The Houston Parks and Recreation Department was created by city ordinance on March 15, 1916 with two facilities Sam Houston Park and Hermann Park. Today the Department manages, maintains and stewards 350 developed parks and over 200 greenspaces and esplanades for the Houston and its citizens. Whatever the weather, whatever the time of year, there's always something fun going on outdoors. Families, clubs, groups of friends all meet in the park to see what nature will bring them for entertainment.
Bird migrations pass through Houston in the spring and fall, and bird watchers on our many wooded trails and in fields all over town are rewarded with the sight of feathered travelers. Waterfowl of all descriptions are always on view at Hermann Park's McGovern Lake, and at the Houston Zoo's Duck Lake.
One of nature's more unusual spectacles is visible at dusk from the intersection of Waugh Bridge at Allen Parkway in Eleanor Tinsley Park. The Waugh Bridge Bat Colony remains in Houston throughout the year. As far as we know, this is the only bridge in Texas that has such a large colony of Mexican free-tailed bats that reside all year, even through the winter months. You can see the colony as it emerges every night at the corner of Waugh Drive and Allen Parkway or visit our multi-media bat page for a preview.
The Houston Parks and Recreation Department runs 56 community centers located throughout the city for the benefit of Houstonians of all ages and interests.
World-class golf, swimming, Frisbee tossing, mountain biking, jogging to your heart's content, it's all available in Houston parks! A complete pdf file of our parks inventory is available for you to print or take a tour of some of our parks below.
