Cullinan Park Conservancy raises $287.5K for Phase 2 park improvements

Sugar Land City Council accepted a $287,465.93 donation from the Cullinan Park Conservancy for Phase 2 improvements to Cullinan Park during its Dec. 1 meeting.

The bulk of the donation, $213,500, is in the form of a check from the conservancy to the city. Two additional in-kind donations, one totaling $56,346.93 and the other totaling $17,619, were also accepted for conceptual design services and park wayfinding signs, respectively. These payments are being made directly to contractors from the conservancy.

“We would like to extend the city’s gratitude for these generous donations made by the Cullinan Park Conservancy,” said Joe Chesser, the Sugar Land parks and recreation director.

According to city documents, Phase 2 improvements to Cullinan Park include a potential children's nature play area, 1.2 miles of new trails and additional parking.

A memorandum of understanding between the city of Sugar Land and the Cullinan Park Conservancy states the conservancy must raise at least $5 million in five years and $10 million in ten, which will go toward supporting the park’s development while the city provides maintenance, Chesser said.

Sugar Land annexed the 754 acres of Cullinan Park in January 2016. To date, the conservancy has raised and donated $1.5 million, which in part funded the design and construction for Phase 1 park development, which were completed in fall 2019.