Precinct 2 celebrates opening of Gene Green Park

Situated on a 240-acre tract of land off Beltway 8 just south of Highway 90, the new Gene Green Park is being lauded by community residents and public officials alike for staying true to its name.

The park was formally dedicated to the democratic representative of Texas’ 29^th Congressional district at its August 8 grand opening.

A joint project between Harris County Flood Control and Precinct 2, Gene Green Park is a part of a greater plan to introduce what Commissioner Sylvia Garcia called more, “green space” to eastern Harris County.

“We are taking our vision to the next level with more green areas and promoting green building in our precinct,” Garcia said.

The park features 173 acres of storm water retention and 67 acres of trees and grasslands. Amenities include a 2-mile hiking trail, two playgrounds, skate part and various ball courts.

Gene Green Park also boasts the county’s very first American Bicycle Association-sanctioned BMX track, a spray park and even an amphitheatre , rounding out what Garcia said would soon become a regional destination for park enthusiasts everywhere.

It was only fitting, Garcia said, that the park be named after someone who has worked hard to improve the lives of so many of her constituents.

She cited Green’s championing of such issues as education, health and labor – first as a state senator and then as a Congressman – as well as his work with such personal community projects as Immunization and Citizenship day as testament to his success as a public servant.

“We want to tell Gene Green thank you. Thank you for being part of our community and thank you for all of your hard work,” Garcia said. “From now on, Congressman Green and the park named after him will not only be a source of pride for East Harris County but in fact the entire Houston region.”

Green was presented with a key to the park in honor of his work. Growing up in Houston’s north side, he talked of how he had watched the city’s parks become eclipsed by a booming urban economy.

Today parks have become a vital boon to local communities; one that Green said he hopes will grow in the coming years.

“We’re an industrial area and we all work here, but we also live here and we should be able to enjoy some of these amenities. Parks are a tremendous asset and I can’t thank the Commissioner enough for doing this,” he said.

 The Congressman and Commissioner pointed out that the park is more than just a nature preserve, however but a testament to conservation.

From the lighting to the water flowing through the spray park to even the building materials that adorn the facility, nearly every part of Gene Green Park was constructed from recycled materials and designed to conserve resources.

The park has also been registered with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for consideration as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified development.

According to the USGBC, the LEED rating system is a third-party certification program that acts as a national benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

If approved, Gene Green Park will be Harris County’s first to receive such recognition.

“It’s a wonderful way to teach kids about recycling because it’s all being done here, from the waterless bathrooms to the energy-efficient lights,” Garcia said.

The grand opening concluded with a display by Top Dog Fireworks.

For nearby resident Kim Marak, the idea of energy efficiency just makes what she considers an already-amazing park all the more so. Marak, who lives in the nearby Woodforest Estates, brought her grandchildren to the park’s opening festivities.

“It’s wonderful. This is the closest park for us and there isn’t another like it in the community,” she said.