The future development of Cullinan Park is a step closer to becoming a reality after the George Foundation donated $1 million over four years to the Cullinan Park Conservancy.

The June donation comes on the heels of an interlocal agreement between the cities of Sugar Land and Houston that was approved in May. The agreement details park improvements and development as well as the future annexation of the park from the city of Houston’s extraterritorial jurisdiction into Sugar Land’s ETJ. The agreement requires the Cullinan Park Conservancy—a nonprofit dedicated to park improvements—to raise $500,000 in contributions before Sugar Land can annex the park.

Dan Neale, director of the Cullinan Park Conservancy, said the donation is divided equally over four years and the conservancy has raised $250,000 of the $500,000 needed to allow the city of Sugar Land to annex the park into its ETJ.

As part of the interlocal agreement, once the 754-acre park is annexed, it will be developed and maintained by the city of Sugar Land for 30 years. The city will then have the opportunity to renew the agreement for an additional 30 years.

Although Sugar Land is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the park, the Cullinan Park Conservancy is responsible for funding future improvements, such as hike and bike trails, new signage and additional picnicking facilities.

Mike Goodrum, assistant city manager for Sugar Land, said the addition of Cullinan Park to the city’s jurisdiction not only expands the city’s green space, but provides a different type of park that separates itself from the city’s existing parks.

“The Brazos River Park is old farmland and does not have as much vegetation, so [Cullinan Park] will be really interesting because of all the trees and the opportunities to build trails through it all,” he said.

Once Cullinan Park is annexed into the city’s park system, the Sugar Land Police Department will install surveillance and security systems, such as license plate recognition cameras, Goodrum said.

Neale said the added security will provide resources that was not available under the jurisdiction of the city of Houston. Roksan Okan-Vick, executive director of the Houston Parks Board, said the park did not receive the improvements and resources needed because it was in Houston’s ETJ and was removed from the region.

Although the park will remain the property of the Houston Parks Board and the city of Houston, Okan-Vick said she is supportive of the partnership because of the resources Sugar Land and the Cullinan Park Conservancy will be able to dedicate to the park.

“The amenities that are depicted in the master plan are very much in line with what we would consider, and what I believe the Cullinan estate would consider a nature park,” she said.