The big picture
Officials with Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s office said several projects have been completed since 2023, with additional trail links and park enhancements scheduled to continue through 2026 and beyond.
According to a statement from Ramsey’s office, “The goal of the plan was to outline a long-term, 30+ year plan for the parks so it was intended to be done in smaller pieces.”
In 2025, two projects were completed at Russ Poppe Park in Cypress: new pickleball courts opened to the public and more than 270 trees of various species were planted to halt erosion.
The North Houston Association—made up of more than 150 regional businesses—advocates for the establishment of green space, parks and trails as part of its mission, NHA President Marlisa Briggs said. Briggs said the association received regular updates from Ramsey’s team about progress on the master plan.
The NHA’s areas of focus include mobility, water supply and drainage, the environment, and local development trends, per its website. Briggs said outdoor recreation has grown in popularity in the region over the last five years—a trend she expects to continue.
“A robust parks and trails system provides places to play, to exercise and simply to take a mental break by immersing ourselves in nature,” Briggs said. “Parks provide places to gather and foster a sense of community.”
Additionally, she said investment in parks plays an important role in boosting economic growth, as businesses choose to locate in areas with well-managed green space because it’s easier to attract employees.
Harris County Precinct 3 has completed six projects across the Cy-Fair area, including:
- Elizabeth Kaiser Meyer Park: Half a mile of the Gourley Nature Trail was reconstructed. New pickleball courts were added.
- Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve: A new playground, boardwalk and south trail connections were added. A new parking lot was completed.
- Russ Poppe Family Park: New pickleball courts were added.
- Dennis Johnston Park: Butterfly Garden received erosion improvements, while fresh gravel and pollinator-friendly flowers were added.
- Judge Ted Poe Community Center: The 8,500-square-foot center was remodeled and renamed.
- I.T. May Park: New pickleball courts were added.
How we got here
The Precinct 3 Parks and Trails Master Plan debuted in 2023 and divided the north Houston area into four service areas: Cypress, Spring, Humble and Crosby. Officials with Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s office said park improvements were needed because population in the area, which spans over 555 square miles, is expected to double by 2045. The population growth will also increase demand for recreational facilities, trails and green space access, officials said.
“Population growth in the north Houston area is a major driver for the master plan,” Precinct 3 officials said in an email. “Planning is required to ensure parks and trails keep pace with that growth.”
When the plan was first released, an estimated cost of all the projects totaled over $758 million and is being funded through a mix of county, state and other partner funds. The total project cost is subject to change as more projects launch.
Cypress has 30 total parks of varying sizes, the smallest being “pocket parks” and the largest being the Spring Creek Greenway. In total, the Cy-Fair area has:
- 14 "pocket" parks
- 4 neighborhood parks
- 5 community parks
- 1 sports complex
- 2 regional parks
- 2 specialty parks
- 1 undeveloped park
- 1 greenway
Precinct 3 officials said projects in the master plan could also be completed through partnerships with other entities.
“We are consistently looking for partnership opportunities with other agencies,” officials from Ramsey’s office said in an email. “That includes other cities like the city of Houston, [Municipal Utility Districts], developers, etc.”
