Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission awards $30.9 million in park grants

AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved more than $30.9 million in local park grants, a new record, to help create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities.

The grants are allocated to local government entities on a 50/50 reimbursement match basis. Once funded, the sites must remain parkland in perpetuity, properly maintained and open to the public.

Fifty community parks statewide will gain nature trails, native landscaping, playgrounds, splash pads, sports fields, kayak launches, piers and other park amenities. The commission, which administers the local park grants program for Texas, awarded grants to projects in various categories based on community population and scope.

• Urban Outdoor Recreation Grants are reserved for local units of government with populations of more than 500,000. Three communities received this grant.
• Non-Urban Outdoor Recreation Grants fund park projects in municipalities under 500,000. The commission approved awards to projects in 21 communities.
• Small Community Recreation Grants serve towns of less than 20,000 and were awarded to 16 communities.

For more information about the local park grants program, visit the TPWD local park grants page.

The grant awards in the East Texas Region include:

• The city of Coldspring in San Jacinto County received a $150,000 small community grant for City Park. The project includes trails, playground, native landscaping and lighting.
• The city of Angleton in Brazoria County received a $881,415 non-urban indoor grant for renovations at the Angleton Recreation Center. Angleton also received a $750,00 non-urban outdoor grant for development at Abigail Arias Park. The project elements include a splash pad, trails, inclusive playground, native landscaping and irrigation.
• Brazoria County received a $208,218 non-urban outdoor grant for renovations and rehabilitation of Buffalo Camp County Park in Lake Jackson. The project elements include the new development of a pavilion with electric utilities and native landscaping. Renovations include the parking lot expansion, trail improvements, concrete pads for existing site amenities, gazebo improvements, repairing foot bridges, observation deck improvements, pond excavation, replacement of basketball goals and inclusive playground equipment.
• The city of Carthage in Panola County received a non-urban outdoor grant for development at Turner Park. The project elements include playground equipment, lighted pavilion, native landscaping, site amenities and trails.
• The city of Center in Shelby County received a $250,000 non-urban outdoor grant for American Legion Park. The project elements include a lighted plaza, pickleball courts, yard games, trails, native landscaping, shade installation, site amenities and program and interpretive signage.
• The city of College Station in Brazos County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for Independence Park. The project elements include a bike trail, asphalt pump track, bike stills area, dual elevated hub, wall rides and surface flow trails.
• The city of Columbus in Colorado County received a $150,000 small community grant for a development project at Midtown Park. The project includes a new splash pad, accessible paths and site amenities.
• The city of Galveston in Galveston County received a $375,000 non-urban outdoor grant renovations and development at Jones Park. The project includes demolition, trails, site amenities, shade installation, bioswales, permeable basketball court, signage, native landscaping and irrigation.
• Harris County received a $468,724 urban outdoor grant for enhancements to the John Paul Landing Environmental Education Center located in Cypress. Harris County Precinct 3 received a $763,406 urban outdoor grant for enhancements at Edgewater Park in Humble. Project elements include playground equipment, native landscaping, site amenities, a restroom, parking, access drive and trails.
• The city of Houston Parks and Recreation Department in Harris County received a $2 million urban indoor grant for improvements to the Mason Park Community Center.
• The city of La Porte in Harris County received a $177,513 non-urban outdoor grant for the Little Cedar Bayou Bridges Project. The project elements include a bird observation pier and pedestrian bridge improvements.
• The city of Mount Vernon in Franklin County received a $325,000 non-urban outdoor grant for renovations and development at Little Creek Park. The project elements include a playground, resurfacing and restriping of sports courts, shade installation, site amenities, native landscaping and signage.
• The city of Pineland in Sabine County received a $50,000 small community grant for sustainable and accessible improvements at Pineland Park. The project includes playground equipment and surfacing, lighting and interpretive signage. Renovations include resurfacing existing sports courts.

•The city of Troup in Smith County received a $92,000 small community grant for Patriot Park. The project elements include playground equipment, accessible paths, site amenities, native landscaping and signage.