Chairs: Norma and Beto Cárdenas, Laura Spanjian and Susan Christian

Location: Outdoor, tented event on Avenida de las Americas Plaza 

Registration and Networking: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Houston’s parks connect us to each other across communities. Parks also serve as spaces of joy and celebration where we are united by the common space under our feet. Houston Parks Board’s Annual Luncheon returns, in person, on October 19th as we celebrate the green spaces we turned towards to walk, jog, bike, and simply relax outdoors at a time when we needed it most. Join us to celebrate the green spaces that bring us closer to our families and our neighbors, to the city we love, and the things that matter most.

 We hope you will consider being an underwriter for this important event that supports our mission work.

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To prioritize the safety of all guests, Houston Parks Board requires masks be worn except when eating and drinking at this year’s luncheon. We strongly encourage attendees to be vaccinated and, although we would miss seeing you, please do not come if you are not feeling well or experiencing any symptoms. In addition to having an outdoor, open air event, social distancing measures will include reduced event capacity, dispersed tables in a larger event space, hand sanitizing stations and enhanced food handling procedures.

The 2019 annual luncheon will serve as the kickoff event for a year-long, city-wide celebration as we near completion of the Bayou Greenways project at the end of 2020.

2019 Annual Luncheon

5468 Simsbrook Dr, Houston, Texas  77045

Prairies are a vital part of Houston’s ecosystem, especially for pollinators, birds, and bats. Join Houston Parks Board during international Bat Week as we restore prairie land at the corner of Simsbrook Drive and S. Post Oak Road. This family-friendly volunteer opportunity includes planting and seeding. 

Volunteers will be split up upon arrival into 3-4 groups of 10 or less due to COVID-19 safety precautions.

Are you ready, Agent?  Download the FREE Agents of Discovery app onto your smart device, select a mission near you, and follow the mission to unlock and complete challenges along the way!

Our newest mission in OST/South Union is live September 3-November 5. Greater OST/South Union is a collection of neighborhoods in south central Houston inside Loop 610. It is bound by Old Spanish Trail on the north, State Highway 288 on the west, IH 610 on the south and Mykawa Road on the east.

Take a walk around Zollie Scales Park, 3501 Corder St., Houston, TX 77021, to uncover the history of this Super Neighborhood and learn more about the OST/South Union Parks Planning Study.

Parking is available on site, and the park is accessible from the METRO 360 bus route, using the Corder St. at Springhill St. stop. 

Please follow all local health advisories and CDC social distancing guidelines when completing these missions.

Agents of Discovery Mission: OST/South Union

Are you ready, Agent? Download the FREE Agents of Discovery app onto your smart device, select the MacGregor Park mission, and follow it to unlock and complete challenges along the way!

This mission is a great way to explore all the amazing amenities that MacGregor Park has to offer. You’ll visit the Community Center, tennis center, basketball court, both playgrounds, and the Martin Luther King Jr memorial.  This mission is made possible through the master plan review process led by Houston Parks Board on behalf of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. After you’ve completed challenges and answered questions around the park, please visit the MacGregor Park webpage to learn more about the efforts to update the MacGregor Park master plan and upcoming community meetings.

MacGregor Park is located at 5225 Calhoun Rd Houston, TX 77021. It is accessible from the METROline purple line (MacGregor Park/Martin Luther King, Jr. Stop), bus lines 28 and 29 (stops on Calhoun at Old Spanish Trail and S. MacGregor Way), Bcycle station (in MacGregor Park just off Brays Bayou Greenway), or via vehicle utilizing the on-site parking lots.

Agents of Discovery Mission: MacGregor Park

Are you ready, Agent? Visit Thomas Bell Foster Park and play along with the Agents of Discovery mission to discover everything the park has to offer! Download the FREE Agents of Discovery app onto your smart device, visit Thomas Bell Foster Park, pull up the Thomas Bell Foster Park mission, and walk along the trail to unlock and complete challenges along the way. Everyone who plays will unlock a special Bat Week Snapchat Filter to show off your new wildlife knowledge! 

While playing this mission, you’ll explore the Greens Bayou Greenway Trail. Along the way, you’ll unlock the secrets of bayou-dwelling wildlife and the habitat types they love.

Visit Thomas Bell Foster Park, 12895 Greens Bayou St, Houston, TX 77015, to get started. Parking is available on site, or the park is accessible on METRO Route 137, stop at East Fwy @ Normandy St. 

Agents of Discovery Mission: Thomas Bell Foster Park

Find upcoming park activities and fun things to do in Houston on our events calendar.

Events Calendar for Park Activities in Houston

Grab your event wristband and flag from the welcome booth

Visit the Houston Parks Board and Neighborhood Recovery Community Development Corporation (NRCDC) outreach kiosks to share your input on parks and quality of life and services within OST/South Union and receive your sticker

Park flagging activity, place a flag by the park feature you'd like improved

Play tennis with Zina Garrison Tennis Academy 

Rent bicycles from BCycle to get to and from the parks during the event

Voter registration provided by Harris County Election Division

Agents of Discovery virtual mission with a prize upon completion

Play life-size yard games and take on park challenges with Nature Eclectic & Outdoors

OST/South Union Health Improvement Partnership tent

Yoga with The Raveen Alexis, local yoga teacher

Imagination Playground: build your own park

Reusable water bottle giveaway from Texas Southern University

Boxed Lunches provided by MixIt Cakes and Edible Memories (present your wristband and stickers here)

Line dancing with hip hop dance instructor Sherrard Ellis

Free Health Care Kits from Harris County Public Health 

Table games at the park’s picnic tables

Softball tutorials provided by local softball coach Troy Davis

Dream Academy tent with pollinator gardens and recycling activity

Each park will have water, snacks, and giveaways. Port-o-cans and hand washing stations will be available.

Zollie Scales Park, Cyrill Madison Park, George T. Nelson Park (Yellowstone Park)

As community efforts to revive, celebrate, and uplift parks in OST/South Union area continue, the OST/South Union community is invited to a fun, free, family-friendly event!

On September 25, join us in exploring three OST/South Union parks. Starting at Zollie Scales Park, grab an event wristband and stroll or roll to Cyrill Madison Park before heading to George T. Nelson (Yellowstone) Park. Activities, snacks, and drinks will be provided at each location and be sure to visit all three parks in this order to receive event stickers and present your wristband at George T. Nelson Park (Yellowstone Park) to receive a free lunch (while supplies last)! 

OST/South Union Party in the Parks is presented in coordination with the OST/South Union Parks Project Study, an initiative by Houston Parks Board, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, OST/South Union Arts, Culture, History and Media GO Team, Strollin’ and Rollin’ Southeast Houston, Neighborhood Recovery Community Development Corporation, OST/South Union Health Improvement Partnership, Texas Southern University, Southeast Houston Transformation Alliance, and Houston Parks and Recreation Department.

Party in the Parks: Stroll, Roll, and Go!

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Thursday, September 23, 2021 - Noon - 1:00 PM

Houston Parks Board is proud to be a Communities of Care grantee, a grant program of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health that supports the Healthy Outdoor Communities (HOC) initiative. HOC is a collaborative approach to improve mental well-being and combat health disparities in areas of need in Houston. Over the course of five years, Houston Parks Board is working with Nature and Eclectic Outdoors (NEO), Texas A&M School of Public Health, local outdoor and health nonprofits, and community members, on programmatic solutions to systemic barriers to park access and health inequities. 

Our areas of focus are the communities of Acres Homes and Third Ward.

Join HPB Activation and Volunteer Manager Kelly Burnett for a deeper dive about this collaborative initiative and learn more about our commitment to park equity. Guest speaker Jennifer Boley from NEO will join the conversation.

Virtual Lunch and Learn: Healthy Outdoor Communities

The next Houston Parks Board LGC, Inc. meeting is Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 10:00 AM.  Due to health and safety concerns related to COVID-19, this meeting will offer the options to participate by videoconference or in-person. The meeting will be open to the public but restrictions regarding allowable room capacity and seating arrangements may be in place.

Public Notice of HPB LGC Meeting 9.21.21.pdf

The public meeting location will be Amegy Bank, 1717 West Loop South, Houston, Texas 77027. The Chairman, as presiding officer of the Houston Parks Board LGC, and a quorum of Board Members will be physically present. Other Board Members will be participating by videoconference in accordance with the provisions of Section 551.127 of the Texas Government Code. View the agenda online here. 

Procedures for HPB LGC Meetings updated 9.16.21.pdf

Please read the procedures to learn how to participate and register here no later than 12:00 PM Monday, September 20, 2021.

Events Calendar

Houston Parks Board 2021 Annual Luncheon

#ParksByYou Day: Prairie Restoration

Agents of Discovery Mission: OST/South Union

Agents of Discovery Mission: MacGregor Park

Agents of Discovery Mission: Thomas Bell Foster Park

Past Events

Party in the Parks: Stroll, Roll, and Go!

Virtual Lunch and Learn: Healthy Outdoor Communities

Houston Parks Board LGC September 2021