Houston’s urban parks and green spaces are bold, innovative, and deeply rooted in community engagement. Join us for our upcoming Park Study Tour, where you’ll have the chance to visit numerous parks that showcase how a strong network of partners are reimagining Houston’s parks and trails to create a more equitable, resilient, and vibrant urban park system.
Led by our hosts at the Houston Parks Board, one of the nation’s leading citywide park nonprofits, we’ll explore the amazing parks stewarded by our local park nonprofit co-hosts at the Hermann Park Conservancy, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Discovery Green Conservancy, Willow Waterhole Conservancy, and Memorial Park Conservancy. Along the way, we’ll learn about the Bayou Greenways Initiative: a groundbreaking transformation of Houston’s waterways into 150 miles of scenic trails and more than 3,000 acres of green space under a $220 million public-private partnership; and see innovative playgrounds, designed with partners and resilience in mind.
We’ll also tour Houston Parks & Recreation’s 65-acre MacGregor Park, which was recently awarded a $10 million grant from the National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program. The park will undergo a groundbreaking $54 million renovation starting in 2026 to reinforce its importance as a community hub. And we’ll visit Emancipation Park, the oldest public park in Texas, which was purchased by Black leaders in 1872 to celebrate Juneteenth and was the only park available to Black Houstonians during portions of the Jim Crow era.
Public/Private Partnerships
Strategies for executing projects in areas with challenged/limited public funding, through strong civic and philanthropic support and by layering public funding within complex governmental jurisdictions.
Inclusive Community Engagement
Working collaboratively with community groups and stakeholders to co-create designs, reduce barriers to participation, and build inclusive spaces.
Resilience in Design
Creating dual-purpose spaces for recreation and flood management to improve livability amid climate challenges. Houston has been on the forefront of this work that will be important to ever-more Americans as our climate continues to evolve to become warmer and wetter in many places.
Itinerary Details Coming Soon
Hotel Details Coming Soon
Listed prices do not include taxes and fees. Hotel block link information will be sent with your registration confirmation.
Registration covers all tour activities and group transportation, and includes dinner Wednesday; breakfast, lunch, and dinner Thursday; and breakfast and lunch Friday.
Flights and lodging are not included, but there is a designated hotel, offering a discounted group rate, where we will start and end our programming each day.
Registration
Registration is expected to open in May. To be the first to know when registration opens, complete this form.
City Parks Alliance members have the first opportunity to register. Sign up for a membership below.
Sponsorship Support Provided By:
Lead National Sponsor:
Host City Lead Sponsor:
