Parks and Natural Areas Awards

H-GAC established the Parks and Natural Areas 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 Over $500,000, Projects Under $500,000, Planning Process and Policy Tools, and Programming.

This program recognizes outstanding parks and natural areas around the region. No funding is associated with this award program.

2023 Awards Program

The 2023 awards program applications period is now closed. The 2023 Parks and Natural Areas Application Guide is available for reference.

2023 Honorees

The 2023 Parks and Natural Areas Winners were honored on Friday, February 9, 2024. The 2024 awards program applications will open in the Fall.

City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD)

City of Houston Nature Preserve Ordinance is a 2023 winner in the Planning and Policy category.

Harris County Precinct 3

Harris County Precinct 3 Parks and Trails Master Plan is a 2023 winner in the Planning and Policy category.

City of Angleton

Lakeside park is a 2023 winner in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.

City of Mont Belvieu

Hackberry Park Phase I is a 2023 winner in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.

New Hope Housing

Reed Park at the Urban Prairie is the 2023 winner in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.

Bayou Preservation Association

Clean Bayous Program: Pots for Plots Initiative is the 2023 winner in the Programming category.

City of League City

Clear Creek Master Plan received 2023 honorable mention recognition in the Planning and Policy category.

Alief ISD

Alief Jefferson Early Learning Center received 2023 honorable mention recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.

Howard Hughes

Chrysalis Lake received 2023 honorable mention recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.

Galveston Island

Beach Toy Borrow Boxes received 2023 honorable mention recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.

Harris County Precinct 3

Park Programs received 2023 honorable mention recognition in the Programming category.

City of Fulshear

Planning - Primrose Park received 2023 special recognition in the Planning and Policy category.

City of Kemah Economic Development

57-acre Nature Center received 2023 special recognition in the Planning and Policy category.

Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia

Harris County Precinct 2 Parks and Trails Plan received 2023 special recognition in the Planning and Policy category.

Missouri City Parks and Recreation

Missouri City Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Master Plan received 2023 special recognition in the Planning and Policy category.

North Houston District

North Houston District 2023 Parks Master Plan received 2023 special recognition in the Planning and Policy category.

Brazoria County Parks Department

San Luis Pass County Park Education Center & Multi-Use Renovation received 2023 special recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.

East Aldine Management District

East Aldine Town Center received 2023 special recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.

Bay City Parks and Recreation

Riverside Tree Give Away received 2023 special recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.

Chambers County

Restoration of Wetland and Native Grasses at Fort Anahuac Park received 2023 special recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.

Michael Lee

Texas AIDS Memorial Garden received 2023 special recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.

The Parish School

Oak Creek Exploration Zone at The Parish School received 2023 special recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.

City of Angleton Parks and Recreation

City of Angleton Parks and Recreation In-School Program received 2023 special recognition in the Programming category.