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Topic: Houston parks improvement and fundingKey Person: Justin Schultz, new Houston Parks Board CEO since Jan 1, 2025Big Goal: Make Houston a top parks city by its 200th birthday in 2036Funding Gap: Houston spends $151 per person on parks vs. the big-city average of $192Major Project: $60 million MacGregor Park revitalization underway
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Good first step: Share A neighbor or parent who uses local parks
Hey, did you know Houston is trying to fix up its parks before 2036? There's even a $60 million project at MacGregor Park. We might want to follow this and share our ideas!
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Justin Schultz took over as CEO of Houston Parks Board on January 1, 2025. He wants Houston to have one of the best park systems in the country by the city's 2036 bicentennial. His plan covers finishing big projects already underway, closing a funding gap, fighting extreme heat, and building regional partnerships.
Houston Parks Board is a nonprofit that guides major parks projects, often partnering with local governments and other organizations. Under Schultz, three landmark efforts are front and center: the Hill at Sims Park, a $30 million project turning a detention basin into more than 100 acres of parkland in the Sunnyside neighborhood; a $60 million revitalization of MacGregor Park southeast of downtown; and the expansion of more than 150 miles of trails and green spaces connecting the region's major bayous. Long-term goals include raising public investment, planting more trees, adding shade structures and water features to fight extreme heat, and coordinating with neighboring cities and counties — including Pasadena, Fort Bend County, and Montgomery County.
Use what you learned here to be a more informed neighbor and advocate. You now know where the funding gaps are, which projects are in progress near you, and why heat-relief features matter in Houston parks. That knowledge can help you ask sharper questions at community meetings, support parks ballot measures when they appear, and connect with Houston Parks Board's work in your part of the region.
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This story connects to broader Houston conversations about climate resilience, neighborhood equity, and public funding priorities. The extreme-heat challenge ties directly to the region's ongoing work on urban tree canopy and cooling strategies. The funding discussion links to how Houston balances public budgets with private philanthropy across many civic needs. Regional trail expansion also connects to transportation and public health — more green corridors mean more options for walking and biking across Harris County and beyond.
Houston ranked 66th out of 100 cities in the Trust for Public Land's ParkScore Index, which grades cities on acreage, access, investment, amenities, and equity. The city spent $151 per person on parks in 2024 — well below the large-city average of $192. About one in four Houston-area residents rated local parks as 'fair' or 'poor' in a 2025 Kinder Institute survey. Schultz believes parks are not a luxury — they are an essential public good, just like police and fire services.
