HOUSTON – A decade-long neighborhood eyesore that residents called a “dangerous jungle” has finally been transformed, thanks to one man’s determination to serve his community and a KPRC 2 investigation that sparked action in Houston’s Fifth Ward.
The vastly overgrown lot in the 4700 block of Salina Street had become more than just an unsightly nuisance – it represented a serious safety threat to the community, especially children walking to nearby Fleming Middle School.
“You can see how weeds and grass become tall weeds, those weeds become bushes and bushes become trees. This is a jungle out here. That’s ten years worth of growth,” said Paul Holly, a resident who has lived with the eyesore just doors away from his well-maintained home.
Safety concerns mount
The neglected property had created multiple hazards for the neighborhood:
- Dense vegetation provided potential hiding spots for criminals
- A completely obscured drainage ditch created flooding risks
- Overgrowth had consumed the public sidewalk, forcing pedestrians into the street
Despite numerous complaints to Houston’s 311 help line and appeals to local officials, the lot remained untamed – until now.
A hero steps forward
Just one day after KPRC 2’s initial report, Clinton Jones, a local landscaping company owner, took matters into his own hands. Without any official support or requests from the City of Houston and without any compensation, Jones began the arduous task of reclaiming the lot from nature…