The Public Works and Engineering Department (PWE) has requested to use a portion of the 5.89-acre James W. Lee Park located at 9025 Pitner for storm-water detention as part of the Binglewood Drainage and Paving Capital Improvement Project (WBS No. M-000293-0001-3). The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) supports this request as it will provide a public benefit by reducing the risk of structural flooding for the Binglewood community while maintaining a park use and agrees there is not a feasible and prudent alternative to using the park for this purpose.
PWE, HPARD and the General Services Department have worked together to minimize impacts to the Park. Benefits to the park as a result of the project include replacement of aging, existing park amenities with new ones. These amenities include the playground, walking trail, lighting, picnic table and benches. Turf and trees will also be replaced and a picnic shelter will be added. Another benefit to the park as a result of the project includes the availability of parallel parking in the street right-of-way as part of the new curb and gutter pavement section around the park.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 26 requires the City to publish three public notices and hold a public hearing prior to authorizing the use or taking of park land for non-park purposes. Notices will be published in the Houston Chronicle on September 23, September 30 and October 7, 2015. The proposed date of the public hearing is Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. in Council Chambers, Second Floor, City Hall, 901 Bagby, Houston, Texas.
HPARD will request Council action to approve an ordinance to make findings relating to the public hearing on October 21, 2015.
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Director, Parks and Recreation Department