A NOTE FROM OUR LEADERSHIP

Houston Parks Board is focused on the future, and how we advance our mission to expand, improve, and protect parks and greenspace in the Houston region. We are grateful for the opportunity to do this work, and with your ongoing support, we are committed to ensuring that these experiences are accessible to EVERYONE.

Our newly updated and adopted Strategic Plan is setting the stage for the next five years and reaffirming 4 strategic priorities:

1. Enhance, expand, and connect the Bayou Greenways system
2. Invest equitably in neighborhood parks
3. Create or improve larger regional parks as destinations for Houstonians
4. Ensure sustainable support for parks and Houston Parks Board

Houston Parks Board is a true green developer and protector of greenspace. Our amazing team has overseen every phase of Bayou Greenways, one of the largest investments in parks and greenspace equity in Houston’s history.

When Houstonians approved $100M in bond funding to build a network of greenways along nine of the bayous coursing through our city, Houston Parks Board took on the responsibility to raise another $120M to make Bayou Greenways a reality starting with the $50M lead gift from Kinder Foundation. In fact, Houston Parks Board raised over $125M and will be over-delivering on the original 150-mile promise. From community engagement, land acquisition, design and construction, to our role as the long-term conservation and maintenance steward for the greenways, we are proud that Bayou Greenways has become part of our and the city’s DNA. This work expands across the region, from Gulfgate to Meyerland, Northshore to Inwood to Aldine, in a linear park network.

Our greenways provide access to parks and trails for neighborhoods, provide new routes to ride bikes to work or to visit a friend. It has added over 900 acres of greenspace and provided public access to 3,000 acres along our bayous. It has restored vital native habitat and introduced Houstonians to their collective backyard. Today, 150 miles of Bayou Greenways are open to the public and host over 8 million visits a year.

In addition to our Bayou Greenways work, we have been busy working on several other important initiatives.

Neighborhood parks are community treasures and the parks that families use most frequently. 50/50 Park Partners, initiated by Mayor Sylvester Turner and in collaboration with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and Greater Houston Partnership, is funded in partnership with the City and the generous support of over 30 philanthropic partners, including Houston Endowment, Port Houston, Perry Homes Foundation, and many others. The distinctive feature of the 50/50 Park Partners initiative lies in the thorough community engagement facilitated by Houston Parks Board. This ensures that the revitalization of these neighborhood parks is driven by the community’s input. Residents from Alief, Fifth Ward, Magnolia Park, Sunnyside and beyond actively contributed to shaping the ultimate renovation plans for their local parks.

Houston Parks Board is proud to have been the project manager of the capital improvement projects made through 50/50 Park Partners, and with 21 ribbon cuttings complete in 2023, the initiative likely broke the record for the most neighborhood park renovations in a year in Houston’s history.

In addition to neighborhood parks, we also work with larger regional parks. A significant milestone on the horizon is the creation of a new 100-acre park in Sunnyside called The Hill at Sims. This park is a partnership with Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Harris County Precinct 1, with support from Harris County Flood Control District, and others. This multi-benefit park, combining flood mitigation and recreational elements, will add resilience and beauty to our city.

Houston Parks Board is proud to continue working alongside the county with support from Harris County Precinct 4, and excited to be moving forward with Commissioner Lesley Briones and her team on a trail connection extending from Buffalo Bayou Park west from Shepherd Drive, a major step in creating a safer route toward Memorial Park. This connection will help bridge the gap between two of our city’s most used and beloved parks. 

On the cusp of a new City administration, we are grateful to Mayor Turner, who has been such a strong champion for parks and greenspace. He understands their true value and the role they play in making Houston a more resilient and vital place to live, work, and play. He also understands the importance of authentic community engagement when making decisions about investments in our parks and is particularly passionate about neighborhood parks. We enjoyed celebrating with him and would not be able to do nearly as much of the good work to invest equitably in Houston’s green future, without his leadership.

Thank you, Mayor Turner, for always giving your best to Houston’s parks.

Barron Wallace, Chairman, Houston Parks Board
Beth White, President & CEO, Houston Parks Board

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HIGHLIGHTS

Wrapping up an extraordinary year for Houston Parks Board, we’re excited to highlight our top-performing social media posts and the most widely read newsletters in Fiscal Year 2023.

The newsletter with the highest engagement of our monthly newsletters celebrated national Park and Recreation Month, the beginning of construction on Brays Bayou Greenway – the longest Bayou Greenway segment built to date, a new connection along Buffalo Bayou in downtown Houston, and the progress at Hill at Sims. 

50/50 PARK PARTNERS

Houston Parks Board is proud to be a primary partner in the 50/50 Park Partners initiative and to have served as Project Manager for the capital improvements in 22 neighborhood parks across the city and in every council district. In addition to the City of Houston public investment to 50/50 Park Partners, Houston Parks Board worked with over 30 philanthropic partners who together have invested over $10 million to the initiative.

The commitment of all our park partners towards increasing park equity across Houston transformed parks across the city including Harwin Park, Forum Park, and Langwood Park in FY23. Houston Parks Board gathered important input from each community, which shaped the improvements made.

Harwin Park
Located within the Alief-Westwood Complete Community, Harwin Park was one of the first neighborhood parks to complete its transformation as part of 50/50 Park Partners. Improvements made to Harwin Park include added lighting, a new covered picnic pavilion, a new exercise station, and upgrades to the walkways within the park. Community Health Choice committed $450,000 as a Visionary Park Partner of the 50/50 initiative. In addition to the financial support, Community Health Choice also committed to additional program support through volunteer and in-kind resources.

Forum Park
Upgrades made to Forum Park include a new mini-pitch and basketball half-court, new shade sail for the playground, upgrades to park lighting, a new parking lot with 16 spaces, new concrete walking trails and sidewalks, picnic tables, benches, BBQ grills, and new park signage, as well as drainage enhancements. A consortium of health care organizations, led by the Memorial Hermann Community Benefit Corporation along with Episcopal Health Foundation and Texas Children’s Hospital, committed $190,000 as a programmatic partner of the 50/50 initiative for the basketball half-court and infrastructure supporting the mini-pitch installation. The mini-pitch installation was donated by the Houston Dynamo FC and Houston Dash, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation.

Langwood Park
The extensive upgrades to Langwood Park include a resurfaced walking trail that circles the park and improved drainage and detention to mitigate flooding. Additional updates include upgraded ADA-compliant playground with new play equipment and surface, a new volleyball net and turf, improved picnic area, a new exercise station, resurfaced and restriped parking lot, upgraded park furniture, including new benches, picnic tables, trash cans and grills, and new LED lighting.

CONSERVATION AND MAINTENANCE

Houston Parks Board believes parks are for everyone. To ensure that our greenspaces connect us to each other and revitalize our lives, we’re committed to keeping our parks beautiful, accessible, safe, and functional. We make this a reality by dedicating more than a third of our annual budget to conservation and maintenance.

Only a high standard of care will sustain our quality greenspaces. We take care of our greenspaces and trails by regularly mowing, cleaning up litter, clearing paths, removing debris, clearing off graffiti, restoring amenities, and cleaning after floods. Our Conservation and Maintenance team prides itself on its attention to almost 100 miles of trails and over 3,000 acres of greenspace.

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REGIONAL PARKS

The 2nd Annual Art Bike Parade and Festival took place May 13, 2023, in MacGregor Park and brought close to 1,000 students and family members, teachers, and community members to cheer on 200+ parade participants.

In 2016, a master plan for MacGregor Park was completed under the direction of Houston Parks and Recreation Department with the involvement of the Friends of MacGregor Park, Greater Southeast Management District, and OST/Almeda Corridors Redevelopment Authority. Houston Parks Board is proud to have led recent efforts to review the plan with lead consultant M2L Associates, guided by the City of Houston, Friends of MacGregor Park, and MacGregor Park Conservancy with input from stakeholders, public agencies, and community organizations.

Input gathered will be used to develop an updated master plan that will be shared with stakeholders and the community. A feasibility study for funding the project and a plan and commitment for long-term maintenance for the improvements will be completed before any improvements can be made.

FY23 FINANCIALS

Houston Parks Board’s activities are supported by a variety of donors and partners, both public and private. For a more complete picture, please refer to the Houston Parks Board audited financial statement and the associated Local Government Corporation audited financial statements.

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