Historic Emancipation Park is located in the Third Ward area at 3018 Dowling Street in Council District D. The Emancipation Park Conservancy is a 501 (c)(3) established in June 2014 with a mission to “preserve, fund and protect the rich cultural legacy of Emancipation Park.” The purpose of the agreement between the City of Houston and the Emancipation Park Conservancy is to share joint responsibilities for maintenance, operation and programming of core services and supplemental enrichment activities in the Park. The proposed agreement was presented to City Council Quality of Life Committee on June 22, 2016.
The term of the agreement is 30 years. The Emancipation Park Conservancy will be responsible for fundraising to support Park programs, services and activities, fundraising to support Park maintenance and operations, and managing Park food concessions. HPARD will provide the Conservancy office space within the Community Center for purposes of performing the Conservancy’s services under the Agreement
At any time during the term of the agreement, the Conservancy may also manage community organizations providing programs, services and activities at the Park, manage and coordinate civic, cultural and special events in the Park, program events and activities, recruit and coordinate volunteers, manage facility rentals and operate the community center if agreed to in writing by the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
The proposed agreement also sets rental fees for Park facilities. The proposed fees are comparable to other HPARD facilities of the same size and type. Please see attached proposed fee schedules in comparison to Sunnyside and Moody Park Community Centers. The fees will become part of the City Fee Schedule and will be adjusted annually based on CPI along with other park facility rental fees of the same type.
This is a partnership agreement between the City of Houston through the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the Emancipation Park Conservancy. This is not a lease or sale of the Park.
Director's Signature:
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