With a unanimous vote from Houston City Council during its April 21 meeting, the city will apply for funding from the National Recreation and Parks Association, the leading nonprofit organization focused on advancing the advancement of public parks, recreation and conservation.
“The concept of a parks master plan is really exciting to me, and I know there are a number of things going on that the administration is working on, the parks department is working on,” Position 2 Council Member David Robinson said.
Houston’s parks master plan has not been updated since October 2015. The master plan, which serves as a comprehensive plan for Houston’s parks system that addresses the community's present and future needs within the planning region, was crafted during a two-year process involving data analysis and public input that divided Houston into 21 park sectors, each with its own plan.
The extra grant funding, if awarded, would allow the city to avoid dipping into its own coffers.
“This will cover that additional cost without having to pull from our existing budget,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said.
