City Of Houston Parks & Recreation Department

The Houston Parks and Recreation Department was created by City Ordinance on March 15, 1916. The Department of Public Parks, as it was called at that time, began with two facilities - Sam Houston Park and Hermann Park. Taken together, they totaled about 465 acres of land. Today, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (H.P.A.R.D.) stewards and manages over 38,992 acres of parkland and greenspace for the City of Houston; develops and implements recreational programming for citizens of all abilities; maintains greenspace for the Houston Public Library and the Houston Health Department and manages all H.P.A.R.D. facilities. The Department?s 9 divisions work together to fulfill the Department?s Mission:

Mission: “To enhance the quality of urban life by providing safe, well-maintained parks and offering affordable programming for our community.”

Vision:
“The pursuit of a park system that is equitable and balanced and provides engaging recreation programming for people of all abilities ages, and socio-economic levels.”