City leaders and community partners gathered at Lawrence Park on Sept. 24 to break ground on a $2 million renovation, officially launching the construction phase of the citywide Let’s Play Houston initiative.
The local impact
Lawrence Park is the first of 25 neighborhood parks to be renovated as part of the Let's Play initiative under the Houston Parks Board. Let’s Play is a public-private partnership that will distribute $60 million worth of park upgrades across all 11 Houston City Council districts. Two to three parks per district were selected for improvements through the citywide program. Lawrence Park is located in District C in the Heights area.
“This was an African American community,” Mayor John Whitmire said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “Certainly, gentrification is everywhere you look, but that's what's happening across America. But what can we do? We can deal with it. We can remember our roots and continue to improve each and every neighborhood. So this is just the beginning.”
About the project
Reconstruction at Lawrence Park will include:
Installation of a new shaded playground
Improved paths and park surfaces, including enhanced access into the park and trail connections to the MKT Trail
A fitness area
Construction of a paved plaza with seating
Stormwater detention
Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin, who formerly represented District C, said she advocated that the playgrounds at each park have shaded structures.
“It is getting too hot for our children to play safely, and I said [on council] we will contribute money, but we have to have the shade,” Kamin said. “I am so excited, but also grateful that the Parks Board has committed that every single park moving forward through this program will have shade structures.”
Looking ahead
Houston Parks Board president and CEO Justin Schultz said construction will take about one year to complete at Lawrence Park. He also said that construction will begin at four other parks over the next several weeks, including Haviland, Andover, Greenwood and Montie Beach parks.
“Part of what I love about the program is we're touching so many different neighborhoods across Houston,” he said. “Regardless of where you live, hopefully we'll be close to a park that we're touching.”
Schultz added that the entire program will be completed within three years.
