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TSU students present park recommendations to Manvel Parks and Recreation Board
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Summary
TSU planning students presented resident survey results on April 23, 2026, recommending family-focused, accessible parks with walking and bike connectivity, community gardens and nature-preservation priorities; staff said the findings will be used in a parks master plan update and a July 4 tree-planting at Buddy Williams Park.
Makayla, a Texas Southern University student, presented results of a resident survey and outreach effort to the Manvel Parks and Recreation Board on April 23, 2026, saying the community favors neighborhood, family-focused parks with a mix of recreation, nature and programming.
"Parks are necessary for the city of Manvel to ensure the alignment of the city's growth with the residents' vision of the future," the presenter told the board, describing outreach that included a farmer's market initiative, city-hall display boards, an online survey and virtual conversations.
Lauren, another student on the team, summarized residents' top amenities: walking and biking trails, playgrounds, community gardens and fitness zones. "Most of the parks in the city wanted an emphasis on neighborhood, family parks," she said, noting that Almost Heaven Park respondents prioritized adult fitness programming and longer walking routes.
The team reviewed five publicly owned park properties identified in the city's GIS: Dolores Martin Park (described in materials as about 100–108 acres), Almost Heaven Park (18.61 acres inside the Sedona Lake subdivision), Heritage Park (behind City Hall and under construction), Acree Lake (the larger 117-acre property cited mainly for stormwater detention) and Buddy Williams Park (an undeveloped site behind Barbara Bennett Elementary School).
For Dolores Martin Park the students recommended treating the site as a community or regional park emphasizing wildlife preservation alongside trails, playgrounds, courts and pavilions. For Heritage Park they noted resident interest in splash pads, shaded pavilions and youth programming; materials referenced a playground installation noted for October 2025 and staff later said Heritage Park is projected to be completed by December 2026.
On Acree Lake the presentation flagged natural-resource constraints related to its former drainage function; the board discussed possible lake features for bird habitat, including islands and variable depth to support shorebirds and fishing areas. Board member Larry Acree — identified in the presentation as the park’s namesake — described long-term work on the property and urged consideration of native plantings and varied shoreline for wildlife.
The students suggested treating Buddy Williams Park largely as an open-space conservation site in early phases, with walking and running trails, wildlife preservation measures and opportunities for a community garden. Staff told the board a first-phase tree-planting event is planned for July 4, funded by donated trees from RISE Development, and that further layout and design details will return to the parks board before any council decision.
City parks staff thanked the students and said the team's work will inform an update to the parks master plan that is being coordinated with the city's comprehensive master plan. "We are almost at the final stages" of the comprehensive plan, a staff member said, and recommended the parks board will have a significant role in shaping park recommendations before council consideration.
The students offered small gift-card incentives to community participants and described a random selection process for winners; staff and board members asked follow-up questions about programming, parking constraints at Almost Heaven Park and selection of tree species for planting.
The board did not take formal votes on park designs at the meeting; staff said design, engineering and budgeting questions will determine which recommendations are feasible and when they will be presented for formal action by city council.
