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AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved more than $20.6 million in local park grants, a near record, to help create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities.
The competitive 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. Forty community parks statewide will gain nature trails, native gardens, playgrounds, splash pads, dog parks, sports fields, 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 are listed alphabetically below by region:
Central Texas
The city of Bellmead in McLennan County received a $150,000 small community grant for the Brame Park project. Project elements include lighting, additional play equipment, shade, a wheelchair swing, restroom improvements and native landscaping.
The city of Converse in Bexar County received a $125,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the pool rehabilitation project. The project includes resurfacing of the existing pool and other pool improvements, an ADA lift, signage, and an upgrade for the filtration and pump system.
The city of Creedmoor in Travis County received a $150,000 small community grant for the development and renovation of City Park. Project elements include renovation of a ball field, playground surfacing, accessible routes, picnic area improvements, soccer field improvements, additions to existing hike and bike trails, expansion of the disc golf course, pickleball court striping and renovation of the existing volleyball court.
The city of Cuero in DeWitt County received a $249,066 non-urban outdoor grant for the Cuero Municipal Park project. The project includes an eight-foot-wide accessible route, parking, a skate park, native trees, lighting, site amenities and mobilization.
Falls County received a $147,975 received a small community grant for the Falls on the Brazos project. The project elements include a shaded playground, utilities for RV hook-ups, restroom renovation, site amenities and parking.
The city of Harker Heights in Bell County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Kern Park project. The project includes a community garden, practice fields, site amenities, a playground, a recirculating splash pad and trails.
The city of Marble Falls in Burnet County received a $726,207 non-urban outdoor grant for the Park View Park project. Project elements include prefabricated restroom, bird viewing structures, trails, native landscaping and trees, nature play elements, picnic facilities, site amenities, a playground and surfacing, shade and site work.
The city of San Antonio in Bexar County received a $1.5 million-dollar urban outdoor grant for the Cassiano Park Revitalization project. The project includes a recirculating splash pad, zero-entry pool renovation, utilities, native plants and irrigation.
The city of Schertz in Guadalupe County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Hilltop Park project. The funding will be used for land acquisition and renovations including accessible concrete trails, a hilltop overlook, interpretive and wayfinding signage, lighting and utilities, mountain biking trails and bike skills course, a nature-based playground, parking, picnic facilities, a restroom, site amenities, site work and native landscaping.
The city of Yoakum in Lavaca County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for City Park improvements. Project elements include a new trail, a basketball court renovation, picnic facilities, site amenities, a butterfly garden, a playground, a restroom, interpretive signage, a recirculating splash pad, and tennis and pickleball court renovations.
East Texas
The Mount Houston Road Municipal Utility District in Harris County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Westview Landing Pond Facilities and Cordoba Drive Pocket Park projects. Project elements include site amenities, fitness stations, native landscaping, irrigation, soccer fields, solar lighting, trails, a pond feature, shade, signage and a trailhead.
The North Houston District in Harris County received a $455,013 non-urban outdoor grant for the Wussow Park Renovation project. Project elements include trails, park signage, a shaded fitness area, lighting, native landscaping, trees and irrigation, a playground, site amenities, site work and a soccer field.
The city of Jacksonville in Cherokee County received a $150,000 small community grant for the development and renovation of Lincoln Park. Project elements include a seven-foot-wide concrete trail, a playground, site amenities and exercise equipment with shade.
The city of Missouri City in Fort Bend County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Sta-Mo Sports Park project. Project elements include sport courts and fields, multi-purpose trails, a pump track, native landscaping, tree plantings and irrigation, a playground, picnic facilities, interpretive and park signage, site work and demolition.
The city of Nederland in Jefferson County received a $150,000 small community grant for the improvement of Doornbos Park Pond project.
The city of Pasadena’s Parks and Recreation Department in Harris County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Preston Park project. Project elements include site work and demolition, a trail, a boardwalk, utilities, site amenities, native landscaping and irrigation.
