The LyondellBasell (LYB) Chocolate Bayou team, Brazoria County officials, and area industry partners unveiled the newly constructed Surfside Jetty County Park playground Thursday, April 2.
The nautical-themed playground is constructed with recycled plastic, ADA-accessibility, and equipped with three slides and a climbing wall.
“This park was a great opportunity for us to give back to the surrounding community, as well as educate the public about the importance of plastic recycling while demonstrating our commitment to a responsible and sustainable future,” LyondellBasell Chocolate Bayou Site Manager Richard Schultheis said.
LYB contributed $25,000 toward the playground through an Advancing Good grant. Fourteen local petrochemical companies, all members of the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC), helped fund the playground’s completion.
“This is a wonderful partnership when all of us can come together as a community and do something really nice like this for the folks who are visiting the beach,” Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta said. “It’s a wonderful contribution from industry and something we can all be proud of.”
A key focus area of the LYB corporate citizenship program, Advancing Good, is Our Planet. This means a commitment to helping to end plastic waste and developing sustainable solutions for future generations. That work includes investing in community partners like the Brazoria County Parks and Recreation Department who are hard at work championing recycling.
Surrounding the playground is colorful signage that educates the community on the importance of recycling and how to properly dispose plastic waste with the help of a shark. The Brazoria County Parks and Recreation Department designed and welded a recycling bin in the shape of a shark to get kids excited about putting plastics inside.
“This playground provides yet another great attraction to Brazoria County and helps remind beachgoers how critical it is to properly dispose of waste,” said Trish Thompson, Brazoria County Petrochemical Council Community Outreach Chair. “Plastic is vital to keeping our world healthy and safe, and we all need to do our part to ensure that plastic waste is recycled and disposed of correctly.”
