FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE + LEISURE
“ WHO WAS ...?” ELEANOR TINSLEY ELEANOR TINSLEY PARK
ELEANOR TINSLEY
Photography courtesy of Tinsley famil , photo by Tom Callins
Photography courtesy of Buffalo Bayou Partnership , photo by Chris Moras
By Carla Valencia de Martinéz
IF ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE SHOWTIME HIT BILLIONS , YOU KNOW IT ’ S NOT EASY TO HAVE A BUILDING OR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER ( EXCEPT YOU FIRSTBORN CHILD ) NAMED AFTER YOU . IN THIS COLUMN WE WILL BRING TO LIGHT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PARKS , BAYOUS , BUILDINGS , ROADS AND PUBLIC WORKS AROUND TOWN .
The beautiful park nestled between the stunning downtown Houston skyline and Buffalo Bayou is named in honor of Eleanor Tinsley who served on Houston City Council ( At Large position ) for 16 years . Tinsley died in 2009 at the age of 82 . Probably best known for spearheading the ordinance to regulate billboards in the 1980s , she was an advocate for beautification . It ’ s fitting that her name graces one of the most beautiful spots in the Space City . Alan Bernstein of the Houston Chronicle said it best with his chill-inducing summary : “ Few genteel teachers of piano and the Bible go on to win political battles for school desegregation , smoking bans , billboard regulation , bicycle helmet requirements , gay rights and park space . In fact , Eleanor Whilden Tinsley may have been the only one .”
Tinsley was quoted , “ How lucky can you be to have a park , a school and a great-granddaughter named for you ?”
And now you know the wonderful woman behind one of the city ’ s beautiful parks .
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