The Houston Parks and Recreation Department stewards and manages over 37,832 acres of parkland and greenspace for the City of Houston.
The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (H.P.A.R.D.) was created by City Ordinance on March 15, 1916. The Department of Public Parks, as it was called at that time, consisted of two parks - Sam Houston Park and Hermann Park. Taken together, they totaled about 465 acres of land.
Today, the H.P.A.R.D. stewards and manages over 37,832 acres of parkland and greenspace for the City of Houston; develops and implements recreational programming for citizens of all abilities; maintains greenspace for the Houston Public Library and the Houston Health Department; and manages all H.P.A.R.D. facilities.
The Department's mission is:"To enhance the quality of urban life by providing safe
well-maintained parks and offering affordable programming for our community.”
To enhance the quality of urban life by providing safe well-maintained parks & offering affordable programming for our community.
