MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) – Pioneer Natural Resources, the largest oil producer in Texas, is pleased to announce a $2.5 million commitment toward a bold public and private partnership that will redevelop 128 acres of Hogan Park in Midland.
The company’s pledge will create the multipurpose Pioneer Pavilion and Event Lawn, which will be uniquely situated near the center of the reimagined park – surrounded by playgrounds, trailheads, ballfields, dog parks, a food truck court and hundreds of additional parking spaces, among other amenities.
“When Pioneer first learned about the plan to revitalize Hogan Park in Midland, we knew quickly that this was a project that we wanted to support,” said Rich Dealy, Pioneer Natural Resources President & Chief Operating Officer. “Hogan Park has been a terrific venue in Midland for years, and we are proud to be able to help make the new vision for the park a reality; improving the lives and well-being of everyone in the community, along with making a tangible, lasting venue for the whole region to enjoy for decades to come.”
Pioneer’s commitment to the Hogan Park project comes on the heels of the company’s donation in November of more than 35 acres of land to Midland Habitat for Humanity valued at $2 million. The gift marked the largest land donation the local nonprofit had ever received.
Long a popular community magnet for athletics, golf and numerous other outdoor activities, the park’s $55 million renovation, including endowment, is a partnership between the city and the Midland Quality of Place Conservancy. Groundbreaking is planned for winter of 2022.
Such a renovation has been long overdue.
“The impact it’s going to make in our community is astonishing,” said Daniel Pender, Pioneer’s surface and land business development manager, who’s been involved with bringing the pavilion and event lawn to Hogan Park. “I remember growing up in Midland playing soccer and baseball, and we had to travel to all these other towns because our fields were in terrible shape–Abilene, Lubbock, Dallas, you name it. This improvement is going to be amazing not just for our youth sports, but for concerts and as a place where our community can gather for years to come.”
Midland native and city councilwoman Lori Merritt Blong said the Pioneer Pavilion and Event Lawn will play a pivotal role, serving as “an oasis in the middle of the park.”
“The Pavilion is such an incredibly vibrant part of the park itself,” said Merritt Blong, who is also a board member of the Midland Quality of Place Conservancy, and campaign co-chair for the Hogan Park Initiative. “The Pavilion is going to be that key, where you can attend a concert on the event lawn or watch your kids play on the playgrounds and fields.”
Midland native and City Councilman John Norman represents the east district of the city where the park is located–yet where the community’s most historically underserved population has also lived. He said the project is a chance to bring a quality of life to residents he never got the opportunity to enjoy.
“Being able to give back to the younger generation and provide the things we didn’t have growing up, it’s just a tremendous feeling,” Norman said. “It feels good to know that our local companies like Pioneer are willing to step forward and pour their resources into the community. It’s something that’s very needed and has been lacking for many years.”
Another early advocate for the park project has been Pioneer Field Production Operations Manager Matt Mathis, who said the company’s contribution demonstrates a lasting commitment to the region.
“We are a 100-percent Midland Basin-focused company, and we plan to operate here for decades to come,” said Mathis, whose office looks out to the water tower and light poles of the park. “In so many ways, we’ve demonstrated Pioneer is doubling down in the Midland area, and from a corporate giving perspective especially, we’ve basically said were all in on Midland.”
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