Patrons for Bellaire Parks donated $50,000 to the city in July to help develop the Evergreen Park Master Plan, which will guide the city on the improvements and redevelopments needed for the park.

What’s happening?

The Evergreen Park committee, which kicked off in October, has been working on developing and securing funding for the redevelopment of Bellaire's Evergreen Pool and Park Complex, a park located right across from the Nature Discovery Center, with amenities such as a neighborhood pool, open green space, picnic tables and a playground area.

According to previous Community Impact reporting, anticipated improvement projects for the park include:
  • Creating an all-inclusive playground that will remove barriers and provide people of all abilities to play and learn in an accessible and safe environment
  • Renovating the pool complex with a modern swimming pool, better lighting and improved restrooms
  • Providing a green space with flexible uses for recreation and relaxation, as well as a covered event venue
“Our goal is to meet the high standards the Bellaire community expects and deserves,” council member Cindy Cohen Taylor, who has also been spearheading the committee, said.

The committee has been holding numerous fundraising events to help fund the project. Taylor said since September, they have raised $130,000. Future fundraising events will also be held throughout the remainder of the year, such as:
  • July 19: Selfie Saturday
  • Aug. 16: Mom’s On the Loose
  • Aug. 23: The Amazing Evergreen Duck Race
  • September: Listen and Learn with Condit Cub Scouts
  • Nov. 5: Evergreen Night Out
  • November/December: Magpies Sociable
In other news


During the July 7 meeting, city officials also approved reducing term limits from three terms to two terms for board and committee members, an item also spearheaded by Taylor. Board and committee members serve a term of two years, according to the city’s code of ordinances.

“We have a lot of people who want to be on these boards,” Taylor said. “We don’t want to wear people out. I feel like we ask a lot of the same people to do things over and over, and I feel like there are a lot of people in the community who want to serve.”

Council member Catherine Lewis was the only council member to vote against the motion. She said she’s worried that two terms isn’t enough time for people to adequately serve on the boards and commissions.

“With any of these commissions, it takes you the first term to get acquainted with the commission and serve there, and then you might move up to chair,” Lewis said.


During the same meeting, 29 new board and commission appointees were approved by the City Council. However, Mayor Gus Pappas said the reduced term limits won’t apply to the new appointees.