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In an effort to ensure park spaces can be used by all, Pearland and Manvel’s upcoming park projects are striving to prioritize inclusive spaces.
Projects include new all-inclusive parks at Independence Park in Pearland and Heritage Park in Manvel.
The overview
At its Dec. 8 meeting, Pearland City Council unanimously approved pursuing the application process to secure a $1 million Texas Parks and Wildlife grant to fund the playground.
In 2023, Pearland voters approved a roughly $16 million bond proposition that included $700,000 for an inclusive play space at Independence Park.
Volunteer, nonprofit organization Forever Parks Foundation of Pearland is leading a $5 million fundraising campaign to fill the funding gap and help deliver a fully inclusive playground.
“Independence Park is our largest space in Pearland,” said Jeff Webb, president of Forever Parks Foundation of Pearland. “It's 70 acres. I call it the crown jewel of the park system in Pearland. If that's going to be our key space, then everyone should be able to enjoy it."
Also of note
Down the road, Manvel City Council unanimously approved $162,000 for equipment for a new playground at Heritage Park on Oct. 20.
The push for an inclusive playground in Manvel is driven largely by Manvel resident Reaghan Velasquez, who has spina bifida and has advocated since fifth grade for all kids to be able to access playgrounds.
“I’m just proud to represent a community that always gets overlooked ... those little things, yes, they’re little, but they mean so much,” Velasquez said.
Fundraising for an inclusive playground at Independence Park is expected to run through mid-2026, with construction slated to start in late 2027 or early 2028, and construction completion in late 2028 or early 2029, according to documents from Forever Parks Foundation of Pearland.
Contractor interviews for Heritage Park at Manvel are currently ongoing with a recommended contractor and project timeline expected to be presented to City Council at its Jan. 5 meeting.
Rachel Leland contributed to this report.
