PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY
The Old Spanish Trail (OST)/South Union Parks project focuses on the potential of parks within the OST/South Union Communities to provide enhanced environmental, safety, educational, entertainment, health, and wellness opportunities. The project, which was initiated by the OST/South Union GO Arts Team, aims to enhance parks both individually and collectively as a neighborhood park network.
Houston Parks Board’s Beyond the Bayous planning framework also proposes the creation of a Neighborhood Park system for this area, which would connect parks to homes, jobs, schools, enhancing neighborhood cohesiveness.
With appropriate planning and funding, each park can address and serve its surrounding neighborhood through creating unique landscape designs, providing customized public programs and art, and planning sustainable maintenance programs.
This Houston Parks and Recreation Department partnership project is a collaboration between Houston Parks Board, OST/South Union GO Arts Team, and the Urban Planning and Environmental Policy Department at Texas Southern University (TSU).
A Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Grant generously funded this collaborative effort. The grant covers the first phase of an “Integrated Program and Planning Analysis” process. This phase involves existing conditions information gathering and assessment which is being undertaken by TSU Urban Planning and Environmental Policy students led by Professor Sheri Smith. It also involves community outreach to develop community parks advocates through the OST/South Union GO Arts Team. Houston Parks Board is managing the process and the team is closely coordinating with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department.
Read the final OST/South Union Parks Project Integrated Planning and Programming Study Report – Phase 1.
PREVIOUS STAKEHOLDER AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS
OST/South Union Parks Project Community Celebration
On Tuesday, February 23, 2021, the project’s partners hosted a virtual community celebration to unveil the final report concluding the first phase of outreach work. Dinners were delivered to residents of the 77021 zip code by MixIt Cakes.
To see a recording of the presentation, click here.
To see a pdf of the presentation, click here.
OST/South Union Six Parks Project Community Meeting #2
On Wednesday, November 18, 2020, the project’s partners invited OST/South Union residents to a second virtual community meeting to learn about progress made on the project and new opportunities to participate in the project’s activities, including focus groups and the virtual Agents of Discovery mission at George T. Nelson Park.
To see a recording of the presentation, click here.
To see a pdf of the presentation, click here.
To read the Zoom chat log, click here.
To review the virtual community meeting summary, click here.
OST/South Union Six Parks Project Stakeholder Meeting
On Thursday, September 30, 2020, the partners of this project held their second virtual stakeholder meeting to provide updates on the project progress, including TSU’s research of the parks within OST/South Union, an overview of outreach conducted thus far, and discuss upcoming and proposed activities to support the project’s goals.
To see a recording of the presentation, click here.
To see a pdf of the presentation, click here.
OST/South Union Six Parks Project Community Meeting #1
On Thursday, July 9, 2020 the partners of the project invited all residents of OST/South Union to participate in a virtual meeting during which community members provided their input on how they currently use their parks and what they would like to see.
To see a link of the presentation, click here.
To see the interactive questions and answers presented, click here.
To read the Zoom chat log, click here.
OST/South Union Six Parks Project Stakeholder Meeting
On Thursday, May 14, 2020 the partners of the project held a virtual stakeholder meeting with elected officials, community leaders, local nonprofits and city departments to give an overview of the first phase and gain input.
To see a link of the presentation, click here.
The OST/South Union area is located south of Brays Bayou between Old Spanish Trail to the north, I-610 to the south, State Highway 288 to the west, and Mykawa Road to the east.