Precinct 1 launches park project

Standing next to a map of needed park improvements in Precinct 1, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis announces the ParkSmart Precinct One project Monday. Right, Inge Ford and William Taylor, Harris County director of development and infrastructure, look over the map. Park-Smart Precinct One is a joint effort with the Trust for Public Land and the Houston Parks Board, and it is funded, in part, with a $500,000 grant from the Houston Endowment. Over the next 18 months, the precinct will identify the spots where residents need better access to parks, trails and other green spaces. Town hall meetings and community workshops are scheduled to give residents a chance to learn about the project and speak out. “This project is going to yield many benefits for our residents, particularly our most vulnerable and underserved populations,” Ellis said.