Too many fees at Houston public parks

HOUSTON – At a recent city council meeting, Mayor John Whitmire decried ever-expanding fees and costs to the public to go to public parks, and called out Memorial Park by name.

“I do not plan to privatize parks; I adamantly oppose privatization. I want our parks to be accessible and affordable to the least among us. I am concerned about the fees charged, outsourcing, and selling naming rights. Our parks belong to the public, and they should remain accessible and affordable for the least among us,” said Houston Mayor John Whitmire.

During a public city council session, Whitmire said that Memorial Park was planning to charge people to take pictures at the park.

The not-yet-revealed plan piqued our interest so we inquired with Memorial Park Conservancy, a not-for-profit group tasked with “stewarding” the park.

“All businesses or commercial vendors that wish to operate inside Memorial Park are required to have a permit to ensure the quality and safety of the public’s experience. Park visitors are allowed to take pictures and video at their leisure and for free as long as they are not disrupting the experience of other park users or are for-profit entities. Our policy is consistent with other larger public parks in Houston and across the nation,” a public relations firm working on behalf of the Memorial Park Conservancy, said.

It is not yet clear, what Memorial Park Conservancy has planned in terms of new fees, but the Mayor wants parks to be free for the citizenry, right down to the parking.

Memorial Park Conservancy collects lot parking fees by kiosk in several areas of Memorial Park.