Introduction
Parks are essential to enhancing our communities and keeping them strong and healthy. As communities grow and change, the role of parks and greenspaces has evolved into a more complex element of urban and rural landscapes. Whether providing a specific function or simply an aesthetic appeal for its residents, a successful park can positively influence quality of life, economic development, and public health while also providing environmental benefits. For example, parks can positively impact communities through increased tourism, increased retail potential, greater property values, and environmental conservation.
This primer provides information that can be used in the development and improvement of parks in the Houston-Galveston region. The information presented is a synthesis of best management practices employed in parks and greenspaces around the United States and can be viewed as a successful park’s toolkit, used to address park creation and improvement in the realm of planning, design, maintenance, and programming.