Environmental Resource Guide
Purpose:Â The SPARK School Program works with schools and neighborhoods to develop community parks on public school grounds. In the past 30 years, SPARK has built over 200+ community parks throughout the Houston/Harris County area. Each park is unique, with its design based on ideas and needs of the school and surrounding neighborhoods.…
Purpose:Â To promote increased understanding and appreciation of the Christmas Bay Estuarine System and the Texas Gulf Coast; to promote conservation of the natural resources of the Christmas Bay Estuarine System and the Texas Gulf Coast; to contribute to the usefulness of the Bay and its tributaries for recreational and commercial purposes; and to sponsor such activities and events as may contribute to the general welfare of the Christmas Bay Estuarine System and its tributaries.…
Purpose:Â HREG is a local chapter of the Texas Solar Energy Society, with a mission to further the development of renewable energy and related arts, sciences, and technologies, with concern for the ecological, social, and economic fabric of our community and state. Members support local events, host the Houston Renewable Energy tour, and in general work to educate the community on the benefits of renewable energy.…
Purpose:Â The Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs has a reputation as a comprehensive center for sound academic research. Scholars focus on a broad range of topics, including voting behavior, American foreign policy and international relations, political communication, criminal justice attitudes and behavior, police violence, environmental justice, race and crime, race and governance, policy studies, leadership, E-government, homeland security, urban transportation, housing and community development, Diaspora studies, environmental planning, economic development and the fiscal responsibility of urban governments.…
Purpose: Founded 2005 as part of the Houston History Project (now the Welcome Wilson Houston History Collaborative), UH Center for Public History, UH-HHA is a public repository for books, documents, oral histories, and images related to the Houston region’s growth and development from 19th century to present. Particular areas of collection interest include energy development, environmental history and activism, and documentation of Houston’s ethnic diversity and activism.…
Purpose:Â To reduce the risk of flooding in the Brays Bayou watershed. Meetings: Open meetings are held the third Monday of every month, 7:30 p.m., Conference Room, The Gathering Place, 5410 South Willow Drive, 77035 Major Events: Annual meeting in March.…
Purpose: Houston Urban Gardeners’ mission is to create an informed active gardening community of people growing their own vegetables, fruits, and herbs year-round in Metro Houston. They do this through programs on all aspects of growing food.Â
Programs:Â Monthly meetings on topics such as:
- leaving a legacy of better soil
- eating organic wholesome food with a known history
- getting more production with less time and having more fun
- getting to know like-minded people and sharing what you know with others
- restoring respect for the earth and the environment
- forming a gardening support network/community
- feeling good because you can share food with hungry people
- supporting our local Houston economy by buying supplies from local vendors
Meetings: HUG meets on the second Monday of the month at 6:30pm at the West Gray Metropolitan Multi-Service Center (1475 W Gray St, Houston, TX 77019) in the Montrose/River Oaks area near Waugh Drive.…
Purpose: To promote, develop, maintain, and enhance the Energy Corridor District through implementation of projects, services, and initiatives in the realm of public safety, transportation and mobility, infrastructure, streetscape, and economic development. Through active leadership, advocacy, and collaborative efforts, the District works to accelerate area improvements for long-term economic vitality.
Meetings: Second Friday of each month in ECD office 14701 St.…
Purpose: Levy Park is a six acre public green space in the Upper Kirby District which recently reopened after a $15 million renovation for the purpose of creating an entertainment and recreation destination for the immediate community and for the people of Greater Houston. The Upper Kirby Redevelopment Authority in partnership with the Upper Kirby District Foundation, funded the renovation and Levy Park’s many public amenities.…
Purpose: To raise awareness of the connections between pollution, place and the public’s health. CEER envisions a region that is equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically strong; where residents have the opportunity to live, work, learn, play, and pray free from environmental hazards. CEER advocates for public and private investment in protecting communities by cleaning up hazards that contaminate air, water, and land.…
Purpose: Empowering Texans to fight pollution through sustained grassroots organizing campaigns that shift corporate and governmental policy. The TEC envisions a Texas free from pollution. As the largest environmental group in Texas organizing support through door-to-door canvassing, grassroots is both who we are and what we do. Programs: Advocates for local, state and national policies that hold manufacturers responsible for recycling the toxic products they create (such as electronic waste or “e-wasteâ€); works to strengthen environmental and health standards for Texas landfills; educates residents and builds grassroots support through a year-round neighborhood canvassing program; and works toward recycling for all Houstonians.…
Purpose:Â Provide environmental education, quality recreational facilities, and a variety of nature-related activities.
Programs: “Nurture Nature Series†a family program on the first Saturday at 10 a.m., each month is a different topic; Preschool thru high school education programs; Scout badge workshops; outreach; Spring Break, Winter Break and Summer camps; birthday parties; self-guided tours; teacher workshops; birding and wilderness trails.…
Purpose: HDHHS’ Environmental Health Services division provides a variety of programs and services relating to air and water pollution, occupational health and food establishments.
Patrick Key, Assistant Director
webadmin@houstontx.gov
Stephen Williams
Houston Health Department Director
(832)393-5169
Purpose: HARC (the Houston Advanced Research Center) is a nonprofit research hub providing independent scientific analysis. HARC focuses on building a sustainable future that helps people thrive and nature flourish. Programs: HARC’s research focuses on air, water, energy, and resilience. Current research programs include Air Quality Science, Clean Energy Research, Hydrology and Watersheds, Energy Efficient Buildings, and the Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems (EFD) Program.…
Purpose: Transition Houston serves to build on the wisdom of the existing resources in Houston’s diverse community to inspire, network and train localized communities to consider and adapt Rob Hopkins’ transition model. Together we can unite pools of ingenuity and skills to unleash the collective genius of our own people in finding self-determined solutions.…
Purpose:Â The The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. is a tax-deductible 501 (c)(3) educational organization that promotes natural resource conservation, recycling, solid waste reduction, safe and sensible care of our air and water resources, and other responsible actions that protect the environment and its inhabitants.
Meetings: Board & Members Meeting, 5:30-7 p.m., second tuesday of each month, location specified on website.…
Purpose: Founded in 2009, our mission is to reduce the amount of reusable material in Houston’s landfills, to promote environmental awareness, to stimulate creativity, and to provide opportunities to create recycled art.
Programs: Divert reusable clean scrap from Houston’s solid waste stream and make it available at low cost to educators and non-profits in the Greater Houston area.…
Purpose:Â Texans for Clean Water is a coalition of business leaders and citizens who are committed to protecting the waterways. Through education, prevention and collaboration, we can eliminate floatable litter: including drink containers, polystyrene to-go containers and plastic bags, from Texas waterways. In doing so, we will generate economic prosperity and improve water quality for all Texans and Texas wildlife.…
Purpose: The Shell Center for Sustainability’s mission is to foster an interdisciplinary program of research, outreach, and education to address actions that can be taken to ensure the sustainable development of communities’ living standards, interpreted broadly, to encompass all factors affecting the overall quality of life. In our Vision, the Shell Center for Sustainability is the regional expert in Gulf Coast sustainable development by fostering academic research, outreach and education initiatives in interdisciplinary partnerships and through collaborations that extend outreach from the Florida Keys to the Yucatan Peninsula with strong focus in the Houston and Galveston Region.…
Purpose:Â To enhance the quality of urban life by providing safe, well-maintained parks and offering affordable programs for the community.
Major Events:
Jan – Arbor Day; Youth Tennis classes begin
Feb – Salt Grass Trail Ride; Adult sports leagues begin
Mar – Tour de Houston, Metal & Muscle Expo; Lake Houston Wilderness
Apr – Houston Children’s Festival, Japan ÂFestival, Houston International Festival
May – Challenge Day, Summer Pool Opening
June – Summer Food Program begins, Golf Tourn; Hershey Track & Field Meet
Jul – Freedom Over Texas; Houston Pops July 4th Celebration
Oct – Asian-American Festival; Wildflower seed planting
Nov – Via Colori
Dec – Heritage Society Candlelight Tour, Holiday Tree Lighting
Year round – Lake Houston Park Nature Center events
School year – After School Enrichment Program
Volunteer Opportunities: Oneika McCarthy
(832) 395-7030 oneika.peters@houstontx.gov
Publications: Activities Catalog – Winter/Spring Issue Dec 1, Summer Issue
Apr 1, and Fall Issue Aug 1.…
The CEC has a searchable, web-based version of the Environmental Resource Guide. You may also download older versions of the printed guide below.
Archived Resource Guides