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WHY FRIENDS OF CLEVELAND PARK?
IT'S OUR PARKS AND PATHS AND TRAILS THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE
Cleveland Park: Our Neighborhood’s Green Heart
It’s our parks, paths, and trails that bring people together and improve quality of life.
Houston has nearly 400 parks—187 in the “neighborhood” category. Cleveland Park is one of the largest in Super Neighborhood 22, yet it went overlooked for decades. Between 1997 and 2023, little changed here. No new investment. No improvements. Just a pristine ballfield kept locked away.
That changed when neighbors stepped up. What started with one person picking up trash grew into a volunteer team—and the park is now spotless. In 2025 we formed Friends of Cleveland Park, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring, protecting, and reimagining one of Houston’s most historic neighborhood parks
Why It Matters
• History worth saving: Cleveland Park once stretched all the way to Glenwood Cemetery, with fishing tournaments, swimming pools, and a sand beach. Today it’s just 9% of its original size.
• Urgent needs: We’ve lost more than 50 shade trees in recent years. Our top priority is planting 50 new native trees this year alone.
• Community first: Parks thrive when neighbors are involved. We’re pushing to become Houston’s next official “Friends of the Park” group and to relaunch the Magnolia Grove Civic Club so our community shows up and gets heard.
A Park Full of Stories
• Officer Timothy L. Hearn Memorial Ballfield: For nearly a century, Cleveland has been Houston’s favorite place to play. In 2025, Mayor John Whitmire joined us here to honor his friend and classmate Tim Hearn. A new, meaningful sign will soon tell Tim’s story for generations to come.
• Dog Crew: What began as an informal off-leash gathering grew into a community of 80+ neighbors, creating friendships, even weddings, and supporting one another in times of tragedy.
• Young Neighbors: Afghan resettlement families and local kids fill the playground and ballfields daily. Volunteers are stepping up to mentor, coach, and welcome them into the community.
• Tennis Tradition: Longtime locals still play daily, joined now by new neighbors after recent resurfacing. Laughter and camaraderie are always on the courts.
Cleveland 125: A Bold Vision
In 2032, Cleveland Park will celebrate its 125th anniversary—a quasquicentennial. We’re launching Cleveland 125, a seven-year campaign to transform this park from overlooked to unforgettable.
This isn’t just a city project. It’s not one neighbor’s project. It’s our project. Together, we can:
• Plant trees and restore shade
• Upgrade playgrounds and amenities
• Build a more inclusive, engaged neighborhood
• Leave a legacy for future Houstonians
How You Can Help
Join us—whether by volunteering, serving on a committee, becoming a member, sponsoring as a business, adopting a tree, or even donating simple supplies like trash bags. Every hand makes a difference.
Friends of Cleveland Park exists because this place matters. With your help, Cleveland Park will be a park visitors won’t forget—and neighbors can be proud of.
Knock One Out of the Park!
First Success Story. Tennis Court Resurfacing
In 2019, I did my first cleanup, and we had 36 people show up. Networking with HPARD, talking with neighbors, and doing some research, I realized the neighborhood category wasn't getting the goods. Cleveland was the perfect example - nothing between 1997 and 2023. The regulation ballfield was in pristine condition, but nothing else. I may have worn the city council out and fortunatlely, we've got Abbie Kamin. She came through in December 2023 by resurfacing those courts with her left over district fund. She chose Cleveland over a lot of projects, and I am grateful. One HPARD boss that was so helpful was Juvenal Robles. He's retired now after years of service to Houstonians and this Park.
New Sidewalk
I'm most proud of that new sidewalk from the bridge to the apartment border up Jackson Hill. That began after seeing two neighbors in wheelchairs wheeling into busy Jackson Hill at Rush hour to get to the bridge. The Bikeway would have helped, of course.
District C, Abbie, the Mayor, and Public Works listened and responded in record time. Doing research, i had noticed the Civic Club tried to make this happen 14 years ago and I am happy to have closed the deal. If you want to improve your neighborhood or park you have ti show up and get to know your elected leaders. I have my fingers crossed that some young new neighbors will help restart the civic club ASAP.
They started the sidewalk project about 9 days after the Mayor was in the Park, and I walked him there on purpose to point it out. So thank you Mayor Whitmire and everyone who made that happen -we appreciate you.
In July I was out walking Coco and saw one of the two young ladies in her chair using the sidewalk vs. the busy street. I coudn't catch up to her tointroduce myself, but this sidewalk is a big deal and I'm happy to have made it happen, #proud
Cleveland Park Cleanups I,II,III, IV Daily Trash Picker
My dad was the one who was crazy about litter. It all came from him. In addition, things need to look right. I remember when I first started focusing on the park, the portable toilet area was a disaster. I filled up bags and bags. My dad once said, "If you're out walking the dog, take a trash stick and help clean up your neighborhood' He gave me one as a Christmas gift once. Thanks, Dr. Mel. For all you haters out there, i'll share that one day I was out with Coco and a neighbor stopped his car, called me to the window, and handed me two $100 saying 'you re a hero for cleaning up this park every day" I've never seen the guy since, and used the money for pet waste bags. To the older man in the dark blue Cadillac - thanks.
The SIDS Memorial!
Placed in the park in 1980 it had been covered up over the years with brush and grass and sand. A neighbor showed me the location and we dug is out at a cleanup. State
Rep. Ann Johnson cleaned it up and we added white landscaping rocks and lights and fence area to protect it. The homeless crowd steals the lights every few months.It's time to clean up the monument again it has had a lot of wildflowers covering it up again.
We'll add a new fence and clean it up again this summer. If you'd like to help, please contact us.
We purchased 54 Cases Of Pet Waste Bags in 2024
To donate bags or a dispenser, check out our Public Amazon Wish List. Link Below.
If you're dumping household trash in Cleveland Park, expect a knock on your door from HPD and a big ticket. No more being nice. None of your neighbors are impressed. ###
On April 19, 2025, We Welcomed the Hearn Family and Mayor Whitmire. It was a great morning,
We are at 55 % of our Goal! Thanks
donate now. new sign campaign!
Rededicated by Mayor Whitmire – April 19, 2025. We added two words to the name: Officer & Memorial. Thanks for Joining Us to rededicate the ballfield and meet the lovely Hearn family on "Tim Hearn Day" in Houston.
$777 raised so far of $1500 needed. We have pledged to replace the aging 20-year-old ballfield sign with one that tells the the story of Tim's sacrifice. Donations are tax deductible. Please chip in today to help us with this important project. Our Mayor offered a touching tribute to his friend in April. The Hearn family & HPARD have helped design it -and the Hearns love it!