The City of Sugar Land is marking its 50th Anniversary this year with a community-wide commemoration that will include a series of special events to mark the city’s incorporation on Dec. 29, 1959.
The official celebration was kicked off at this year’s State of the City event on Jan. 23 with the unveiling of the 50th Anniversary logo and special street light banners.
The banners have now been installed along major thoroughfares throughout the city to create awareness of the significant milestone in the city’s history.
During last week’s meeting, city council members received a report on plans being made by a seven-member 50th Anniversary Citizens’ Committee. Committee members include Prahba Bala, Vijay Bhuchar, Alice Fish, Angie Jones, Thelma Jones, Thomas Stewart and Terri Wang.
Sugar Land Communications Director Pat Policoff said celebratory events are being designed to reflect the city’s unique heritage.
“Our goals are to celebrate and commemorate the rich history this city has had over the past 50 years,” Policoff said.
The task force was appointed by city council to encourage community participation, assist in identifying and planning a 50th anniversary signature event and help fund and commission a commemorative art piece.
The art piece will be located in city hall and unveiled at the end of the year during a special ceremony.
The committee is also working with city staff to incorporate special 50th anniversary celebrations during annual events such as Eggstravaganza; Concerts in the Park; Red, White and Bluefest; Halloween Town and the Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
Subcommittees on marketing, history, community and corporate partnerships for community-wide involvement, as well as corporate and individual sponsorships to help raise money for the commemorative art piece are now being formed, Policoff told the council.
“The city and our citizens committee are extremely interested in working with community groups, individuals and businesses to finds ways to partner and jointly celebrate this momentous anniversary,” Policoff said. “It’s a great way to get the entire community involved and celebrate the rich history, diversity and accomplishments of our city.”
Policoff said residents or businesses interested in participating as volunteers, community partners or sponsors may sign up online at www.sugarlandtx.gov/50th.asp.
The year-long celebration will be capped with a signature event on New Year’s Eve, just two days after city officially turns 50. Sugar Land was formally incorporated at midnight on Dec. 29, 1959.
The celebration will be marked by a ceremonial dropping of a “sugar cube,” much like the New Year’s event in New York’s Times Square, as well as a huge birthday cake.
“It looks like we have a year of parties ahead of us,” Sugar Land Mayor James Thompson said.
