS THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL.
YOU CAN, SO YOU CAN FIND, UH, ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO, UH, TAKE PART IN WHILE YOU'RE THERE.
AND WHERE CAN I GO TO GET MY 25% OFF COUPON OR $25
UH, WE, UH, YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED A LIFE IS GRAND, UH, MAGAZINE IN THE MAIL.
ON THE BACK COVER OF THAT, WE HAVE, UH, ONE SINGLE COUPON.
YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE ONE PER PERSON, SO IF YOU NEED MORE THAN THAT ONE, WE HAVE THOSE, UH, IN RECREATION CENTERS THROUGHOUT TOWN AS WELL AS OUR LIBRARIES.
SO, UH, YOU CAN, A FAMILY CAN GO AND GET UP TO FOUR PER FAMILY WITH PROOF OF RESIDENCY.
AND, UH, TELL OUR VIEWERS RECAP ONE MORE TIME IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, BUT ESPECIALLY THE DATE AND TIME.
UH, AGAIN, THOSE DATES ARE FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 27, AND 28.
AND ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT, INCLUDING THE FULL LINEUP OF ENTERTAINMENT, IS@MAINSTREETFEST.COM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, KELLY FOR BEING HERE.
GRAND PRAIRIE, IT'S TIME TO BAG THE BAG AND GRAB THE BIN.
THE CITY IS NO LONGER COLLECTING RECYCLED ITEMS IN PLASTIC BAGS BECAUSE PLASTIC BAGS DAMAGE PROCESSING EQUIPMENT.
INSTEAD, USE YOUR RECYCLING BIN TO HOLD ITEMS FOR PICKUP.
AND REMEMBER, ONLY GLASS BOTTLES AND JARS, METAL CANS AND PAPER PRODUCTS ARE OKAY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT GPTX.ORG/RECYCLING.
WELCOME BACK AND WELCOME TO OUR NEXT GUEST, RODNEY NELSON FROM LONE STAR PARK.
AND IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN, ISN'T IT? THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO START OUR THOROUGHBRED SEASON.
IT'S GONNA START ON APRIL THE 18TH.
SO JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY, UH, FROM THE BEGINNING OF THAT THOROUGHBRED SEASON.
AND, UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS ONE.
AND TELL US NOW YOU HAVE SOME KICKOFF EVENTS, DON'T YOU? RIGHT.
OUR OPENING WEEKEND OF THE 2024 THOROUGHBRED SEASON IS A GREAT WEEKEND.
THE THURSDAY NIGHT WHEN WE START, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, WE'RE GONNA KICK IT OFF WITH SOME GOOD RACES, INCLUDING OUR, UH, BLUE BONNET STAKES RACE.
THAT'S GONNA BE THE FIRST STAKES RACE OF THIS SEASON.
WE ALSO HAVE CRAIG PARKER GONNA PERFORM ON STAGE.
HE IS A WORLD FAMOUS ELVIS IMPERSONATOR.
YES, WE HAVE HIM OUT THERE ALMOST EVERY YEAR.
UM, AND THEN CONTINUING THROUGH OPENING WEEKEND, DOLLAR DAY, ONE OF OUR FAN FAVORITES WHERE WE HAVE DOLLAR ADMISSION, DOLLAR HOTDOG DOLLAR BEER AND MORE IS GONNA HAPPEN ON SATURDAY, APRIL THE 20TH.
AND THEN ON THE 21ST WE'LL HAVE OUR ANNUAL CRAWFISH BOIL AS WELL.
SO OPENING WEEKEND OF THE SEASON IS GONNA BE A GREAT REASON TO BE OUT AT THE WASTE TABLE.
APRIL IS GOING TO BE A BUSY TIME AT THE RACETRACK.
AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO MAY NE HAVE NEVER VISITED.
TELL 'EM WHAT THE BEST EVENT WOULD BE TO COME TO IN APRIL.
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, ANY EVENT AT THE RACETRACK IS A GOOD EVENT TO BE, TO BE AT.
WE, UM, RUN APRIL 18TH THROUGH JULY THE 14TH THIS YEAR.
GENERALLY OUR RACE DAYS ARE FRIDAY NIGHTS, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AFTERNOONS.
SO ANY DAY THAT YOU PICK IS A GREAT DAY TO BE OUT THERE.
GENERAL ADMISSION COSTS YOU $10 TO GET INTO THE TRACK, SO NOT VERY MUCH AT ALL.
AND THEN FOR THOSE OF YOU OUT THERE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A DEAL EVERY SUNDAY DURING THE THOROUGHBRED SEASON, YOU CAN BRING A PEPSI CAN WITH YOU TO THE GATES AND YOU'LL GET FREE GENERAL ADMISSION AND A FREE LARGE PEPSI AS WELL.
SEE, THAT'S WHY I LIKE TO SHARE THAT ONE.
I'M SO GLAD YOU TOLD US FREE ADMISSION ON A WHAT DAY SUNDAYS EVERY SUNDAY THROUGHOUT THE SEASON WITH PEPSI CAN YES.
AND YOU GET THAT FREE LARGE PEPSI AS WELL.
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TO GET OUT TO THE RACETRACK ON A SUNDAY.AND YOU CAN MAKE, YOU CAN REALLY MAKE A, A DAY OF IT, CAN'T YOU? THAT'S RIGHT.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES THAT YOU CAN GO IN THE METROPLEX, ESPECIALLY HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE THAT YOU CAN GET OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN.
BUT THE RACETRACK IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FOR JUST THAT LITTLE GENERAL MISSION FEED YOU CAN GET OUT THERE AND BE WITHIN FEET OF THE EQUINE ATHLETES AND HEAR 'EM THUNDERING DOWN THE RACETRACK.
IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN OUT THERE AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE EVERYBODY OUT THERE THIS SEASON AND YOU HAVE SOME DIFFERENT PLACES FOR FOOD.
WHAT CAN WE DO AS IF WE WANNA EAT OUT THERE? THAT'S RIGHT.
WE HAVE OUR REGULAR CONCESSIONS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND LEVEL OF THE GRANDSTAND, WHERE YOU CAN GET YOU A HOT DOG, A HAMBURGER MM-HMM
OR YOU COULD UPGRADE YOUR DINING EXPERIENCE TO OUR SILKS DINING ROOM WHERE WE HAVE AN AMAZING BUFFET.
YOU'RE WATCHING THE RACES FROM A CLIMATE CONTROLLED PART OF THE GRANDSTAND.
SO WHEN IT GETS WARM OUT LATER THIS YEAR, YOU'RE GONNA BE INSIDE IN THE AIR CONDITIONING, EATING THAT BUFFET ALL DAY LONG AND HAVING AN AMAZING VIEW OF THE RACETRACK AND HOPEFULLY PICKING SOME WINNING HORSES.
AND TELL US WHAT SOME OF THE VERY SPECIAL RACES ARE AND HOW, HOW DO YOU PLACE A BET? ALRIGHT, SO OUR BIGGEST RACE DAY OF THE YEAR HAPPENS ON MEMORIAL DAY.
THAT IS LONE STAR MILLION DAY, WHERE WE HAVE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN PURSES THAT WE WILL PAY OUT TO WINNING OWNERS OF THE HORSES.
SO ON MEMORIAL DAY, OUR TOP RACE OF THE SEASON IS THE GRADE THREE STEVE SEXTON MILE.
WE ALSO HAVE THE TEXAS DERBY AS WELL THAT DAY.
A LOT OF GOOD RACING, ALL MEMORIAL DAY AND WE'RE GIVING AWAY A CAR AS WELL.
AND HOW DO YOU, UH, HOW DO YOU PUT YOUR NAME IN THE HAT FOR THAT? ALRIGHT.
TO GET YOUR NAME IN THE HAT TO WIN THAT CAR THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM GRAND PRAIRIE FORD UHHUH, YOU GOTTA COME OUT TO THE RACETRACK ALL MEMORIAL DAY.
A A SPECIAL SECRET NUMBER TO TEXT.
EVERYBODY CAN GET IN FROM THEIR DIGI FROM THEIR PHONES.
AND UH, WE'LL SELECT 10 PEOPLE TO COME DOWN TO THE WINNER'S CIRCLE.
EACH ONE WILL GET A KEY AND THE PERSON WHO HAS THE KEY THAT UNLOCKS THE CAR IS GONNA WIN IT.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A, A MOTIVATION TO GET OUT THERE ON MEMORIAL DAY.
I THINK THE RACES ARE A BIG DRAW.
AND THE CAR DOESN'T, DOESN'T HURT AS WELL.
WHAT KIND OF VEHICLE IS IT? UH, IT'S GONNA BE A FORD ESCAPE, I BELIEVE WE WILL GIVE AWAY THIS YEAR.
NOW, UM, TELL ME ABOUT HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN AT LONE STAR PARK.
I'VE BEEN AT LONE STAR SINCE 2011, SO, UM, I'M GOING ON 13 YEARS OR SO NOW.
AND I LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT.
AND WHAT IS YOUR JOB THERE? I'M A MARKETING MANAGER ALONG WITH SOME OTHER ROLES THAT I DO AS WELL.
BUT THE MAIN ROLE THAT I HAVE IS TO GET OUT THERE AND SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE RACETRACK AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW HOW GREAT IT IS.
AND ABOUT HOW MANY VISITORS COULD WE EXPECT THIS YEAR? WELL, I, I WANNA SAY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SEASONS.
WE HAVE OUR THOROUGHBRED SEASON THAT COMES UP IN THE SPRING AND THE SUMMER, AND THEN WE HAVE A FALL SEASON FOR THE QUARTER HORSES, THE CHAMPION QUARTER HORSES.
UM, THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE SEASON, WE'LL GET OVER A HALF A MILLION VISITORS OUT TO THE RACETRACK.
AND RODNEY, I KNOW THAT LONE STAR PARK HAS A GREAT FOUNDATION THAT YOU DO SO MUCH FOR THE DIFFERENT, UM, NONPROFITS IN THE CITY.
AND IS THERE ANY WAY, UM, ANY ACTIVITY THAT'S COMING UP THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO ATTEND TO SUPPORT THAT? WELL, ONE OF OUR BIG, BIG DRIVERS FOR THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE FOR THE CHARITIES IS WE HAVE THE LONE STAR PARK CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.
WE RAISE MONEY ALL YEAR LONG AND WE DISTRIBUTE GRANTS THROUGHOUT WORTHY CHARITIES IN THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE.
THEY PUT IN AN APPLICATION AND, UM, WE'RE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE THAT GRANT GRANT MONEY.
UH, WE JUST HAD OUR CEREMONY FOR THE CHECKS LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE.
AND THEN WE HAVE A, UM, NICE EVENT COMING UP MID-MAY, WHICH IS LIKE THE BIG GALA THAT WE HAVE TO, UM, KICK OFF THE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR THE YEAR.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE ONE WHERE THE, THE LADIES SOMETIME GET TO WEAR THEIR PRETTY HATS.
YOU DON'T ONLY HAVE TO WEAR A FANCY HAT ON KENTUCKY DERBY DAY.
ANYTIME YOU COME OUT TO THE RACETRACK, YOU CAN WEAR A NICE HAT.
AND THAT GALA FOR THE LONE STAR PARK CHARITABLE FOUNDATION BRINGS OUT A LOT OF FANCY, FANCY OUTFITS AND HATS AND, AND SOME OF THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO GET OUT THERE AND SUPPORT THE CHARITIES IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
WELL, YOU KNOW, UH, WE CAN EXPECT A, A GREAT APRIL AT LONE STAR PARK AND IT GOES THROUGH WHAT, UH, JULY THE 14TH WILL BE OUR FINAL DAY FOR THE SPRING, OUR SPRING THOROUGHBRED SEASON THIS YEAR.
I I, I CAN ALREADY TELL IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT SEASON AND YOU ALL HAVE DONE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL UPGRADES TO OUR LONE STAR PARK.
IT'S WONDERFUL JUST TO GO OUT THERE TO SEE THE GROUNDS, TO SEE THE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS, THE HORSES.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SEASON WITH LONE STAR PARK.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? OH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IF YOU LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROMOTIONS OR OUR RACE STAGE, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, WWW.LONESTARPARK.COM SHOULD
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TELL YOU ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR THIS THOROUGHBRED SEASON.THANK YOU SO MUCH, RODNEY, FOR BEING HERE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT LONE STAR PARK.
WELCOME BACK, AND WE WELCOME OUR NEXT TWO GUESTS.
WELCOME TO TAYLOR BUN AND CORY JOHNSON.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ALL TODAY.
AND WE HAVE SOMETHING VERY EXCITING TO TALK ABOUT AND THAT IS HOPE FOR ALL.
NOW TAYLOR, WHY DON'T YOU START US OUT AND TELL OUR VIEWERS WHAT IS HOPE FOR ALL? YEAH.
SO HOPE FOR ALL IS A PUBLIC CHARITY THAT CORY JOHNSON AND I FOUNDED BACK IN AUGUST, 2019.
SO OUR MISSION IS TO CULTIVATE EQUAL ACCESS TO HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
FOR US, GRAND PRAIRIE IS THE MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS WHERE WE DO MOST OF OUR WORK BY RAISING AWARENESS, VOLUNTEERING, MAKING FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND COLLABORATING WITH OTHER NONPROFITS IN THE AREA.
AND THAT IS SUCH A NEEDED THING THAT FILL SUCH A NEED IN OUR CITY.
BUT, UH, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE IN GRAND PRAIRIE AND THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS.
I KNOW THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT YOU WAS THROUGH, UM, YOUR HELP WITH LIFELINE FOR FAMILIES.
AND UM, AT FIRST WHEN I HEARD ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH YOU AND COREY, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST FOR ANIMALS OH.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S ONE OF YOUR CONNECTIONS.
SO, UM, WE HAVE FOUR GIVING AREAS THAT WE FOCUS ON.
SO ONE IS OF COURSE, EQUINE INITIATIVES.
WE ALSO WORK IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND EQUITY.
AND SO FOR US, EQUITY IS ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD OR CLOSE A GAP SO THAT EVERYONE CAN, CAN HAVE HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY.
AND COREY, WE KNOW YOU HAVE HISTORY WITH GRAND PRAIRIE MM-HMM
AND, UH, TELL US JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT YOUR HISTORY AND THEN TELL US HOW YOU AND MS. TAYLOR GOT CONNECTED ON THIS MISSION.
I CAME TO GRAND PRAIRIE IN 1994.
I WAS THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THE FIRST EMPLOYEE HIRED FOR LONE STAR PARK.
AND THERE WERE A FEW, UH, STOPS AND STARTS EARLY ON IN THE PRO.
UH, THE PROJECT IS AS YOU KNOW, BUT WE OPENED IN 1997 AND THEN I STAYED THERE UNTIL 2007, ENDED UP BEING THE PRESIDENT, AND I OWNED A SMALL PART OF LONE STAR PARK AT GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND IT WAS JUST SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME FOR ME.
I JUST, UM, GRAND PRAIRIE IS SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE AND WHEN I LEFT TO PUT TOGETHER A GROUP IN KENTUCKY TO BUY A TRACK THERE, I ALWAYS WANTED TO COME BACK AND GIVE BACK TO GRAND PRAIRIE BECAUSE IT HAD MEANT SO MUCH TO ME.
NOT ONLY PROFESSIONALLY, BUT PERSONALLY.
I MEAN, WHEN, YOU KNOW, MY MENTOR, I HAD MANY MENTORS MM-HMM
BUT ONE OF 'EM WAS WAYNE HANKS.
UH, AND WAYNE HANKS IS THE, WAS THE ULTIMATE, LET'S GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, HE LED ME TO THE GRAND PRAIRIE YMCA.
I ENDED UP BEING PRESIDENT, I THINK FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS.
AND THEN WAYNE AND I WERE CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE FUNDRAISING GROUP THAT RAISED THE MONEY SO THAT WE COULD IMPROVE THE SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE YMCA.
REMEMBER ALL THIS, BUT I JUST HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME.
AND WHEN I WAS AT LONE STAR PARK, WE WANTED TO KIND OF FORMALIZE OUR ROLE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO START THE LONE STAR PARK CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.
AND THAT ENTITY, I THINK, HAS REALLY WORKED
[00:25:01]
OUT WELL IN GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE MANY NONPROFITS.SO WHEN I WAS PART OF THAT, I GOT TO SEE HOW MANY REALLY STRONG PUBLIC CHARITIES THERE ARE AND HOW MANY FINE PEOPLE RUN THOSE CHARITIES AND ARE ON THEIR BOARD.
SO THAT MOTIVATED ME EVEN MORE WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO SELL OUR COMPANY IN KENTUCKY, THAT WE WANTED TO, UH, FORM HOPE FOR ALL A NONPROFIT PUBLIC CHARITY SO WE COULD GIVE BACK TO GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE, THAT'S A LONG ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE GENESIS OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AND THEN TAYLOR AND I OBVIOUSLY HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME, IS THAT FAIR TO SAY? YES, YES.
AND SO I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR HER.
NOT ONLY IS SHE HIGHLY EDUCATED WITH A DOCTORATE FROM BAYLOR, A DOUBLE MASTER'S FROM SMU, BUT HER LEVEL OF ENERGY IS JUST, UM, UNPARALLELED.
AND HER AND HER WANT TO GIVE BACK AND TO LIKE, AS SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S NARROW THAT GAP.
LET'S GIVE HOPE TO PEOPLE THAT MAYBE JUST AREN'T QUITE AS BLESSED AS THE, THE THREE OF US.
AND CANDIDLY, GEORGIA, IT WAS DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE HAD A NUMBER OF PLANS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HERE COMES COVD.
AND THEN WHAT WE FOUND IS WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO SOME OF MAYBE OUR BIGGER PLANS, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF NEED WITH THE CHARITIES.
SO, SO WE KIND OF GOT IN THERE AND TRIED TO HELP ANY WAY WE COULD.
AND BY DOING THAT, AND TAYLOR CAN ELABORATE ON THIS, SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO BRING TOGETHER THE LEADERS OF THE DIFFERENT CHARITIES AND TO PROMOTE COMMUNICATION.
WELL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT PROMOTES COOPERATION.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS ALL THE CHARITIES WORKING TOGETHER IN GRAND PRAIRIE AND IMPROVING THINGS FOR THE CITIZENS.
WHAT A MISSION AND HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO BE A PART OF IT, AND THAT YOU ALL MADE IT HAPPEN.
NOW, TAYLOR, WHAT DO YOU, DO YOU DO EVENTS TO RAISE FUNDS TO FUND, UH, YOUR ORGANIZATION? WE DO.
WE, UH, WE STARTED, AS WE STARTED RAISING MONEY FOR THE GRAND PRAIRIE EQUINE CENTER, UH, WE STARTED HAVING AN EVENT AT LONE STAR PARK FOR A RACE DAY.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE BRINGING THAT BACK IN NOVEMBER FOR THE QUARTER HORSE RACES.
IT WAS A LOT OF FUN LAST YEAR.
WE'LL HAVE A LIVE AUCTION THERE.
WE'LL BE RACING, WE'RE GONNA FEED YOU, UH, THERE WILL BE A BAR.
SO THERE WILL BE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO COME AND WATCH THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS DO THEIR JOB AND HELP US AS WE START CONTINUING TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE GRAND PRAIRIE EQUINE CENTER.
CAN I INTERJECT SOMETHING REAL QUICK? BECAUSE, AND THIS KIND OF IS CLOSE TO ME.
IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO THAT WE HOSTED THE BREEDERS CUP, WORLD THOROUGHBRED CHAMPIONSHIPS AT LONE STAR PARK AT GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY GOT INVOLVED.
AND MANY PEOPLE SAY IT WAS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BREEDERS CUP IN HISTORY BECAUSE THE ENTERTAINMENT AND THE ENERGY AND THE MONTH LONG FESTIVAL WAS UNSURPASSED IN ANY MARKET.
WELL, PART OF OUR FUNDRAISER IS WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BREEDERS CUP.
SO, AND YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR ROLE IN GETTING THE BREEDERS CUP TO GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA HONOR THOSE PEOPLE AT THIS FUNDRAISER AND THEN ALSO RAISE MONEY FOR OUR GRAND PRAIRIE EQUINE CENTER PROJECT.
AND EXACTLY WHAT IS AN EQUINE CENTER? RIGHT.
SO THIS WILL BE A FACILITY, UH, WE, WE THINK IT'S A, A ONE OF A KIND FACILITY IN OUR AREA WHERE WE ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING IN STEPS WITH HORSES, WHICH IS A, AN EQUINE ASSISTED MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY.
SO THEY HAVE 11 EQUINES THAT HELP WHEN PEOPLE NEED TO COME AND SEEK THERAPY, BUT IN OFFICE THERAPY ISN'T WORKING FOR THEM.
SO THEY'RE ABLE TO GO OUT INTO THE PASTURE AND WORK WITH THE HORSES AND OPEN UP IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN THEY COULD IN AN OFFICE.
SO THAT'S REALLY GONNA BE OUR FIRST PHASE.
SO THE CENTER WILL HAVE A CLASSROOM, AN OFFICE SPACE, STALLS FOR THE HORSES, UM, A NICE COVERED ARENA.
AND THEN WE'LL ALSO HAVE SEVERAL FENCED PASTURE AREAS WHERE THOSE THERAPY SERVICES CAN TAKE PLACE.
AND THEN DOWN THE ROAD, HOPE FOR ALL, WE'LL BE HELPING OUT WITH SOME THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THAT IS IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS.
IT IS IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, RIGHT ACROSS BELTLINE FROM LONE STAR PARK.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT AS WE SEE THAT PROGRESS.
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WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE IN THAT, THAT ARE IN NEED IN THAT AREA.SO WE'RE GLAD TO BE A PART OF THAT.
IT'S BASICALLY ONE MILE WEST OF LONE STAR PARK AND WHERE THE NEW ROAD MM-HMM
IS GOING FROM BELTLINE TO THE TOLL ROADS.
AND WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE.
I MEAN, THEY HAVE BEEN UNBELIEVABLY HELPFUL.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH, OF COURSE, LONE STAR PARK ON THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE.
AND THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, BUT THE GRAND PRAIRIE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A MOUNTED PATROL.
WELL, THAT GROUP WILL HAVE A BARN ON THE EQUINE CENTER SITE.
SO WE'LL SHARE IT, WE CAN SHARE FACILITIES, WE CAN SHARE THE RIDING ARENA AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND, AND REALLY THE, THE, I WOULD SAY THIS TAYLOR, ONE OF THE FOCUSES OR THE FOCUS IS ON EQUINE ASSISTED, UH, COUNSELING OR MENTAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, TYPE SITUATION.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, AT RISK YOUTH, WE HAVE VETERANS, WE HAVE FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THEY, MANY OF THEM HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
AND WE ALL KNOW ABOUT VETERANS AND PTSD AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
WELL, YOU INJECT A HORSE INTO THAT COUNSELING SESSION AND IT'S MAGIC.
THERE IS RESEARCH THAT'S BEEN DONE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE SUCCESS RATE OF VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WITH PTSD, INJECTING THE HORSE INTO THE COUNSELING SESSION.
AND WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH DR.
HALLE SHADE, WHO'S A WORLDWIDE EXPERT IN THIS AREA.
SHE'S LEASING THEIR, THEIR ENTITY IS LEASING GROUND IN SOUTH OF FORT WORTH.
WELL NOW OUR GOAL IS TO PUT THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF DALLAS FORT WORTH IN GRAND PRAIRIE, GIVE THEM SOLID FACILITIES SO WE CAN REALLY EXPAND THEIR REACH AS IN WHAT A FABULOUS MISSION.
AND, UM, YOU CAN TELL YOU HAVE PASSION AND A HEART FOR THE MISSION AND FOR THE CITY AND FOR PEOPLE.
AND WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR GRAND PRAIRIE.
IT'S IN DISTRICT ONE, IN GRAND PRAIRIE AS WELL AT THE BEST LOCATION.
THE BEST CITY IN THE METROPLEX.
AND WE COULD SPEND A WHOLE SHOW TALKING ABOUT THIS, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WRAP IT UP.
AND, UM, WHAT AN HONOR TO HAVE, UH, COREY HERE TO REFLECT ON YOUR HISTORY WITH GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND WE KNOW YOU'RE A FAMOUS HORSE HORSEMAN IN YOUR OWN RIGHT.
AND WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT TOO.
AND TAYLOR BUNN, YOU'RE DOING AMAZING JOB WITH THE NONPROFITS, ALL OF THEM AND BRINGING THEM TOGETHER AND KEEPING US ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE HAVING YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU BOTH IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING JOINING US TODAY.
AND AS ALWAYS, I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON REMINDING YOU THAT IT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.