Rice University and the Houston Independent School District are joining forces to significantly enhance Sunrise Centers, which play a vital role in providing essential support such as food, school supplies, mental health care, and job training to students and families.

Keep Houston green and healthy! A look at the Galveston Bay Estuary Program and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department's efforts in revitalizing the natural habitat.

Memorial Park Conservancy, along with partners the City of Houston, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Kinder Foundation, and Uptown Houston, are celebrating the grand opening of Memorial Park’s transformational land bridge and prairie project.

The Memorial Park Land Bridge and Prairie project is a $200,000,000 infrastructure that will reunite the north and south sides of the park by creating a land bridge over Memorial Drive. It will create a place for Houstonians to explore and enjoy.

The Houston Parks and Recreation Department will unveil the newly renovated Zurrie Malone Park on Saturday.

As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Will Houston public pools be open this summer? Answer: At this time, it is uncertain whether the City of Houston public pools will be open this summer. On March 8, Houston Parks and Recreation Department moved forward with the reopening of many of its facilities; however, its swimming pools are among few of its amenities that are currently unavailable. A notice on the department’s website states that “due to the COVID-19 pandemic operations of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department pools and water spraygrounds are closed until further notice.”Do you have a burning H-Town-related question?

HOUSTON – The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) announced Monday the scheduled reopening of certain facilities, fields, and leagues over the next few weeks. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and National Recreation and Park Association guidelines will be observed at all Parks Department facilities, which includes wearing masks at some league gatherings and other social-distancing and hygienic precautions. “We are extremely happy to reopen some of our parks facilities and amenities following the long shutdown related to COVID-19,” said HPARD interim director, Kenneth Allen. “We urge everyone to observe CDC safety guidelines when visiting these amenities. “This pandemic has disrupted almost every segment of our society these past several months, including the Parks Department,” said Allen.

HOUSTON Memorial Park Conservancy and project partners at Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the Kinder Foundation and the Uptown Development Authority are unveiling the new Clay Family Eastern Glades at Memorial Park, and there are 100 acres of open space for relaxation, reflection, and rejuvenation. We got a special tour, and its gorgeous! Located just north of memorial drive, between Memorial Park Golf Course and Crestwood drive, the Eastern Glades offer more trails and boardwalks to enjoy, more restrooms, more parking, and honors the parks military history. Shellye Arnold, President and CEO of Memorial Park Conservancy joined Lauren Kelly to chat about the projects key features and amenities, and heres what visitors can expect:-100 acres of open space for relaxation, reflection, and rejuvenation-5 -acre Hines Lake and wetlands with beautiful sunset views-3 pavilions and 4 picnic areas-2 miles of new trails explore, including boardwalks along the lake and wetlands-5 -acre central lawn for passive recreation such as strolling, picnicking, and relaxing-Live oak court for concessions and events-Over 50 unique quotes from Houstonians about how memorial park inspires them, selected by Madison Petaway, the 2020 Houston Youth Poet Laureate-Additional parking, dark sky lighting, water fountains for people and pups, benches, and bike racks-Over 150 native species add biodiversity and wildlife habitat to the park-Nearly 40 acres of restored habitat-An additional 550 new native trees-Rain gardens and bioswales receive runoff from roofs and parking lots, slowing and purifying stormwater-The edge of Hines Lake supports 1 acres of emergent wetlands-The wetlands plants provide healthy habitat and also clean the stormwater that flows through Hines Lake on its way to Memorial Parks largest tributary leading into Buffalo BayouFor more information in the new Clay Family Eastern Glades at Memorial Park, check out their website.

As part of our new Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. The question: When will my kids be able to visit and play in playgrounds? The answer: Although parks are open for recreational activities, city-owned playgrounds remain closed for the time being due to COVID-19 concerns. This also includes swimming pools and splash pads, according to Houston Parks and Recreation Department. Later he asked Parks and Recreation Department to keep swimming pools and splash pads closed for the entire summer.