HOUSTON RANKED NO. 1 IN TOTAL ACREAGE OF PARKLAND AMONG TOP TEN U.S. CITIES Mayor Bill White Spotlights National Survey of City Parks
July 24, 2007 - Mayor Bill White today hailed The Trust for Public Land's new survey that indicates Houston rates first among the nation's top 10 cities in total acreage of parkland and second behind only San Diego in park acreage per capita.
The findings by the Trust for Public Land indicate that of the nation's 10 most populous cities, none had more total park space than Houston with 56,405 acres. Houston's 27.2 acres per 1,000 residents ranks second only to San Diego with 35.6 acres per 1,000 residents with nearly 45,000 total acres within its limits. Houston is well over the national average of 18.8 acres per 1,000 residents. The survey includes parks operated within the city by Harris County, the Houston Parks Board, Fort Bend County, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the City Parks and Recreation Department.
"Parks are where families, friends and neighbors spend time and create memories. This is an important story to tell about the quality of life in Houston," said Mayor Bill White. "We are pleased to see our city rates very high in providing such an important asset to Houstonians. But we will do more to improve what we offer the public. We want to be No. 1."
Houston and Harris County recently obtained approximately 5,000 acres of park space with the acquisition of Lake Houston Park in Northeast Houston. The 12-acre Discovery Green Park in Downtown Houston is scheduled to open in early 2008. Construction of a detention basin will connect various portions of Keith-Weiss Park adding to its usability, while providing capacity for managing flooding along Halls Bayou, on the city's north side. Additional announcements on new park space will be made in coming weeks.
The City, in cooperation with Harris County, the Houston Parks Board, Fort Bend County and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department worked to account for all available parks and green space operated by the various agencies, within the city limits of Houston, for this survey.
"We thank the Trust for Public Lands. We have worked hard to make sure that Houston's figures reflect a more accurate picture of our community and the TPL has been receptive to that," added Mayor White.
