Precinct 3 Takes the Win for Outstanding Park Activities and Master Plan
Award season has arrived with Harris County Precinct 3 capturing Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) awards for the Parks and Trails Master Plan and an honorable mention nod to Park Programs.
Commissioner Tom S. Ramsey, P.E., and Precinct 3 engineering and parks team members recently attended an H-GAC ceremony to accept the awards. Each year, H-GAC seeks project submissions for the Planning Process/Policy Tools Award that shows expansion of parks and natural areas for improved quality of life, habitat, and water quality.
“A Parks and Trails Master Plan is essential to understanding the existing and future needs of a growing region, and for gathering community member input on what they would like to see happen across their parks and trails,” said Commissioner Ramsey. “Within two short years, our team developed this award-winning plan for Harris County’s largest park system, and that’s an incredible feat.”
From left to right: Tom Ramsey, Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner; Eric Happen, Senior Project Manager for Harris County Precinct 3; Mary Keilers and Katie Golzarri with Clark Condon; Justin Bower with H-GAC. (Source: HCP3)
Precinct 3’s Parks and Trails Master Plan was named winner in its category for outlining a 30-year plan for the precinct’s 555 square miles of parks and trails.
The precinct worked with Clark Condon to host six public engagement meetings to receive information from residents on use of their parks and trails. Many projects that stemmed from the plan’s recommendations are already underway, like the new Harris County Park connection to 100 Acre Wood Preserve, design of pickleball and basketball courts, playgrounds, study of Spring Creek Greenway connections, parking lot improvements, improving drainage at various parks, and constructing the Veterans Memorial that recently opened in Collins Park.
For the H-GAC Programming Award Honorable Mention, parks must show educational and hands-on programming opportunities for visitors and residents. Precinct 3 Park Programs connects people to nature by providing outdoor recreation and environmental educational opportunities across various parks and community centers within the precinct. Last year, 560 programs were offered to the public with 34,022 participants enjoying festivals, fishing, nature tours, archery and more.
"A large part of the services we offer as a precinct includes providing educational and recreational park programs,” said Commissioner Ramsey. “As the largest park system in Harris County, we simply couldn’t have accomplished this success without our outstanding and dedicated park employees.”
Source: HCP3
