MARK CARMONA was nominated by the Highland Park Neighborhood Association and members of the Highland Hills Neighborhood Association to be recognized as "Neighbor of the Year". Mark and four other nominees were recognized for their accomplishments during the recent Neighborhood Resource Center annual conference.
Mark Carmona has provided vision for the Highland Park neighborhood and the greater Highlands area that will benefit the residents of southeast San Antonio for generations.
Planning for 2001, Mark joined members of the Highland Hills Neighborhood Association and Southeast Good Neighbor Crime Watch to request assistance from the City Planning Department to develop a community plan. Mark also convinced neighbors that we could design, plant and maintain the largest community xeriscape garden in Bexar County, then wrote the grant application to obtain the funds from San Antonio Water System.
When the money arrived, Mark coordinated efforts with the Highland Park Neighborhood Association, San Antonio Water System, Bexar County Master Gardeners, City Public Service, San Antonio Parks and Recreation, and many other groups to get this accomplish.
Mark also assisted with the Highland Park Spring Festival and brought other neighbors into the planning process to develop and finalize the community plan.
In all these things, Mark has displayed a professional attitude of one who listens to, shares with and builds consensus with, his neighbors. As executive director of an agency that advocates on behalf of abused children, he also benefits the community every day.
In these and all his other neighborhood activities, Mark Carmona has consistently shown his concern, not only for the people in his own neighborhood and not only for our city today, but to develop a sustainable community that will allow all of San Antonio?’s children today to enjoy the same or better quality of life throughout their lives.
Mark Carmona is truly OUR NEIGHBOR OF THE YEAR!
Help Mark continue to improve the Xeriscape in Highland Park. Call him at (210) 534-9087 to volunteer!