Officials said the plan could potentially make the city more eligible for state grant funding.
The gist
Friendswood City Council discussed a new parks master plan that would serve as the comprehensive guide for the development, management and enhancement of the city’s parks, facilities and open spaces over the next decade at its Jan. 6 meeting.
Currently, Friendswood has around a dozen parks, including Old City Park, Stevenson Park, 1776 Memorial Park and Lake Friendswood Park.
The plan includes feedback from several public engagement meetings held with Friendswood residents in 2024. According to over 700 surveyed residents, improved trails and dog parks received the most support.
- Bocce ball courts
- Agility equipment for dogs
- Dog park expansion
- A larger facility to accommodate youth participation
- New playgrounds
- Outdoor kitchen renovations
- Drainage improvements for sports fields
- Enhanced lighting
EHRA said adopting the plan would help the city’s chances for grant funding from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Although the department does not mandate cities to have a master plan on file to qualify for grants, it utilizes a point system where adopting the plan would improve the city’s score.
“You can get up to five points in their scoring system just for having the master plan adopted,” an EHRA representative said. “Then you can get [an] additional five points through the master plan for demonstrating that it’s meeting the needs in the input from the community that people said they wanted and so in a system of 100 points, that increases your chances by 10%.”
Looking ahead
Council member Robert Griffon thanked city staff for their support in researching and presenting the plan, before asking how the city could share the plan widely and make the case to Friendswood residents that the plan is a worthwhile investment for local taxpayers.
“The bottom line is that these plans and designs cost a lot of money,” Griffon said. “I would love for as many people [as possible] to have a chance to look at this plan and really see some of the really interesting things that y’all put together because it’s a really, I think ... great plan, but it’s very expensive.”
City Manager Morad Kabiri said the city would upload the draft plan to the city’s website and potentially drive traffic to the plan through posts made to the city’s social media accounts.
Council member Joe Matranga also asked the city to review drainage improvements for Stevenson Park.
“I would love to hear some thoughts on how we can use ... Stevenson Park more effectively after rains,” Matranga said.
What’s next?
After City Council has had a chance to review the plan, they will vote on whether to adopt the revised plan at its March 3 meeting.
