H-GAC's Parks and Natural Areas Awards Application Period Open

H-GAC's annual Parks and Natural Areas Awards program is now open for applications.

Apply today for recognition in the19th annual awards program honoring parks and natural areas demonstrating outstanding practices in the Houston-Galveston region.

The Parks and Natural Areas Awards recognize projects in four categories: Projects Over $500,000; Projects Under $500,000; Planning Process and Policy Tools; and Programming.

The application period closes at 5 p.m. Monday, September 30.  

An application guide is available online to help you prepare your application prior to entering information in the online application portal.

No funding is associated with this awards program.  

Winners will be notified in December and recognized in 2025. For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo. 

H-GAC Projects Earn Recognition in State, Local Planning Awards Programs 

Three Houston-Galveston Area Council Livable Centers studies were selected for recognition in the Texas Chapter Houston Section of the American Planning Association (APA) 2024 Planning Achievement Awards. One study was also recognized by the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association’s 2024 Planning Achievement Awards. 

The City of Prairie View Livable Centers Study earned the Silver Planning Achievement Award for Public Outreach from both the state and local chapters of the APA. This award honors an individual, project, or program that uses information and education about the value of planning to create greater awareness among citizens or specific segments of the public. The award celebrates how planning improves a community’s quality of life. The City of Prairie View Livable Centers Study shows that planning should be flexible to recognize the community’s needs and adjust outreach to ensure residents understand the process and implementation. 

The City of Clute Livable Centers Study earned the Silver Planning Achievement Award for Urban Design from the Houston Chapter of the APA. This award honors efforts to create a sense of place, whether a street, public space, neighborhood, or campus effort. The City of Clute Livable Centers Study represents how catalyst sites that are supported by the community can lead to positive change in the community. 

The City of South Houston Livable Centers Study earned the Silver Planning Achievement Award for Transportation from the Houston Chapter of APA. This award honors efforts to increase transportation choices for all populations, reducing dependence on private automobiles and helping to ease congestion and reducing climate change impacts. The South Houston Livable Centers Study represents clear recommendations that will be impactful to residents built from unique engagement opportunities. 

Questions Needed for Conversation with TxDOT, On-Demand Recording to Follow

In October, H-GAC will publish an on-demand recorded conversation with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in place of our October Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable or Rural and Small Town Downtown Revitalization Summit.

The conversation will focus on ways downtowns can work with TxDOT on revitalization projects, such sidewalks, road closures, funding mechanisms, special requests, and safety considerations.

To help us prepare to record the conversation with TxDOT, please send us your questions by noon on September 13. We can’t guarantee that every question will be asked and answered, but we’ll try to get to as many as possible.

Is there something you’ve always wondered about downtowns and the best way to work with TxDOT? Let us know.

For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo. 

Parks and Natural Areas Roundtable – September 9 (In Person) 

Make plans to attend the next H-GAC Parks and Natural Areas Roundtable from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday, September 9, at H-GAC, second floor conference rooms.

Speakers include:

• Ashley R. Morgan-Olivera, Director of Research and Education/Outreach for the Texas Invasive Species Institute at Sam Houston State University, discussing invasive species in the Houston-Galveston region, their removal, and reporting them on Texasinvasives.org.
• Bryan Frazier, Brazoria County Parks Director, discussing award-winning projects and programs
• Eric Heppen, Harris County Pct. 3 Project Manager, discussing templates and other efficient tools for parks planning

Attendees will also

• Discuss the Parks and Natural Areas Awards program;
• Learn about a new online, interactive trail mapping tool;
• Hear about the 2024 WISE Awards winners; and
• Engage in a roundtable discussion of events and activities in the region.

Registration is requested, but not required, to attend.

For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo. 

Annual Land Use / Transportation Workshop – September 19 (In Person) 

H-GAC's Livable Centers Workshop: Incremental Steps Toward Transportation, Environmental, and Social Equity will be from 8 to 11 a.m. Thursday, September 19, at H-GAC, second floor conference rooms.

At this annual Land Use / Transportation Workshop, we'll bring together experts in transportation, environmental sustainability, and social equity to share insights and explore how we can create transportation systems that serve everyone's needs while protecting the environment and promoting equity.

Join us as we:

• Explore the intersectionality of transportation equity, environmental justice, and social equity.
• Share incremental successes in working toward a future where transportation systems are inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
• Hear from experts on strategies for integrating environmental and health considerations into transportation planning and policy.
• Share best practices for encouraging sustainable transportation options.

Speakers include:

• Rushka Tcholakova, Director of Community Programs, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Houston - LISC's Holistic Community Planning Through a Lens of Equity
• Bill Ervin, Senior Planning, Houston-Galveston Area Council - Improving Water Quality in Underserved Communities
• Peter Eccles, AICP, Director of Policy and Planning, LINK Houston, LINK Houston's 2024 Equity in Transit Report

Registration is requested, but not required, to attend.

For more information, email [email protected].

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference During Ozone Action Month

September is often the worst month for air quality in our region – so let’s make it easier to breathe. This fall, Commute Solutions challenges you to being part of the solution!

• Ride transit for free on Fridays – Commute Solutions has partnered with Conroe Connection, Fort Bend County Transit, Harris County Transit, and The Woodlands Express to make getting around easier. Riders can ride for free on pre-selected routes. By taking public transportation you can save money and reduce vehicle emissions. 
• Carpool or vanpool – If public transit is not available to you, please consider carpooling or vanpooling with friends or coworkers to reduce the mumbre of cars on the road. The region’s ConnectSmart App can help you find a carpool partner and the regional vanpool program METRO Star can help you find a vanpool or carpool. 
• No idling – Tun your car off when stationary to reduce emissions.
• Fill up your tires – When you have properly inflated tires, you can improve your gas mileage
• Combine trips – Plan your errands to reduce the number of trips you take.
• Get outside – Take your bike or go for a walk with a friend when possible.

For more information on how you can do your part to improve our air quality, visit yourcommutesolution.org/breathe.

Houston GIS Day – November 22 (In Person) 

Save the date for the 2024 Houston Area GIS Day on Thursday, November 22, at the University of Houston – Clear Lake campus, 2700 Bay Area Blvd, Bayou Building, Houston. Houston GIS Day is a one-day celebration of Geographic Information Systems for local GIS professionals, universities, high school students, and teachers. 

This year’s activities include: 

• Live Educational Presentations for Students 
• Live Geospatial Presentations for Professionals 
• College and University GIS Program Exhibitors 
• Geospatial Exhibitors and Vendors 
• Student GIS Activities and Games 
• Professional Map Contests and More! 

For more event information including sponsor, exhibitor, speaker, and volunteer opportunities, visit the 2024 Houston Area GIS Day website.

2024 Texas Community Development Block Project Upcoming Application Opportunities

The primary objective of the Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) program is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and suitable living environments and expanding economic opportunities principally for persons of low- to moderate-income. Eligible TxCDBG applicants are non-entitlement cities under 50,000 in population* and non-entitlement counties that have a non-metropolitan population under 200,000 and are not eligible for direct CDBG funding from HUD. *Check with your jurisdiction’s county to determine eligibility based on cooperation agreements.

Application Method: Two Phase Application

• Community Application open to all eligible local governments
• Project Application subsequently required for applicants whose scores place them in funding range

Maximum Grant Request: $750,000

Project Priorities: See Regional Priorities

Application Cycle:

• Community Application Guide and application documents available in TDA-GO – Fall 2024
• Community Application due – December 1, 2024
• Applicants in first year funding range invited to begin the Project Application – approx. January 2025
• Project Application due – approx. June 2025
• Grant Awards for first year recipients – Fall 2025

For more information, visit the Texas Department of Agriculture TxCDBG web page.

Houston Audubon Bird Week - September 21-28

Houston Bird Week 2024 celebrates the important role Houston plays in the journey of billions of migratory birds and the everyday lives of resident birds. Houston Audubon and local conservation partners arrange a week of events centered around the region’s birds and wildlife. Events include birding opportunities, watch parties, trivia, movie night, and more. Visit www.houstonaudubon.org/BirdWeek for details. 

Adopt-A-Beach Coastwide Fall Cleanup – September 28

Save the date for the Adopt-A-Beach Coastwide Cleanup on Saturday, September 28, at various Texas beaches. This annual event by the Texas General Land Office encourages volunteers to help keep beaches clean. Since the program began in 1986, more than 567,000 volunteers have removed 9,8000 tons of trash from Texas beaches. Registration information and a list of cleanup locations are available online.

DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back – October 26

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 26. Check the DEA website in early October for area drop-off locations and year-round pharmaceutical disposal locations. The collection event provides a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications and environmental contamination. Law enforcement agencies interested in hosting a collection site should call the point of contact for this area.

Texas Downtown Conference – October 28-30

Save the date for the 2024 Texas Downtown Conference October 28-30 in Abilene. The annual conference includes networking, field sessions, and educational workshops highlighting new ideas, inspiration, and innovation for municipal and county staff working to shape the future of downtowns across Texas.

Funding Sources

H-GAC's Community and Environmental Planning Department maintains a list of ongoing funding opportunities for parks improvements, conservation projects and downtown revitalization projects. H-GAC also provides a Funding Resources Hub with many funding opportunities for individuals, local governments, organizations, and others.

If you know of a funding opportunity, forward it to Andrea Tantillo.

All content, including links to websites on these funding lists, is for informational purposes only. Users of this content are responsible for checking its accuracy, currency, and suitability.

Mapping Applications

Looking for interactive applications or GIS data related to the H-GAC Community and Environmental Planning Department? Visit H-GAC's interactive applications web page.