Photo of Hill at Sims Park in Sunnyside. (Photo Credit: Scott Julian/Houston Parks Board)
Photo of Hill at Sims Park in Sunnyside. (Photo Credit: Scott Julian/Houston Parks Board)
Photo of Hill at Sims Park in Sunnyside. (Photo Credit: Scott Julian/Houston Parks Board)
There’s a new public amenity in Houston’s Sunnyside neighborhood — the 100-acre, $30 million “Hill at Sims Park.”
According to Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and the Houston Parks Board, which teamed up on the project, Hill at Sims Park is the first new park to be completed in the Sunnyside neighborhood, a predominantly Black community located outside Loop 610 in Southeast Houston, in almost 50 years. The new park will have its grand opening from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, May 30.
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“For too long, communities like Sunnyside — where I grew up — have gone without the parks and green spaces they deserve,” Ellis said in a statement. “At a time when working families face rising costs and shrinking public resources, investments like this matter. Safe, beautiful places to gather and enjoy time outdoors should not be luxuries reserved for the wealthiest neighborhoods.”
Funding for the $30 million project was provided via a public-private partnership. According to Ellis’ office, $22 million came from his office as well as federal and state funding secured by state Rep. Alma Allen and U.S. Rep. Al Green. The nonprofit Houston Parks Board provided nearly $8 million for the project via a private investment by the Brown Foundation, Inc.
The park features nearly 5 miles of paved and dirt trails for hiking and biking; the Brown Foundation Hilltop Pavilion, located atop a 60-foot hill which provides views of Downtown Houston, Uptown and the Texas Medical Center; a glass viewing platform; six overlook areas; and six large-scale murals created in partnership with Street Art for Mankind, which is behind a series of murals on downtown buildings.
The project also included the creation of the Dr. Alma Allen Bridge, which connects the park to Sims Bayou Greenway — providing access to almost 20 miles of trails. The bridge was named after the outgoing state lawmaker, who is a former Houston-area school teacher who taught Ellis when he was in grade school.
“It’s only fitting that a bridge built to connect people — and built to last long after we’re gone — bears the name of someone whose life’s work has always been about helping others move toward greater opportunity,” Ellis said in a social media post.
The park was built within an existing stormwater detention basin owned by the Harris County Flood Control District. The basin provides over 300 million gallons of stormwater storage capacity.
“Hill at Sims reflects how strategic partnerships can elevate infrastructure projects beyond their primary purpose,” Tina Petersen, executive director of the flood control district, said in a statement. “While the Harris County Flood Control District’s mission is centered on delivering flood mitigation infrastructure, we welcome opportunities to collaborate with partners who bring expertise in parks, trails and recreation to create added value for the communities we serve.”
Residents are welcome to attend the park’s grand opening on Saturday morning. The free event will feature food and drinks, music and children’s activities, according to Ellis’ office, which says there also will be complimentary shuttle and bicycle valet services.