
The Houston Parks & Recreation Department (H.P.A.R.D.) was created by City Ordinance on March 15, 1916. The Department of Public Parks, as it was called at that time, consisted of two parks - Sam Houston Park & Hermann Park. Taken together, they totaled about 465 acres of land.
Today, the Houston Parks & Recreation Department (H.P.A.R.D.) stewards & manages over 38,752 acres of parkland & greenspace for the City of Houston; develops & implements recreational programming for citizens of all abilities; maintains greenspace for the Houston Public Library & the Houston Health Department & manages all H.P.A.R.D. facilities.
H.P.A.R.D. works daily to fulfill its mission:
“To enhance the quality of urban life by providing safe
well-maintained parks & offering affordable
programming for our community.”
H.P.A.R.D. Latest News

»» 2012 Summer Recreation Catalog Now Available!
H.P.A.R.D.s Summer Activities Guide & Class Catalog is available online & at H.P.A.R.D. community centers across
the city!

»» Houston Corporate Games Results
Congratulations to all who took part in the Fourth Annual Houston Corporate Games, and thanks for raising funds for the Athletes Seeking Knowledge Program! (Photo Gallery)

»» RE-Plant Houston
RE-Plant Houston is a multi-year reforestation campaign coordinated by the Houston Parks & Recreation Department dedicated to reforesting Houston parks & greenspaces managed by the department.
![]()
»» VOTE DAILY for Winzer Park - March 28 - May 31,2012
Winzer Park is in a national competition to win basketball court renovation funding! Your DAILY VOTE will determine the grant amount. 25 cities across the U.S. will win between $5,000 to $15,000 in grant funding. Vote for Winzer Park every day!
More On Sprite Spark Parks . . .
![]()
»» Reserve New LHWP Lakeside Cabins May 18, 2012
Reservations are being taken for the new lakeside cabins & campsites at Lake Houston Wilderness Park. First rentals begin on May 18th, 2012.

»» Blues in All Its Colors May 30 August 5, 2012
The Heritage Society Museum in conjunction with the Houston Blues Museum presents & exhibit featuring legendary Houston blues musicians including the artwork of Artist Martin Miglioretti.

»» East End Golf Classic - June 4, 2012
Register for the 4th Annual East End Golf Classic!Proceeds
benefit the renovation & beautification of the Gus Wortham
Park Golf Course. To register online visit the Houston Parks Board at www.houstonparksboard.org.

»» Skateboard Workshop for Novices June 2, 2012
Come to the Lee & Joe Jamail Skatepark, Saturday, June 2, from 8:00 9:00 a.m. for a beginners skateboard workshop! Ages 6 & up are welcome! Sponsored by PUSH.

»» Summer Food Service Program - June 4, 2012
Youth ages 1 to 18 can receive a FREE daily nutritious lunch & snack at over 400 sites across the Houston area during the
summer. Beginning on June 4th call 2-1-1 give the operator your zip code & find a site near you.
Routine Maintenance Closures
»» Freed Park Gym Building - Routine Maintenance - September 1, 2011 - Until Further Notice
The Freed Park Gym Building & only the gym building, has been found to have structural safety concerns. Due to these concerns it will be closed effective September 1, 2011 until further notice. We will update the status as more information becomes available. The adjacent activity building, which is not affected, will remain open.
Capital Improvement Projects
»» Harwin Park Capital Improvement Projects February 27 - May 2012
Work at Harwin Park will begin on February 27, 2012. The scope of the work includes a new ramp, striping & signs for accessible parking, and demolishing the existing asphalt trail & replacing it with a new 8 wide concrete trail. Barring unforeseen circumstances, construction should take 90 days & is expected to be completed in May 2012.
»» Keith-Wiess Park - Capital Improvement Projects - January 30 May, 2012
Work at Keith-Wiess Park will begin January 30, 2012. Scope of work includes: site clearing & utilities, installing a modular office building, parking lot, parking lot lighting, a water well & septic system. Substantial completion is expected in May 2012 barring any unforeseen circumstances.
»» Glenbrook Pool - Capital Improvement Projects - June 20 - Until Further Notice
A Notice to Proceed for the demolition of the old Glenbrook Park pool & construction of a new pool in its place was issued for June 20, 2011. The scope of work includes trail work, parking lot striping & overlay, picnic tables & benches, a parking lot slide gate, asphalt trail connection. The contractor will be using a portion of the existing parking lot for staging, and most of it will still be open to the public. Citizens will still be able to access the trail to the west of the parking lot, and the east trail connection will be closed.
Repair Projects
»» Memorial Park Rugby Field - Repair Projects February 29, 2012 - Until Further Notice
The Memorial Park Rugby Field is closed until further notice to enable workers to repair the lighting system.
»» Stude Community Center - Repair Projects - July 6, 2011 - Until Further Notice
The Stude Park Community Center will be closed beginning July 6, 2011 until further notice due to a potential structural issue with the roof system. The issue is being evaluated by an engineering consultant to determine the extent of the problem & solutions needed. Free Play Basketball, scheduled for Mondays & Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m; Friday from
6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.; & Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. is referred to Love Park Community Center 1000 West 12th, 77008 or Woodland Park Community Center 212 Parkview, 77009.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
»» Edgewood Park Gym - Repair Projects - June 10, 2011 - Until Further Notice
The Edgewood Park Gym & Community Center have been reviewed by a structural engineer. The Edgewood Gym Bldg, and only the gym, has been found to have structural safety concerns. Due to these concerns the Edgewood Gym Bldg will be closed until further notice. We are working with the General Services Department & consultants to develop a plan to resolve issues with the gym. We will update the status as information becomes available. The adjacent activity building, which is not affected, will remain open.
- To Report Emergencies in Parks
- To Report Wildfires in Parks
Contact 3-1-1:
To Request A Repair Needed in a Park
Joe Turner, Director Houston Parks & Recreation Department is a native Houstonian. He attended the University of Houston graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He also holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from the Texas Woman's University.
Houston Parks & Recreation Department
2999 South Wayside
Houston, Texas 77023
Phone: 832.395.7000
E-mail: askparks@houstontx.gov
» H.P.A.R.D. Division Phone Numbers More ...
» Texas Public Information Act Information More ...
» Permits & Reservations
- 832.394.8804 (Ballfield Reservations)
832.394.8805 (Park Permits) More ...
» Brock Park Golf Course - Mgd by HPARD
» Glenbrook Park Golf Course - Mgd by the Lopez Mgmt Group
» Gus Wortham Park Golf Course - Mgd by HPARD
» Hermann Park Golf Course - Mgd by BSL Golf Corporation
» Melrose Park Golf Course - Mgd by Walton Golf Mgmt Group
» Memorial Park Golf Course - Mgd by HPARD
» Sharpstown Park Golf Course - Mgd by HPARD
» Online Reservation System for HPARD Managed Courses
» Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park
» Hermann Park Conservancy
» Houston Parks Board
» Million Trees + Houston
» Memorial Park Conservancy
» Trees for Houston
» Partnering/Sponsorships With Parks
» Discovery Green
» Market Square
» Miller Outdoor Theatre
» Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park
» Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
» Houston Museum of Natural Science
» Houston Zoo
» Citizen'sNet
» H.P.D. Crime Monitoring
» Mayor's Office of Special Events