Houston breaks ground on $4 million Denver Harbor Park upgrades

Houston and Harris County officials joined state and federal representatives on July 8 to break ground on a multi-phase renovation of Denver Harbor Park (now also called Selena Quintias Perez Park), announcing roughly $4 million in funding for upgrades aimed at improving recreation and safety in the neighborhood.

Kenneth Allen, director of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, said the city acquired the site in 1945 and that the park covers about 17 acres. “Today marks a very important milestone as we break ground on transformative park upgrades that this community has long deserved,” Allen said.

State Representative Anna Hernandez, who helped secure state funding, said the park is “central to this community” and described months of local planning and community meetings that shaped the project. Hernandez and others said the funding package includes $2,000,000 from the state and just over $2,000,000 from Harris County, together described by officials as an approximately $4,000,000 package.

Mayor John Whitmire framed the event as a collaborative win. “We need a day like today. We need a win. We need a victory like today,” he said, asking officials and residents to keep working across agencies to address longer-term challenges in neighborhoods such as Denver Harbor.

Project details offered at the ceremony describe a two-phase plan. Phase 1 will include the new trail visible at the site and improvements to the west parking lot; phase 2 will include upgrades to the concession stand and restrooms and the addition of pedestrian lighting. City staff and county engineers will administer the work; officials specifically thanked the Houston Parks Department, Harris County engineering and Precinct 2’s engineering team for implementation and coordination.

Several elected officials and community leaders attended and spoke in support, including Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, State Senator Carol Alvarado, State Representative Armando Walle, Council Member Mario Castillo, Justice of the Peace Victor Trevino III and leaders from the Denver Harbor Civic Club. Juan Hernandez and Ana Gonzalez of the Denver Harbor Civic Club were recognized for organizing community advocacy that officials said helped move the project forward.

Officials credited a mix of local, county and state coordination—and named Texas Parks and Wildlife as the state agency that administers the state dollars. Armando Walle noted that keeping the state allocation in the local budget required negotiations at the legislative level and thanked colleagues who supported the appropriation.

Local volunteers and parks staff were also recognized. City officials said the Parks Department will administer the dollars and run the pool and programs at the site; the department’s staff were asked to raise hands at the ceremony and were publicly thanked.

Officials stressed that the work does not end with the ceremony. Council Member Mario Castillo and other speakers urged continued coordination to move the project from phase 1 into phase 2 without delays, and community leaders asked residents to remain engaged as construction proceeds. The plaque presented at the event records the date 07/08/2025.