GREENSPACE MANAGEMENT

From the esplanades of your neighborhood boulevard to the sprawling acreage of Hermann and Memorial parks, Greenspace Management personnel keep Houston beautiful. This division ensures Houston's 314 developed parks are visually appealing. Utilizing a methodical maintenance cycle, crews are dispatched to a dozen parks a day to remove litter. All parks are mowed and patrolled for litter on a 14 to 21 day mowing cycle during the growing season, March 1 through October.

The division's Urban Forestry experts plant and prune Houston's urban forest. When necessary, foresters also remove trees from parks, esplanades and all city-owned property. The division installs signs and bollards in city parks, as well as:

• Maintains 1,718 acres of esplanades.
• Encourage citizens to beautify their neighborhoods through the Adopt-an-Esplanade and Adopt-a-Park programs.
• Maintains the Houston Garden Center grounds.
• Operates a greenhouse where flowers and shrubs are cultivated for planting on city property.
• Performs landscape installation and consultation for numerous city departments.
• Manages and maintains the department's vehicular fleet, including light and heavy duty vehicles, off road equipment and specialized vehicles used to maintain parks, ballfields and esplanades. The fleet also supports the department's construction and recreational divisions.
• Performs specialized ballfield maintenance, upgrading fields to tournament quality. Also repair bleachers and install and repair irrigation systems.
• Manages court-restitution program.

Natural Areas and Native Vegetation
Many citizens are interested in creating Natural Areas as part of their home landscaping to reduce maintenance, attract wildlife, and create garden diversity. However, going the natural area route within the city does not mean simply allowing an area to go unmanaged. The City of Houston Ordinance 32-10 defines a “natural area” as an area of native vegetation within planned and managed landscape.

The ordinance gives the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, under the authority of the Director of the Department, the authority to create Rules and Regulations for Natural Areas. Permitting authority for Natural Areas is also given to the department by city ordinance.

In addition, the ordinance stipulates what is considered native vegetation and the parameters for use of such plants in the creation, preservation, or restoration of natural plant communities.

Buffer Zones
Buffer Zones make for friendly neighbors! All Natural Areas permitted within the city must follow the buffer zone guidelines:

Application Process
Property owners who would like to apply for a Natural Area Permit as outlined by the guidelines of City of Houston Ordinance 32-10 must submit an application to:

To assist you in your application, please print a copy of the Natural Area Rules and Regulations and a Natural Area Application.