Houston City Council approved an agreement during a Sept. 3 City Council meeting to have Harris County Precinct 4 Lesley Briones’ office operate and maintain seven Houston parks.
The gist
The agreement will have the county maintain the following parks for the next 20 years:
- Bonham Park
- Cottage Grove Park
- Jaycee Park
- Kirkwood Greenspace
- Reeves Park
- Waldemar Park
- The Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve
The Houston Parks and Recreation Department will retain exclusive control and supervision of the designated nature preserve area consisting of approximately 18 acres of wooded area and natural trails located inside The Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve, according to the agenda item.
What they’re saying
Council member Abbie Kamin, who has four of the seven parks in her district, said this agreement is important, especially since the city approved a budget in July that will cut $4 million from the park’s budget.
Houston Parks and Recreation Director Kenneth Allen said during the department’s budget workshop May 16 that the budget reductions and retirements will lead to longer mowing cycles and reductions in security and patrols in parks, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
“I want to spotlight and thank Commissioner Briones’ office for stepping up to invest in our city-owned parks,” Kamin said.
Mayor John Whitmire said in a Sept. 3 Instagram post that this partnership shows the collaboration between the city and the county.
“It’s going to really improve the quality of life of these parks by the good commissioner,” Whitmire said. “I want to thank her, it’s going to improve things.”
Briones said in a Sept. 4 statement that she is proud her precinct is stepping up to provide maintenance to the Houston parks.
"My team will ensure these parks are well-maintained for all who enjoy them," she said. "This partnership with Mayor Whitmire and the City of Houston is a powerful example of good government and what we can achieve together. County and City collaboration allows us to further stretch taxpayer dollars, maximize efficiencies, and provide a higher level of service to our shared constituents. These parks belong to all of us—and are critical for building community, fostering physical and mental health, and protecting our shared recreation spaces. Together, let’s continue to raise the bar for parks across our region.”
The agreement is not expected to impact the city financially, and the will incur will incur maintenance costs for the upkeep, Briones said.
