BY DAVE MANNING
Fort Bend ISD revealed plans for the Sugar Land 95 Memorial at a board meeting Sept. 11, and the plan represents the fruition of the strategic vision and design plan for the historic site authorized by the board of trustees in 2020. Chassidy Olainu-Alade, FBISD coordinator of community and civic engagement, presented the plans and said the site is projected to open in 2025. What happened The FBISD board in 2021 approved a contract agreement with MASS Design Group to assist in the planning and development of the area, which will include the memorial to be constructed at the site, which is located at the James Reese Career and Technical Center. The site currently has markers on identi ed cemetery sites and signs displaying information on the history of the location. What to expect Details of the what the project entails were described by Olainu-Alade as follows: • The burial ground will be accessible for visitors to read the markers and pay respects to individ- ual burials. • A pathway will lead visitors through the site, which will contain benches. • Signs will be placed throughout and will convey information about those interned in the Final design revealed for Sugar Land 95 Memorial
An exhibit commemorating the Sugar Land 95 will soon become a memorial site set to open in 2025.
COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
cemetery based on bio-forensic data, genealogi- cal studies and archival research. The possibility of a future bond to help fund the project was discussed at the board meeting, but no current plan yet exists. However, the board expressed interest in further discussion. The backstory While constructing FBISD’s James Reese Career and Technical Center, the remains of 95 individu- als were found that were believed to have died at the Bullhead Convict Labor Camp during Texas’ convict labor leasing program in the late 19th century. By August 2018, the remains had been examined and reinterred, as previously reported by Community Impact.
Historic cemetery site Research and DNA testing of those found buried at the site is ongoing, according to FBISD.
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JAMES REESE CAREER AND TECHNICAL CENTER CEMETERY SITE
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Saturday, Nov 11 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
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PLAY ALL DA Y FOR FREE on our Carnival Midway. Kids can win awesome prizes.
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION
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