best of the best parks in houston. friends groups

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We encourage you to check out these amazing parks. They are examples of amazing neighborhoods that came out to improve their parks. These are the Best of the Best, Innovative, the parks getting the goods. Many have reached out to mentor us and help us move this forward. Thanks to all - you are appreciated. 

Check them out!  

Of all the member "Friends Group" of parks, this one is my favorite. It's a perfect example of what volunteers and engagaged people can create - and it's beautiful.  

Our vision is a  renovated Lawrence and Milroy Parks, outfitted with updated equipment for play and amenities that make the parks more accessible and convenient for all.  That once these parks are completed they attract visitors of all ages, become a focal point for the community, and are continuously maintained to provide a great experience for decades to come. Planning and Design of both parks ($600k raised)

This amazing park is supported by the Friends of Mandell Park who have done amazing work to help landscape and create community gardens that are amazing. They also do a great job raising money via Facebook Birthday Fundraisers.

Beautiful Park with a great pool and an AMAZING new kids playground.  Check it out. Involved Parents made this new playground happen.  

Mary Ann Francklow Park is a park located just off Briarforest and Beltway 8 nestled in a little residential nook that is easy to miss.  It is not hidden in a manner that you can’t find it – it is clearly marked and easy to find.  But, it is not the most obvious park and people may pass it over for larger ones in the area.  However, at its heart, there is a little hidden area.

The park is a small wooded lot with about a half mile loop.  You can easily take a leisurely stroll and lap the park in about ten minutes.  It is well loved by dog owners so if you want to see some puppies this is the place to go! (All the ones we saw were very responsibly carrying little bags too.)

There is a small parking lot. If for some reason it was crowded street parking is available, but many of Mary Ann Francklow Park’s frequent guests walk over from the nearby neighborhood or apartments.

Just off the parking lot is a water fountain but know there are no bathroom facilities or playgrounds.  

The Friends of Cherryhurst Park enhances, promotes, and advocates for this historic city park in the heart of Montrose to ensure it will be enjoyed by future generations.In reaction to a city budget crisis in 2010 that threatened to close Cherryhurst Park Community Center, Montrose neighbors joined forces as the Friends of Cherryhurst Park (FCP) to keep it open. Today this 501(c)(3) subsidizes bussing children to the park’s free after school programs, helps care for the 75-year-old oak trees, provides free ESL classes, and has new projects in the works (Living Green Wall and Art in the Park). As one young bus rider wrote, “Cherryhurst Rocks!”.

The Friends of Lee LeClear Tennis Center are working in conjunction with the Houston Parks Board on their fundraising campaign. Information on the campaign can be found on the Houston Parks Board website, www.houstonparksboard.org, under the Lee LeClear Tennis Center project tab.

The mission of The Friends of MacGregor Park is to preserve, protect, and enhance
MacGregor Park as a place of natural beauty and recreation for the community.
Statement of Purpose:

Preserve MacGregor Park as a place of natural beauty, culture, history, recreation
and education for the public
Advocate to ensure the interests of the park remain in the forefront of the public
through active campaigns to protect and promote this resource
Increase awareness of proposed enhancements to gain public and private
commitment, and promote the park’s contributions to the quality of urban life.

The goal of the Friends of MacGregor Park is to enhance MacGregor Park to assure a
safe and enjoyable environment for members of surrounding communities and the
citizens of Houston. Formed as a volunteer citizens group to work with the Houston
Park and Recreation Department, we will advise and advocate for needed improvements.
We will partner with community organizations to assure endorsement of a MacGregor
Park Master Plan.

Stude Park is a 45 Acre Park near us.  It has just been awarded a big dollar facelift from Tirz5. It does not have a Friends group or an active group dedicated just to it.  

What it does have 

A very Strong Active Civic Club 

Emancipation Park is the oldest park in the State of Texas. For way too many years it was never listed as a park by the city or the state. 

Cleveland was once labeled the largest of Houston's five parks back in about 1917 -which was not really true.  Emancipation was serving the community in 1872 -over 35 years before our park was even founded and even before the word  "Park:" was common.  Back then parks were called "breathing spaces"  Emancipation is a beautiful tribute to the men who donated it to the city and the birthplace of Juneteenth

Houston has four Conservancy Parks. These are the signature park destination type parks where big money was donated to create a standout park that is in many cases, nationally recognized. 

Levy Park is Amazing!