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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 Planning and Policy Tools; On-the-Ground Small, Up to $250,000; On-the-Ground Medium, $250,000 to $1M; On-the-Ground Large, Over $1M; and Programming.
This program recognizes outstanding parks and natural areas around the region. No funding is associated with this award program.
The application portal will open in September 2026. Review an application guide to prepare your application. Only applications submitted through the application portal will be considered.
2025 Honorees
The 2025 Parks and Natural Areas Winners and other honorees were recognized in a ceremony on February 6, at H-GAC.
Harris County Precinct 3 - Commissioner Tom S. Ramsey, P.E.
Beyond Bees at Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens is a 2025 winner in the Programming category.
Harris County Precinct 4 - Commissioner Lesley Briones
Burnett Bayland and Bayland Park Master Plans: Anchoring Revitalization in Gulfton and Sharpstown is a 2025 winner in the Planning and Policy category.
TIRZ 20
Club Creek Park & Houston Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a 2025 winner in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
Colleen Gilbert
Green Up Greens Bayou is a 2025 winner in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.
City of Baytown Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department
Baytown and GCCISD Nature Education Programs received 2025 honorable mention recognition in the Programming category.
City of Deer Park
Deer Park Comprehensive Master Plan for Park, Recreation, and Open Space: 2024-2034 received 2025 honorable mention recognition in the Planning and Policy category.
Westchase District
Camden Park received 2025 honorable mention recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
Harris County Precinct 3 - Commissioner Tom S. Ramsey, P.E.
Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center- Fuel Reduction and Mulching Project: Phase II received 2025 honorable mention recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.
City of Kemah
57 Acre Nature Facility received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
AliefVotes
Alief Pocket Prairie received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.
City of La Marque
Arts in the Parks: Sensory Sidewalk Project received a certificate of recognition in the Planning and Policy category.
Harris County Precinct 4 - Commissioner Lesley Briones
Bayland Health and Wellness Hub Initiative: Transforming Community Wellness Through Integrated Park Programming received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
City of Seabrook
Bayside Park received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
Galveston Bay Area Chapter - TX Master Naturalist
Beach Heroes of Galveston County received a certificate of recognition in the Programming category.
Harris County Precinct 2 - Commissioner Adrian Garcia
Challenger 7 Memorial Park received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
City of Mont Belvieu
Cherry Point Park received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.
City of Morgan's Point
Colonel James Morgan New Washington Prairie received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
Friends of Columbia Tap
Columbia Tap Trail: Action Plan received a certificate of recognition in the Planning and Policy category.
City of Sugar Land
Cullinan Park Phase II received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
Friends of Columbia Tap
Dakota's Peace Grove received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.
Harris County Precinct 2 - Commissioner Adrian Garcia
Deputy Tommy Berry Pocket Park Renovation received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.
Harris County Precinct 2 - Commissioner Adrian Garcia
Harris County Precinct 2 and Texas 4-H Programming received a certificate of recognition in the Programming category.
City of La Marque
Highland Bayou Park All-Inclusive Playground received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.
Friends of Columbia Tap
Housing and Opportunity Toolkit received a certificate of recognition in the Planning and Policy category.
City of Kemah
James Foster Park Renovation received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.
Baytown Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department
Jenkins / Holloway Perfect Trail Improvements Project received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
Harris County Precinct 3 - Commissioner Tom S. Ramsey, P.E.
Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center - Events, Education, and Engagement in Our Communities. received a certificate of recognition in the Programming category.
City of Mont Belvieu
Joe Matthews Park received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
City of Kemah
Kemah Beacon at Betty Joann Blackledge Park received a certificate of recognition in the Planning and Policy category.
Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Lockwood Park with Buffalo Bayou Partnership: Guiding Ecological Renewal received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
City of Tomball
Louie's Together Playground received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
City of La Marque
Mahan Park Boat Ramp Expansion received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
Harris County Precinct 4 - Commissioner Lesley Briones
Pitner Pocket Park Community Mural received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.
Terry Leavitt-Chavez
Programming for Park Visitors at Evelyn’s Park received a certificate of recognition in the Programming category.
Bay City Parks and Recreation
Rally on the River received a certificate of recognition in the Programming category.
Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 71
Stephen Woodring Park received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
City of Sugar Land
Sugar Land Memorial Park Butterfly Garden Pavilion received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.
City of West University Place
Sustainability Initiative Program received a certificate of recognition in the Programming category.
City of Pearland
Texas Horned Lizard Conservation Program received a certificate of recognition in the Programming category.
City of Jersey Village
The Kraken at Carol Fox Park received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
The Woodlands Township
The Lookout a.k.a. The Bird Blind received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Under $500K category.
North Houston District
Wussow Park Renovation received a certificate of recognition in the On-the-Ground Project Over $500K category.
Parks and Natural Areas Awards Winners
Since its inception, H-GAC's Parks and Natural Areas Awards have recognized outstanding practices across the Houston-Galveston region. With more than 200 entries since 2006, the projects serve as models for the rest of the region to consider.
Download Parks and Natural Areas Award Winners List
View Interactive StoryMap of Parks and Natural Areas Award Recipients
