2009 Award Honorees Announced!
Honorees have been announced for the 2009 Parks and Natural Areas Awards! The H-GAC Board of Directors recognized these outstanding parks and natural areas projects at its board meeting on January 19, 2010. The awards were presented at a reception immediately following the board meeting.
More detailed information about the honorees can be found here:
Award Winners - Summary (PDF) 1.5M
| Planning Category |
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• | Creating Connections – The Sugar Land Hike and Bike Trail Master Plan (Winner)
HPARD Linear Forest (Honorable Mention) |
| Policy Tools |
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• | HPARD Urban Gardening Program – Growing Green in Our City (Winner)
Resolution Requiring All Facilities Meet Minimum LEED Requirements (Honorable Mention)
Hunter’s Glen Sprayground (Honorable Mention) |
| On-The-Ground Projects Under $0.5M |
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• | Friends Park (Winner)
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Tribute Planting (Honorable Mention) |
| On-The-Ground Projects Over $0.5M |
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• | The Mary Gibbs and Jesse H. Jones Greenway (Winner)
Buffalo Run Park (Honorable Mention |
About the Awards
H-GAC’s Natural Resources Advisory Committee has a Parks and Natural Areas (PNA) subcommittee whose mission is to promote the expansion and enhancement of the region’s parks and natural areas. The subcommittee includes representatives of local governments, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector. The subcommittee established the Awards Program in 2006 to highlight best practices and innovative approaches to parks planning and implementation.
H-GAC honors projects in the categories of Projects $500,000 or more; Projects under $500,000; Planning Process; and Policy Tools. Winning entries demonstrate best practices and collaboration between developers, local governments, engineering and planning agencies, businesses, resources, environmental groups, and citizens. Entries are evaluated on innovation, merit, and regional impact. These projects serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region.
Past Parks and Natural Areas Award Winners
| | 2008 Awards ProgramOn Tuesday, March 17, 2009, the H-GAC Board of Directors honored these outstanding parks and natural areas projects at a reception following the Board Meeting: •
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• | | Treatment Wetland at Mason Park, Brays Bayou Wetland Partnership
Cypress Creek Hike and Bike Trail, Timber Lane Utility District
Keith-Wiess Park, City of Houston/Harris County Flood Control District
Park Set-Aside Ordinance and Agency Accreditation, City of Houston
Lake Houston Wilderness Park Master Plan, City of Houston |
The projects include initiatives to restore coastal wetlands to mitigate flooding, integrate natural areas in an urban setting, and develop community urban green space. Combined, these projects will add or enhance almost 600 acres of parks and natural areas, and include master plans for almost 5,000 acres. Each of these projects also provides benefits beyond recreation such as restoring coastal wetlands, reducing flooding, and preserving natural areas. |
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| | | Award Winning Projects - Summary (PDF) 266K
Award Winning Projects - Presentation (PDF) 2.9M
Map of the Award Winning Projects (PDF) 3.3M
Media Alert (PDF) 22K | Media Release (PDF) 37K
Awards Report (PDF) 49K | |
Contact
For information about Parks and Natural Areas, please contact: Rachel Powers
Senior Environmental Planner
Community & Environmental Planning Department
(713) 993-4559
rachel.powers@h-gac.com | |