By: DaChar Lane

When people hear “family business,” they often think of something passed down through generations, like a restaurant or store.

But for Gerald Bell, it looks like something else entirely. It looks like early mornings in open fields and parks being prepared for families to gather in and enjoy.

Growing up, Gerald watched his father work outdoors with his hands, and that exposure stuck with him. It shaped what he wanted to do and who he wanted to be. Now, that same influence is being passed down to his 15-year-old son.

“When I get to bring my son to this side of town, I bring him to one of our parks,” Gerald says. “It’s my son’s dream to come work for Precinct 4 like me.”

As a groundskeeper for Precinct 4, Gerald is keeping the “family business” alive by pouring the same sense of care into parks as his father with the hope that they will serve not just his family, but every family that walks through them.

Creating welcoming spaces

For over 13 years, Gerald has served the community through a range of roles, from a caretaker to a trailblazer to park manager and now a groundskeeper. His work supports the daily experiences of residents across multiple parks, helping ensure spaces are safe, clean, and ready for families to enjoy.

Gerald’s days are anything but routine. He clears debris, completes repairs, and pays close attention to the details that keep parks running smoothly. Whether it’s mowing a field or responding after a storm, Gerald approaches each task with intention and care. His focus spans multiple spaces, including Monsignor Bill Pickard Park, Stein Family Park, and Bonham Family Nature Park.

In addition to upkeeping the parks, Gerald often helps reunite residents with items they have lost. From a child’s favorite toy to a misplaced phone, these moments may seem small, but they leave a lasting impression. For families, the relief and gratitude are immediate. And for Gerald, it is another way to serve the community and build trust with the people who use these spaces every day.

“It’s one of the things we get to do that people don’t think about,” says Gerald. “Whether the lost item was sentimental or costed a lot of money, it’s just nice to give back in that way.”

Gerald is part of a larger team across Precinct 4 that works together each day to maintain more than 60 parks and trails. That teamwork ensures the community continues to have access to quality outdoor havens.

Investing in Burnett Bayland Park

One place where that impact is especially visible is Burnett Bayland Park, a space Gerald knows better than most after years of working its grounds. Now, thanks to a revitalization championed by Commissioner Lesley Briones, he's watching it become something new entirely. The three-phase project is already underway, and once finished, it will transform the park into a more accessible and vibrant space for the Gulfton community.

Phase one is slated to be completed by fall 2026. Some of the new amenities include an elite-sized soccer field, two mini pitches, pedestrian bridges, trails, a three-level boardwalk, and over 400 trees.

For Gerald, the project represents more than new fields to upkeep. After years of working in the park, he is now seeing it evolve into something that will serve the community in new ways.

“I believe the uplift of this park will be incredible for this community,” he says. “Families will be able to come out here and enjoy a safe space together.”

A lasting impact on the community

When asked where he sees himself in the future, Gerald shares that he plans to continue growing right here.

“If you start something, you have to finish it. This is where I’ve begun my career, and this is where I’m going to retire.”