HOUSTON – Sandra Rodriguez has watched the Gulfton neighborhood evolve and remembers how the community struggled with gang violence.
“I grew up here. I lived here for almost 40 years,” she said. “When I was in school, we witnessed these drive-by shootings to and from school just walking.”
The Gulfton community now struggles with affordability. She hoped to stay in the neighborhood but the rising cost of housing put her dream of owning a home here out of reach. With rents increasing and incomes staying the same, Sandra explained that so many families are going through tough times right now.
" I’m seeing families where maybe there are ten people in the household in a two-bedroom apartment,” Rodriguez said.
The push to keep Gulfton affordable and add more quality housing is tied into a larger plan to transform Burnett Bayland Park, one of the few green spaces in the community.
“Gulfton is 17 degrees hotter than River Oaks,” said Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones. “This is a health issue, right? Our plan here is to double the footprint, to make double the acreage that is devoted to the green space.”
The master plan includes new lighting, cooling elements, and an amphitheater to celebrate Gulfton’s diverse culture. Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said it has to reflect what families here need and want. She’s been working closely with the community, ensuring residents have a voice in shaping the park’s future.
“In 7 seven languages, we had big events at the park,” Briones said. “We went out to places of worship, schools, and numerous organizations in the area to proactively get their ideas and feedback on how we could make this better.”
The first phase of the Burnett Bayland Park Park project is set to begin construction later this year and finish in 2026, with more phases to follow. But the investment that’s already underway is about more than just green space. Metro is also stepping in to address public transportation challenges, including street, sidewalk, and bus shelter upgrades along with how often service runs. “These are people that are transit dependent. It’s the people that need service the most. The impact it’s going to have to the people in this community is just going to be transformative. “We want to be able to elevate their voices so that the needs that they have for themselves and their families to thrive. To do better in life. I’m 100% invested in Gulfton. Gulfton is my home, regardless of whether I live here or not. Gulfton is my home. It made me the woman I am today,” Rodriguez said.
For a look at the Burnett Bayland Park master plan, click on the links below:
https://cp4.harriscountytx.gov/Connect/Newsroom/burnett-bayland-blog
