The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) requests that City Council approve the motion to adopt an Up-to-Date 2023 Master Plan. The purpose of the Up-to-Date 2023 Master Plan is to serve as a decision-making guide for expanding and improving the parks system, providing equitable distribution of park space for all communities, and continuing to provide parks and green spaces for citizens within a half-mile or 10-minute walking distance from their neighborhood.
The proposed Up-to-Date 2023 Master Plan is an expansion of the current Master Plan adopted by City Council on October 13, 2015 (Motion 2015-0690). The Master Plan is periodically reviewed to evaluate and make recommendations based on existing conditions, data analysis, and public input. The proposed Up-to-Date 2023 Master Plan includes park system achievements and successes since 2015 and refocuses priorities based on population changes, evolving community diversity, and needs.
As part of the review and community input process, HPARD staff provided information and solicited comments during Capital Improvement Plan meetings at City Council Districts and attended various community events. HPARD studied the Action Plans established by the Mayor’s Office of Complete Communities, facilitating an extensive community engagement process in 10 under-resourced neighborhoods. HPARD also solicited input through an online Master Plan comment survey in the fall of 2023.
On November 16, 2023, HPARD provided a briefing of the Up-To-Date 2023 Master Plan to the City Council Quality of Life Committee. The proposed Up-to-Date 2023 Master Plan is available for review at http://www.houstonparks.org.
Director's Signature:
_______________________________
Kenneth Allen, Director
Houston Parks and Recreation Department