Mayor Whitmire Breaks Ground on Lawrence Park Through Let’s Play Houston Initiative

Mayor John Whitmire and Houston Parks Board broke ground Thursday on major improvements at Lawrence Park in the Heights. The project is among the first to begin construction through the Let’s Play Houston initiative.

The citywide program will direct approximately $60 million in public and private funding toward 25 neighborhood parks. City leaders describe it as the largest investment in neighborhood parks in Houston’s history.

Lawrence Park Upgrades Begin

Lawrence Park is located at 725 Lawrence St. in Houston City Council District C. Approximately $2 million will support the park’s renovation.

Plans include new playground equipment with shade canopies and about 4,800 square feet of playground surfacing. The project will also add fitness equipment, pedestrian paths, plazas and new site furnishings.

Landscaping work calls for new sod, irrigation and nearly 30 trees. Hundreds of shrubs will also be planted across the property.

A state project filing lists an estimated construction cost of about $1.5 million. The filing identifies January 2027 as the anticipated completion period, although construction schedules may change.

The groundbreaking ceremony included Whitmire, District C Council Member Joe Panzarella and Houston Parks and Recreation Director Kenneth Allen. Houston Parks Board President and CEO Justin Schultz also participated alongside community representatives.

Let’s Play Houston Initiative Reaches Across the City

The Let’s Play Houston initiative is a partnership between the mayor’s office, Houston Parks Board and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. Companies, foundations and private donors are helping finance the program.

Officials selected the 25 parks after studying more than 180 neighborhood parks. The review considered physical conditions, community needs and social vulnerability. Projects are located across all 11 Houston City Council districts.

Greenwood, Andover, Haviland and Montie Beach parks are also among the first locations entering construction. Eleven parks make up the initiative’s first phase, while 14 additional sites will follow.

Current plans call for the first 11 park projects to be completed by the end of 2027. The remaining 14 are expected to be finished by the end of 2028.

Public and Private Funding Supports Improvements

Initial financing includes $11 million in City of Houston funding. The State of Texas is contributing $8 million through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for selected parks.

Nearly $18 million has also come from foundations, companies and other private contributors. Supporters include Houston Endowment, ExxonMobil, The Brown Foundation, the Hildebrand Foundation, The Elkins Foundation and The Cullen Foundation.

Fundraising will continue as the city and Houston Parks Board work toward the program’s approximately $60 million goal.

Community Feedback Shapes Park Designs

Houston Parks Board is overseeing community engagement, design and construction. Its outreach includes meetings, surveys and neighborhood events offered in English and Spanish.

During the first phase, the organization received nearly 1,000 survey responses. It also engaged more than 950 residents and community stakeholders, according to the Houston Parks Board annual report.

That feedback helps determine which amenities each park receives. The approach allows projects to reflect neighborhood priorities instead of applying one standard design across every location.

Lawrence Park’s groundbreaking marks a visible start for the broader program. As construction expands, families across Houston are expected to gain safer and more welcoming places for recreation, exercise and community gatherings.