PARKS & RECREATION

" Whether passive or active, parks and recreation should be a part of everyday life. Like roads, water and sewer lines and drainage, parks and related facilities should be considered an integral part of the infrastructure of a political entity. The Parks Master Plan and Needs Assessment is a countywide effort that encourages the development of specific park and recreation initiatives to target the needs of their citizens. These local initiatives can involve county and community partnerships and cooperation."  —Ann Bagley Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Infrastructure/Planning Task Force Centurion Consulting Group

In the master-planned areas alone, there are 320 acres of lakes, over 600 acres of parks and 12 golf courses that offer families an enjoyable, relaxing lifestyle.

In an effort to preserve and magnify the existing natural resources, Fort Bend County recently created a Parks and Recreation Department and is also developing a Parks Master Plan. One focus of the department is to enhance the quality of life for its citizens by protecting and conserving natural wood lands and waterways, developing recreational sports facilities, and networking of park and recreation facilities with walking and biking trails. State Parks Brazos Bend Park is a 4,897-acre park owned and operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a self-sufficient entrepreneurial unit.  The park provides nature trails, camping, pavilions and picnic areas, as well as being the site of the George Observatory. The park is located between Highway 762 and the Brazos River.

County Park

Kitty Hollow Park is a 190-acre park on the east side of the county adjacent to State Highway 6. The facilities include shelters, picnic tables, two lakes, benches, trails and outdoor basketball and volleyball courts.

City of Sugar Land

Within the City of Sugar Land are 15 park and recreational facilities including a hike and bike trail, two large community level parks with a third under construction, five neighborhood parks, two greenbelt parks and three athletic field complexes. New acquisitions include land for athletic fields and the development of a trail and water feature along Oyster Creek. The City also has two community centers which host a large recreation program as well as being available for private functions.

City of Missouri City

Missouri City has bragging rights to the largest and most extensive park system in the county.  Currently there are over 250 acres of park lands within its jurisdiction with 16 parks ranging in size from one acre to the 100-acre Community Park.  These parks include picnic tables and facilities, ball fields, jogging trails and playgrounds.

A wide variety of recreational programs are provided by the department. Some noteworthy events include Snowiest in December and a Halloween Haunted House. Things to come are grand with 400 acres of projects underway, including 27 miles of trail system and a 150-acre park of mostly water.

City of Meadows and Stafford

These cities have parks, pools and summer recreation programs.

Private Parks

Large master-planned communities and homeowners associations also provide facilities and programs. These include First Colony, New Territory, Cinco Ranch, Greatwood, Pecan Grove, Quail Valley, Sugar Creek, Lake Olympia, Sugar Lakes, Weston Lakes and the new Sienna Plantation.

For more information call or e-mail  Diane C. Moser Broker - CIPS, CRS, GRI Referral & Relocation Certified (713) 827-8017