The Harris County Commissioners Court approved a $11.35 million donation to Burnett Bayland Park during its business court meeting Aug. 25.
The donation will allow Precinct 4 to invest in amenities as the public space is revitalized.
The background
The park, located in the Gulfton neighborhood, is undergoing renovations as part of a court-approved project to turn the area into a green space. The project broke ground in June 2025, according to previous Community Impact reporting, and will more than double the park’s size in one of Houston’s densest neighborhoods.
The money comes from a federal grant and Precinct4Forward, a nonprofit that supports the precinct’s initiatives, according to its website.
Angie Wierzbicki, Precinct4Forward’s senior grants manager, said the donation “represents much more than dollars.”
“For the families of Gulfton, this means investing in a park that will be more than a place to play,” Wierzbicki said. “It means greater access to safe, beautiful green space, opportunities for recreation and more.”
Per agenda documents, the donation will go towards park amenities, including:
- Basketball and pickleball courts
- Outdoor fitness areas
- Walking trails
- Native plant and tree plantings
The details
The 2024 master plan outlines that the project is designed to improve the park’s accessibility, quality and access to facilities; promote arts, culture and economic development; and enhance natural infrastructure and store stormwater.
Precinct4Forward Executive Director Kelly Opot said the goal is to make the park “a cornerstone of the community for recreation, connection, arts and culture.”
The park has three construction phases, the first of which is set to be completed this fall, Commissioner Lesley Briones said. Construction for phase one includes a detention pond, two soccer pitches and a community garden, per the website.
Briones said the $11.35 million is also from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership, a National Park Service grant program that invests in enhancing “recreation opportunities in rural and urban communities,” according to its website. The grant is the largest in Texas and fourth largest in the country, she said.
“This is what public-private partnerships can do to drive progress in something that is transformational,” Briones said. “So my profound gratitude, and to the people of Gulfton — we will keep delivering.”
