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As new neighborhoods, roads and commercial developments continue to reshape the landscape west of Houston, thousands of acres of the Katy Prairie remain protected from future development. Behind much of that preservation effort is Mary Anne Piacentini, whose nearly three decades of conservation leadership have helped safeguard some of Southeast Texas' most important natural landscapes.

Now, Piacentini, president and CEO of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medal, one of the nation's longstanding honors recognizing exceptional contributions to parks and conservation.

The recognition comes at an important time for residents of Katy, Cypress, Waller County and surrounding communities, where rapid population growth continues to increase the importance of protecting open spaces, wildlife habitats and natural areas that help manage stormwater and support the region's quality of life.

Under Piacentini's leadership, the Coastal Prairie Conservancy has grown from protecting approximately 1,300 acres in 1999 to permanently conserving 36,607 acres across Southeast Texas in 2026, with plans to protect even more.

From 1,300 Acres to More Than 36,000: A Conservation Legacy Across Southeast Texas

When Piacentini joined the organization in 1999, the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, formerly known as the Katy Prairie Conservancy, was focused primarily on protecting the remaining prairie lands west of Houston.

Over the years, its conservation work has expanded considerably.

Today, the nonprofit land trust works to permanently preserve coastal prairies, wetlands, farms and ranches across Southeast Texas, extending from the Katy Prairie in Harris and Waller counties to coastal counties along the Gulf, reaching Victoria and beyond.

Rather than preserving isolated pieces of land, the organization emphasizes protecting larger, connected landscapes. This approach helps maintain wildlife corridors, protect natural drainage systems and support working agricultural lands while preserving open spaces for future generations.

The Coastal Prairie Conservancy's nearly 20,000-acre Katy Prairie Preserve remains one of the organization's most significant accomplishments.

Located west of Houston, the preserve includes native grasslands, seasonal wetlands, working farms and ranches that provide habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Four individual preserves are open to the public, offering opportunities for birdwatching, wildlife observation, environmental education and experiencing the prairie landscape firsthand.

For families living in the rapidly developing communities of western Harris County and Waller County, these protected lands provide something increasingly difficult to find as the region expands: large stretches of open Texas prairie that will remain undeveloped.

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Why Preserving the Katy Prairie Matters as Houston and Waller County Grow

The significance of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy's work becomes clearer when considering how quickly the surrounding communities are changing.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data reported by The Texas Tribune, Waller County was the fastest-growing county in Texas and the second-fastest-growing county in the United States from 2024 to 2025.

Nearly half of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy's flagship Katy Prairie Preserve is located within Waller County, placing substantial protected acreage in one of the country's fastest-developing areas.

At the same time, access to parkland remains limited in portions of the Houston region.

According to the Trust for Public Land, parkland accounts for approximately 12% of Houston's land area and just 1% of Katy's, compared with a national median of 15% of city land devoted to parks and recreation.

With the Greater Houston region projected to reach 10 million residents by 2050, conservation organizations face increasing pressure to protect natural landscapes before they are permanently converted to other uses.

For residents, prairie preservation is about more than maintaining scenic views.

Native grasslands and wetlands help absorb and temporarily store rainfall, support natural drainage and provide habitat for wildlife. Preserving these landscapes can contribute to regional flood resilience, although the benefits depend on factors such as location, soil conditions and watershed characteristics.

Protected prairie lands also contribute to cleaner air and water, recreational opportunities and the preservation of the region's agricultural heritage.

As development continues along the Grand Parkway, Interstate 10 and other major corridors west of Houston, the long-term protection of these landscapes is becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation about responsible regional growth.

Mary Anne Piacentini Recognized With Prestigious Pugsley Medal

The Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medal has recognized influential leaders in parks and conservation for nearly a century.

Administered by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in partnership with the National Park Foundation, the award honors individuals whose work has made lasting contributions to the preservation and stewardship of public lands and natural resources.

Previous recipients include former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, Houston conservation advocate Terry Hershey and National Park Service founder Stephen Mather.

Piacentini joins that distinguished group following decades of work bringing together landowners, conservation organizations, government agencies and local communities.

In reflecting on the recognition, Piacentini emphasized that the organization's accomplishments have depended on the collective efforts of many people.

“This award may have my name on it, but it represents what an entire community has built together over decades,” Piacentini said. “Every acre we’ve conserved has depended on people choosing to work together. When you fly into Houston from the west and see the Katy Prairie Preserve as a sea of green surrounded by development, you are seeing what that collaboration has made possible. I am deeply honored by this recognition, and I hope it underscores what communities can accomplish when we share a commitment to protecting natural places that matter.”

Lewis Ledford, chair of the AAPRA Pugsley Committee and president and CEO emeritus of America's State Parks, praised Piacentini's ability to turn conservation goals into lasting accomplishments.

“Mary Anne Piacentini represents conservation leadership at its best. Mary Anne has turned conservation vision into lasting results on the landscape. Her career reminds us that conservation requires both ideas that inspire and leadership that gets things done — and that is precisely the legacy the Pugsley Medal celebrates,” Ledford said.

The award recognizes not only the amount of land protected during Piacentini's tenure but also the partnerships that have made those conservation efforts possible.

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A Career That Began With Houston City Planning and Hermann Park

Piacentini's commitment to protecting natural spaces developed through a career that began in city planning.

A native of Maine, she earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire and a master's degree in city planning from Harvard University's Graduate School of Design.

She began her professional work in Houston as a planner with the City of Houston's Mayor's Office of Community Development.

She later served as executive director of Friends of Hermann Park, where she helped lead a comprehensive master planning effort for the approximately 500-acre Houston landmark.

During her time with the organization, she also helped secure substantial public and private investment to support the park's long-term future.

That experience established a foundation for her later work with the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, where she shifted her focus from urban parks to protecting large natural landscapes across Southeast Texas.

The work requires navigating a particularly complex conservation environment.

Approximately 95% of land in Texas is privately owned, meaning large-scale preservation efforts frequently depend on voluntary agreements and partnerships with property owners.

Under Piacentini's leadership, the Coastal Prairie Conservancy has worked with farmers, ranchers, scientists, government agencies, businesses, philanthropic supporters and community members to find ways to conserve land while recognizing the interests of those who own and manage it.

These partnerships have helped the organization protect working agricultural properties alongside native prairie and wetlands.

What Is the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, and How Does It Protect Land?

The Coastal Prairie Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust dedicated to permanently protecting the coastal prairie ecosystem and associated natural and agricultural landscapes throughout Southeast Texas.

Originally established as the Katy Prairie Conservancy, the organization expanded its geographic focus and adopted the Coastal Prairie Conservancy name to reflect its broader conservation mission.

Its work includes acquiring land for permanent preservation, collaborating with private landowners on conservation agreements, restoring native habitats and providing educational and recreational opportunities.

One of its most important conservation tools is the conservation easement, a voluntary legal agreement that can permanently limit certain types of development while allowing land to remain privately owned.

These arrangements can help farmers and ranchers continue using their properties for agricultural purposes while protecting important natural features.

The organization also conducts habitat restoration, manages protected properties and works with partners to improve the ecological health of the coastal prairie.

For residents interested in visiting the Katy Prairie Preserve, the Coastal Prairie Conservancy maintains publicly accessible preserves where visitors can learn about native grasses, migratory birds, wetlands and the region's natural history.

Information about preserve locations, public access and educational opportunities is available at coastalprairieconservancy.org. 

What's Next? Coastal Prairie Conservancy Sets Goal of Protecting 50,000 Acres by 2035

Although the 2026 Pugsley Medal recognizes decades of conservation accomplishments, the Coastal Prairie Conservancy is looking ahead to its next major milestone.

The organization has established a goal of permanently conserving at least 50,000 acres by 2035, if not sooner.

With 36,607 acres already protected, reaching that goal would require conserving approximately 13,393 additional acres.

Achieving it will depend on continued cooperation among landowners, conservation partners, public agencies, donors and communities throughout Southeast Texas.

The challenge is particularly relevant in the Katy Prairie region, where development continues to transform former agricultural and undeveloped properties into residential neighborhoods, commercial centers and transportation infrastructure.

For longtime residents who remember when much of western Harris County consisted of open farmland and prairie, the changes have been substantial. For newer families, the protected landscapes offer an opportunity to discover a part of the region's natural history that predates the neighborhoods surrounding it.

Piacentini's national recognition brings attention to the people and partnerships working to ensure that some of those landscapes remain intact as the region grows.

And while the Coastal Prairie Conservancy's accomplishments are measured in acres, their significance extends to the communities that will live alongside those protected lands for generations.

Residents can learn more about the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, its protected properties, volunteer opportunities and conservation initiatives by visiting coastalprairieconservancy.org or following @coastalprairieconservancy on Facebook and Instagram.

Additional information about the Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medal and the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration is available at aapra.org.

Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for continued coverage of conservation efforts, land development, environmental initiatives and community growth throughout Katy, Cypress, Waller County and the Greater Houston area.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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