Harris County Precinct 4’s Parks Department won top honors in the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s (H-GAC) 2025 Parks and Natural Areas Awards. This accolade highlights Precinct 4’s unwavering commitment to enhancing community engagement with nature through transformational educational initiatives.
Precinct 4 earned the award for its dynamic programming at Kleb Woods Nature Preserve, John Paul Landing Environmental Education Center, Mary Jo Peckham Park, and Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza Park North.
"Our parks and trails are more than green spaces—they're community classrooms,” said Commissioner Lesley Briones, who represents Harris County on the H-GAC General Assembly and Board of Directors. “Through hands-on education and sustainability initiatives, Precinct 4 is setting a new standard for connecting people to nature, wellness, and a better quality of life. I am incredibly grateful to H-GAC for this recognition of our hard-working parks team members who execute with excellence every day.”
Innovative Educational Programming That Inspires
Precinct 4’s award-winning parks offer immersive educational experiences that promote sustainability, history, conservation, and ecology.
• John Paul Landing Environmental Education Center hosts hands-on science programs for students, interactive exhibits on local ecosystems, and birding workshops that highlight the park’s role in flood mitigation and wildlife conservation.
• Kleb Woods Nature Preserve provides historical and environmental education through guided nature hikes, birdwatching programs, and history tours that explore the legacy of Elmer Kleb and the region’s changing ecosystem.
• Mary Jo Peckham Park offers youth fishing clinics, adaptive recreation programs, and environmental awareness activities to encourage outdoor engagement for all ages and abilities.
• Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza Park North features educational events on urban ecology and migratory bird habitats, fostering community awareness of local environmental challenges.
Led by Precinct 4’s passionate park naturalists and dedicated volunteers, these interactive programs spark curiosity, promote sustainability, and strengthen connections to nature and wellness.
"This award underscores the importance of providing constituents with a diverse array of educational programs focused on nature and history throughout Precinct 4. We are honored by this recognition,” said Ashley DeLeon, Programs Assistant Superintendent of Parks, Harris County Precinct 4. “We hope our work inspires others to implement similar programs in their communities. Thank you to all the volunteers, partner organizations, and program participants who have joined us along this journey. "
Since 2006, the H-GAC Parks and Natural Areas Awards have spotlighted outstanding park projects in four categories: Projects Over $500,000, Projects Under $500,000, Planning Process/Policy Tools, and Programming.
For more details about H-GAC’s Parks and Natural Areas Awards, visit h-gac.com/parks-and-natural-areas/awards.
To learn more about Harris County Precinct 4 Parks, visit cp4.harriscountytx.gov/Parks.