Bill Text: TX HCR105 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Designating Palestine as the official Dogwood Trails Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2033.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-06-11 - Signed by the Governor [HCR105 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HCR105-Comm_Sub.html
Bill Title: Designating Palestine as the official Dogwood Trails Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2033.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-06-11 - Signed by the Governor [HCR105 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HCR105-Comm_Sub.html
By: Harris of Anderson (Senate Sponsor - Nichols) | H.C.R. No. 105 | |
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2023; | ||
May 11, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on | ||
Administration; May 19, 2023, reported favorably by the following | ||
vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 19, 2023, sent to printer.) | ||
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WHEREAS, Beloved for its profusion of blossoms, the dogwood | ||
tree provides one of the most spectacular highlights of springtime | ||
in the Lone Star State, and the city of Palestine has long been | ||
renowned for its abundance of these beautiful trees and for its | ||
famous Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration; and | ||
WHEREAS, Dogwoods, which are native to the Palestine area, | ||
can grow to a height of 30 feet and feature a broad canopy of | ||
branches that burst into bloom in March and April in East Texas; the | ||
result is a dazzling floral display of majestic white and rosy pink | ||
petals; and | ||
WHEREAS, The Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration traces its | ||
origins to 1938, when local residents Charles W. Woodbridge and | ||
Eugene Fish discussed their shared appreciation of the trees and | ||
hatched the idea of creating an event to showcase the many dogwoods | ||
in and around Palestine; their plan became a reality in 1939, when | ||
more than 20,000 people took part in the inaugural Dogwood Trails | ||
gathering; and | ||
WHEREAS, In the early years, visitors had to drive rough and | ||
often muddy roads and trudge through densely wooded areas to get a | ||
glimpse of the loveliest blooms; to make the trees more accessible, | ||
organizers sought permission to use a plot of land north of the city | ||
owned by E. W. and H. R. Link; it contained several groves of | ||
dogwood trees, and with the help of volunteers, a formal trail | ||
system was completed there in 1941; it became a permanent | ||
attraction after M. A. Davey purchased the central portion of the | ||
tract and gifted it to Anderson County; the 254-acre Davey Dogwood | ||
Park was named in his honor and today features miles of roads and | ||
hike-and-bike trails; and | ||
WHEREAS, Over the years, the dogwood trails have remained a | ||
source of great pride to the people of Palestine, who have | ||
contributed time and labor to maintain the trees and trails for the | ||
enjoyment of locals and visitors alike; their efforts have helped | ||
make their city an extremely popular springtime destination, with | ||
thousands of people flocking to Davey Dogwood Park and other area | ||
locations for the trails and celebration; and | ||
WHEREAS, There is an intrinsic and undeniable joy in | ||
witnessing the delicate splendor of a dogwood tree in bloom, and | ||
through the efforts of several generations of citizens, the trails | ||
have become an essential part of the identity and character of | ||
Palestine; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
hereby designate Palestine as the official Dogwood Trails Capital | ||
of Texas; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section | ||
391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect | ||
until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally | ||
passed by the legislature. | ||
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