Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Awards $20.6 Million in Local Park Grants
Jan. 25, 2024
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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.
North Texas
The city of Alvarado in Johnson County received a $150,000 small community grant for the development and renovation of Alvarado’s new all-abilities splash pad and a prefabricated restroom.
The city of Brownwood in Brown County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Riverside Park project. The project includes native landscaping, site amenities, a playground with inclusive elements, paved trails, picnic facilities, interpretive signage, a rain collection system for the pavilion, restroom improvements, sand volleyball court improvements and LED lighting.
The city of Caddo Mills in Hunt County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Hooten Park project. The project includes signage, erosion control, tree protection, accessible routes, a baseball field, LED lighting and the relocation of overhead lines.
The city of Cumby in Hopkins County received a $50,090 small community grant for the Blackjack Grove Park project. Project elements include sidewalks, a concrete trail, playground surfacing, a playground and restroom renovations.
The city of Dallas in Dallas County received a $1,299,410 urban outdoor grant for the Community Park at Fair Park Fitness Loop project. The project includes fitness equipment, lighting and site amenities.
The city of Denton in Denton County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Briercliff Park project. Project elements include concrete trail and parking improvements, a playground, surfacing, shade, a prefabricated restroom, a recirculating splash pad with shade and utilities.
The city of Farmersville in Collin County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for land acquisition for the Farmersville Prairie project.
The city of Fort Worth’s Parks and Recreation Department in Tarrant County received a $1.5 million-dollar urban outdoor grant for the Sycamore Park Improvements project. The project includes a pond, trails, native landscaping, a pavilion, interactive learning areas and site amenities.
The city of Gunter in Grayson County received a $75,000 small community grant for the development and renovation of a new park pavilion.
The city of Highland Village in Denton County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for phase one the Pilot Knoll Park Redevelopment project. Project elements include a cabin structure, LED lighting and electrical upgrades, low water crossings, park signage, pavilion upgrades, rehabilitation of the sand volleyball court and horseshoe pit, trails, site amenities and camping improvements.
The city of Lucas in Collin County received a $118,163 small community grant for the Forest Creek Park project. Project elements include a playground, shade and site amenities.
The city of Sulphur Springs in Hopkins County received a $535,500 non-urban outdoor grant for the Buford Park project. Project elements include an inclusive sports field with lighting, multi-purpose trails, native landscaping and tree plantings, restrooms and concession facilities, shade, interpretive and park signage, site amenities and site work.
The city of Terrell in Kaufman County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the King’s Creek Park project. Project elements include a solar lighted concrete trail, lighted sports courts, native landscaping, trees, irrigation, site amenities and a restroom facility.
Panhandle
The city of Amherst in Lamb County received a $41,059 small community grant for the Amherst City Park project. Project elements include a playground, surfacing, a sidewalk and site amenities.
The city of Brownfield in Terry County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Gillham-Howell Park Renovation project. The project includes a concrete trail, interpretive signage, a fishing pier, site work, utilities, native landscaping, a pavilion, a playground, pond aeration and site amenities.
The city of Dimmitt in Castro County received a $317,500 non-urban outdoor grant for the Dimmitt Splash Park project. The project includes an accessible route and a recirculating splash pad.
The city of Floydada in Floyd County received a $150,000 small community grant for development and renovation of the Floydada Skatepark.
The city of Friona in Parmer County received a $150,000 small community grant for the development of a splashpad, shade and site amenities.
The city of Fritch in Hutchinson County received a $40,000 small community grant for the development of a playground at Fritch Community Park.
The town of Ransom Canyon in Lubbock County received a $150,000 small community grant for the development and renovation of Warner-Jones Park. Project elements include tennis and pickleball court striping, a basketball court, parking, lighting, a sidewalk and site amenities.
South Texas
The city of Harlingen in Cameron County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Victor Park project. The project includes accessible routes, a basketball court with lighting, a butterfly garden, a concession stand, utilities, native landscaping, a parking lot, recirculating splash pad, sports lighting, swimming pool renovation and picnic facilities.
The town of Laguna Vista in Cameron County received a $150,000 small community grant for the Roloff Park project. Project elements include a music playground, native coastal vegetation, universal design fitness equipment, trail connections, soccer turf, signage and site amenities.
Cameron County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Santa Maria Community Park project. The grant will fund land acquisition and renovations including picnic facilities, sports fields, site amenities, a covered basketball court, native landscaping, a playground, signage, solar lighting, a recirculating splash pad and a trail.
West Texas
The city of Del Rio in Val Verde County received a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the all-inclusive park project. Project elements include an inclusive playground and surfacing, shade and accessible routes.
The town of Fort Davis in Jeff Davis County received a $150,000 small community grant for the development and renovation of Jeff Davis County Park. Project elements include a trail, a dog park, field renovations and native landscaping.