Advancing Safe Access To Parks And Greenspaces In Harris County

Commissioner Rodney Ellis continues to invest in parks as essential public infrastructure—places where residents can walk, bike, gather, and stay healthy close to home. At Alexander Deussen Park on Lake Houston, Commissioner Ellis’s team recently advanced roadway and trail improvements that repaired aging asphalt and replaced more than 3,300 feet of walking trails, creating safer, more comfortable access throughout the park. These upgrades improve everyday usability for walkers, cyclists, families, and seniors—ensuring one of the county’s most scenic parks remains accessible to everyone. Here’s a look at our crews laying new asphalt, improving roads and trails so that everyone in Harris County can enjoy comfortable and hazard-free walking and bicycling:

Alexander Deussen Park is one of Harris County’s most beloved waterfront parks, spanning more than 300 acres along the south side of Lake Houston—it serves as a true community hub for residents of all ages. The park offers boat launches and a fishing pier, playgrounds, pavilions for family gatherings, and multiple trailheads for walking and jogging. 

What Commissioner Ellis Says: “Parks and greenspaces are essential to healthy, thriving communities. Unfortunately, not all neighborhoods and communities in Harris County have the same access to quality green spaces. That’s why we continue to invest in parks—everyone deserves access to healthy recreational opportunities and beautiful parks.”

Access to parks and greenspace isn’t just about recreation—it’s a proven public health investment. A recent Stanford University study found that greater park accessibility is strongly associated with higher daily physical activity, noting that “accessibility to parks was the factor that mattered most.” Researchers have also found that time spent in nature can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, improve sleep, strengthen immune function, and support cognitive performance.

This continues a longstanding effort from Commissioner Ellis to advance safe and equitable access to parks and greenspaces:

• Hill At Sims: At the Hill at Sims in Sunnyside, Commissioner Ellis is advancing a project that The Houston Chronicle’s Andrew Dansby reports is “creating splendor from the utilitarian” — transforming a former detention basin into “a lush green space with hiking and biking paths” and panoramic views of downtown, the Texas Medical Center, and beyond. Ellis has said the goal is connection, explaining that parks like this help people “connect more as human beings” and create spaces where Houstonians from different neighborhoods can come together. That vision is taking root literally: Trees For Houston recently donated 106 new trees to the project, valued at nearly $90,000, bringing the total to more than 500 trees planted and maintained at the site—part of the ongoing effort to build a scenic, accessible regional park for the community.

• SPARK Parks: Commissioner Ellis is expanding access to parks by investing in five new SPARK Parks across Precinct One—including campuses in Midtown, Sheldon, Summerwood, Alief, and Westbury—with the guiding idea that “your zip code shouldn’t determine your ability to find a great place to exercise, play, or enjoy the outdoors.” The projects add playgrounds, trails, trees, picnic areas, and green space at public schools, helping address a long-standing shortage of nearby parks in many neighborhoods.