Harris County, TX (December 3, 2023) — Commissioner Lesley Briones hosted a free family-friendly winter holiday festival and community workshop for the Bayland Park Master Plan in Sharpstown on Saturday, December 2. “The holidays are a time for us to come together as a community, and parks are perfect spaces for this. My team and I are committed to revitalizing Bayland by centering the needs of the people who live in this area and who have long awaited additional investment,” Commissioner Briones said. “We are determined to hear from all members of this diverse community, so we will continue to use a multilingual outreach approach.” 

Nearly 600 people gathered at the park to enjoy holiday music, crafts, a petting zoo, photos with Santa, and cuisine from local food truck vendors.   

During the event, Commissioner Briones led a workshop for Sharpstown residents to provide their input on the Bayland Park Master Plan. Community members shared their ideas to reimagine the park as a premiere destination in Southwest Houston.  

Children also helped shape the future of the park during the workshop with several engaging activities, including creating a collage of the park’s redesign.  

In July 2023, Harris County Commissioners unanimously approved a $464,753 contract for the master plan. The master plan will provide recommendations for creating an inclusive park with improved facilities, programming, and connectivity to better serve the community and the region. 

Precinct 4 will pursue public-private partnerships, grants, and philanthropic funding to maximize the impact of the County’s investment to renovate the 65-acre Bayland into a best-in-class park and community space.   

Today was the start of a series of community conversations on the Park’s future. Over the next several months, Precinct 4 will continue engaging with the community and compile feedback on their vision for both the park and surrounding area. Precinct 4’s community engagement will include at least three community workshops, two online surveys, up to six steering committee meetings, and several stakeholder meetings. 

“I am energized by all the support we’ve received from the community,” Commissioner Briones said. “Our priority is to honor the history of Bayland Park, including its legacy as a baseball destination and the home of one the city’s oldest soccer clubs. Bayland has provided enrichment for many young athletes who have gone on to professional careers. Through the revitalization of Bayland, we will enhance this prominent destination for sports leagues in Southwest Houston for more athletes to flourish and will create a best-in-class, inclusive, all-abilities park for all community members.”  

This is the latest in Commissioner Briones’ efforts to revitalize community park spaces throughout Precinct 4. In May, Harris County Precinct 4 launched the Burnett Bayland Master Plan for Gulfton.  

Bayland Park will be connected to Burnett Bayland Park through METRO’s Gulfton Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line. The Bayland master plan will feature designs for a premiere station, developed in collaboration with METRO for seamless access.   

Community members can provide input on the multilingualBayland Park Master Plan Community Survey until January 14, 2024. Sign-up for project updates or contribute ideas additional ideas on the project website. Anyone who may want to make a financial contribution to assist with the renovation through Precinct4Forward, a 501(c)(3) public charity who will be leading fundraising efforts, can at precinct4forward.org.