HOUSTON – Parents and coaches with the Southeast Raiders say Law Park 2 in South Park has fallen into disrepair — broken bleachers, an uneven playing surface, and field lights that don’t work — forcing children ages 4–12 to practice in fading daylight and keep games off their home turf.
Coach Lano Hampton, who played for the Raiders on the same field years ago and now leads the program, says the team has asked the city to repair the lights without success.
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“We’re out here with 100 plus kids and it’s a safety issue,” Hampton said. “Do better. We got kids here. The kids are our future. They’re out here doing something positive, so let’s focus on important stuff.”
Coach Keith Paley says conditions have deteriorated over several years.
“We used to have tournaments here. Can’t even have tournaments anymore because of the grass… so high all the time and goalposts falling down,” Paley said. “City’s priorities? Most definitely. We feel like the stepchildren… other fields stay cut. They stay lit up.”
After 2 Helps You took the concerns to District D Councilwoman Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, she said she had not previously been aware of the complaints but committed to push for action.
“I am asking… for some accountability from the parks department,” Evans-Shabazz said. “These spaces are meant for people to actively engage. The safety of everyone, particularly our children, is very important.”
When asked whether the issues will be reviewed, she said: “Certainly will be.” She added: “but we do ask people to call 311 and then once you call 3-1-1, call the office and give us the service request number. Then we are accountable.”
Hours after those conversations at City Hall, parents say mowers arrived at Law Park 2 for the first time in months. The grass was cut, but coaches say the core problems remain: no working lights, damaged bleachers, and an unsafe, uneven field that prevents home games.
“This is our park,” Hampton said. “We practice here because we don’t have many other options. The kids deserve the same as everybody else.”
KPRC 2’s 2 Helps You has asked the city for a timeline on repairs to lighting, bleachers, and field grading at Law Park 2. We’ll update this story with any response.