CEC: CEC News

Houston and Harris County’s parkland has more than tripled since 1979.[i] The City of Houston currently has 509 park sites, ranging in size from less than half an acre to more than 10,000 acres, for a total of 20,537 acres – nearly half of it in one facility, the Barker and Addicks reservoirs. An additional 12,439 acres of private and Harris County parkland exist within city limits.[ii]

Still, Houston falls significantly behind many other cities in meeting national standards for per capita parkland. The City of Austin provides 27.9 acres for each 1,000 residents; both Dallas and Fort Worth offer around 20 acres per thousand. The City of Houston’s park system currently provides about 11 acres per thousand people; if private and Harris County parkland is included, that number grows to 17.6.[iii]

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) recommends that 21 to 31 acres of park land exist per 1,000 residents; similarly, the Urban Land Institute advises approximately 25.5 acres per thousand. The city will need to acquire close to 7,000 more acres to meet NRPA’s minimum recommendations.

Parkland is also well below standards regionally. In 1990, the Gulf Coast Region had the fewest recreation areas per capita of any Texas planning region, according to a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department survey. The region had only 4.69 acres of developed recreation areas per thousand residents, compared with the statewide average of 9.81 acres.[iv]

Many existing parks are in need of repair as well, although this problem is being addressed by the citywide Parks to Standards program. That program, initiated in 1993, coordinates and funds the renovation of 277 parks. Phase I, which included 81 sites, is substantially completed.

In 1999, the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department developed a comprehensive Master Plan to move toward national standards in per capita parkland and improve existing facilities over the next 10 to 15 years. It recommends establishing 68 new parks and expanding 16 existing sites. The plan suggests creating six larger parks (more than 50 acres), but its focus is on smaller neighborhood parks, which are particularly lacking, and linear systems along the bayous. The plan was approved by City Council in late 2001.

The Master Plan, however, does not allocate money for potential projects. Having a Master Plan may open more opportunities for receiving private, state, and federal funding, but park supporters would like to see a bond issue that would pay for land acquisition on a long-term basis.

Some park supporters would also like to implement requirements or incentives for developers to establish private open space. This strategy has been successful in many other cities.

Bond Issues

- State Proposition 8 authorized $100 million in bonds over the next six years for Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPW) for maintenance and repairs of state parks, wildlife management areas, and fish hatcheries. It provides $12 million to renovate the San Jacinto Battleground and $12 million for drydock repairs on the Battleship Texas. Another $2.5 million would be used to build the Sheldon Lake Environmental Education Center at Sheldon Lake State Park.

- Harris County’s bond issue included $60 million for park maintenance and acquisition.

- The City of Houston bond issue includes $80 million for the purpose of the acquisition and construction of additions and improvements to parks and recreational facilities.

The city of Houston is considering a proposal to move the annual Shell Houston Open from the Woodlands to Memorial Park. Hosting the tournament at Memorial would require lengthening the driving range, and nearby tennis courts would have to be removed or relocated. News of these plans sparked immediate action from the environmental community, which is concerned about loosing park facilities and/or green space. Although city council has not decided whether or not the tournament will come to Memorial, the quick action of park advocates was successful in convincing officials to consider quality of life and environmental issues when making their decision. In addition. Harris County is studying a toll road through the park and the Houston-Galveston Area Council is looking a commuter rail system in the same corridor.

Report damaged park equipment, vandalism, and graffiti to the Parks Department at (713) 845-1000.

Keep your eye open for land that could become a potential park. If you see a good site in your neighborhood, contact the Park People at (713) 942-PARK.

[i] The Park People, http://www.parkpeople.org.

[ii] Master Plan, City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department, 1999.

[iii] Master Plan, City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department, 1999.

[iv] Master Plan, City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department, 1999.

This section was taken from the State of the Environment 2002, the introduction to the 2002 Environmental Resource Guide, produced by the Citizens' Environmental Coalition (CEC). The above statements do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CEC, its trustees, officers, or staff.

Issues

Parks

Existing Parkland

Bond Issues