HOUSTON, Texas – Houston is ‘Our Town,’ and there is so much to celebrate in our neighborhoods. KPRC 2 is invested in the community and continues to show those lovely hidden gems, showcase solvable problems affecting the entire city, and talk to the folks who make ‘Our Town’ special.
We’re committed to visiting 10 communities in Houston.
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We began our exploration in ‘Our Town: Alief/Westwood,’ moved on to Sunnyside for our second destination, and now, for our third stop, we’re focusing on ‘Our Town: Acres Homes.’
See our full coverage of Acres Homes below
Kicking off the ‘Our Town: Acres Homes’ series, on Tuesday at 10 p.m., KPRC’s Joel Eisenbaum shares the story behind the historic Acres Homes neighborhood, which was developed during World War I and got its name because land there was sold by the acre, instead of by the lot. Many say the land was cheap and offered rural settlers plenty of room for their chickens, horses, and gardens.
‘Our Town’: The story of Acres Homes, Houston’s historic community
Swinging the bat, running the bases, and honing their agility and footwork are all important skills for the kids learning to play baseball and softball at the Houston Astros Youth Academy at Sylvester Turner Park in Acres Homes. Started in 2010, it was the second Major League Baseball Academy created to draw kids from urban neighborhoods back to the sport of baseball. KPRC 2′s Sports Reporter Chancellor Johnson linked up with the coaches and the team during their tryouts this past weekend.
Nearly 1,000 kids tryout for Houston Astros Foundation baseball league in Acres Homes
The Acres Homes neighborhood is considered a healthcare desert, which means people in this community don’t have access to basic health information, which can lead to dangerous complications like cancer. At 6:30 a.m., KPRC 2 Health Reporter Haley Hernandez spoke with doctors from MD Anderson Hospital who said a lot of the health issues in this neighborhood derived from metabolic issues.
‘Our Town’: What is being done to promote health in Acres Homes
KPRC 2 Digital Reporter Moriah Ballard spent the morning with Houston-based muralist Ace Phoenix. Ace worked on a special surprise for the Acres Homes community. She shared how she started her journey as an artist, and said that she continues to paint across the city in hopes of inspiring the next generation that: “You can do whatever you put your mind to.”
Our Town: Muralist creates one-of-a-kind piece, highlighting culture of Acres Homes community
Moriah also spoke with Grammy-nominated singer Zacardi Cortez who talked about how the Acres Homes neighborhood contributed to his huge successes in the industry. Zacardi is known worldwide for his musical talents, but many may not know that he grew up in Acres Homes. He said that’s where he and his siblings got their start behind the mic. He also shared that he just wrote a song with Bruno Mars.
On KPRC 2+, KPRC 2 Assignment Desk Editor Amber Baylor and Digital Producer Ahmed Humble spoke with community leaders about the importance of Juneteenth. This year, the neighborhood will be celebrating 16 years of hosting its Juneteenth Parade, which is one of the biggest parades recognizing Juneteenth in Houston.
The importance, value of Houston’s Juneteenth Parade in Acres Homes: Our Town
When you come to Houston, you may come here for several reasons, initially, but the reason you come back will always be the culture and the FOOD. At 12:30 p.m., KPRC 2 Reporter Gage Goulding tested out some of the BEST, finger-licking barbeque the city offers at an Acres Homes gem -- Burns BBQ. Gage spoke with the vice president of the restaurant, Marcus Carter, who shared the history behind the 50-year-old restaurant and its importance to the community.
From roadside pickup truck to renowned brand: The story of Burns Original BBQ in Acres Homes
“Four-fours I’m tippin’, wood grain I’m grippin... Catch me lane switchin’ with the paint dripping.” - Mike Jones. It’s the lyrics to the popular hip-hop song ‘Still Tippin’ by Houston artist Mike Jones. The lyrics pay homage to the METRO 44 bus line which runs through the Acres Homes community. Most people refer to the neighborhood as ‘The 44.’ At 3 p.m., KPRC 2 Reporter Re’Chelle Turner spoke to a bus driver who shared how important the bus route is to the Acres Homes community and the rap culture.
The ‘4-4′: Houston’s iconic bus route connecting neighborhoods and history
Flooding in Acres Homes? It’s something that, unfortunately, several neighborhoods in the Houston area are prone to. At 4:30 p.m., KPRC 2 meteorologist Daji Aswad showed us the solution the Harris County Flood Control District is working up for the community -- a new detention basin and widening and deepening of White Oak Bayou to prevent future flooding.
Construction of detention basin offers relief to flood-prone neighborhoods in Inwood Forest
Acres Homes is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the Houston area. With that, comes an array of vacant and abandoned buildings that many residents say are stopping their efforts to improve their neighborhood. At 5 p.m. Investigative Reporter Robert Arnold met with Acres Homes super neighborhood president Latisha Grant to hear the community’s concerns and plans for those abandoned buildings.
Reading is fundamental, it’s a saying most people have heard all of their lives. KPRC 2 Anchor Lisa Hernandez spoke with Salas-Isnardi, the director of the Houston Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy about how the organization is working to improve access to reading and writing and other forms of literacy such as digital, environmental, health and finance.
One of the community struggles deals with food insecurity. The Acres Homes area has limited access to fresh food options. At 6 p.m. KPRC’s Andy Cerota linked up with a chef, a restaurateur, and a winemaker who all joined forces to help bridge the inequality gap by opening VerdeGreens, an urban farm in the heart of this community.
Urban Farming initiative aims to tackle food insecurity in Houston’s Acres Homes community
“Gentrification - the process whereby the character of a poor urban area is changed by wealthier people moving in, improving housing, and attracting new businesses, typically displacing current inhabitants in the process.” It’s a word we hear far too often, especially in historical neighborhoods like Acres Homes. Residents often question new developments on whether they will change the feel of their community and drive up prices. At 10 p.m., KPRC 2 Rilwan Balogun spoke with one Acres Homes developer who said he’s working ‘aggressively’ to bring former residents back to the vibrant neighborhood, not run them out.
Gentrification debate arises as developers build multistory townhomes in Acres Homes
You can find complete coverage of ‘Our Town’ here.
Once we wrap up the day, folks 18 miles north should get ready because our next neighborhood will be ‘Our Town: Second Ward.’