Independence Park Project
Connecting Community. A Legacy of Play
The goal of this project is to help ensure Independence Park will become Pearland's most inclusive, accessible, multi-generational public space — a place where families, friends, and neighbors of all abilities can gather, move, imagine, and connect!
Making Inclusive Play a Reality at Independence Park
The Forever Parks Foundation of Pearland is raising funds for the Independence Park Project: Connecting Community. A Legacy of Play. Project planning began several years ago, and a municipal bond was approved in 2023 to support most of the costs for the project.
The project budget allocation for Phase II of the park is $16.3 million, which includes $700,000 designated for the inclusive water play amenity and playground area. The total estimated costs for the Independence Park Project is $30 million. The estimated cost for the desired inclusive water play amenity and playground is more than $5 million, based on feedback from our community steering committee. The additional funding is essential to realize the full scope of improvements and to avoid dividing the project into multiple phases. Additionally, beyond the playground spaces, it is the desire of the Forever Parks Foundation to fund additional accessibility, environmental and cultural arts elements throughout the park in the lake amenity, amphitheater, bioswale and sports complex areas as well.
This would be transformative support for the Pearland community and well beyond; Independence Park will become a regional destination with amenities that can support the greater Houston area and that fully align with Pearland’s Master Parks Plan. The project will fund essential features including all-abilities inclusion, multi-generational elements, quiet spaces, event areas, and a recreational lake—elements designed to foster community connection, health, environmental education, cultural arts, and well-being for all residents.
Independence Park is Pearland’s largest park venue, hosting major city festivals and special events. 200,000 unique individuals visit Independence Park annually. Visitor rate including return visitors is over 400,000 visits per year. This project will significantly improve the park and bring new, inclusive amenities to the region. We expect the playground and park improvements to affect more than 500,000 people in the community.
We are completing the Concept Design phase of the Independence Park Project in 2025 and simultaneously launching our fundraising and capital campaign process, which will continue through July 2026. The final Detailed Design and scope is dependent upon the capital commitments we receive over the next 12 to 15 months. Final Detailed Design is expected to begin October 2026 and last approximately one year. Construction is expected to commence in late 2027 or early 2028.
The Importance of Inclusion in Amenities and Design
The new inclusive elements of Independence Park will serve the recreation needs for hundreds of families in Brazoria County, specifically providing an opportunity for children of all abilities to experience play with their peers.
An estimated one out of every 10 children live with a disability that may prevent them from being able to access a traditional playground. As a result, these children are usually not afforded the play and development opportunities that others take for granted. The difference between all-inclusive parks and playgrounds and traditional parks and playground elements may not seem significant until you see a child who utilizes leg braces or a wheelchair sitting on the sidelines because he or she is unable to independently access the play area.
For a playground to be all-inclusive, it must be rigorous and challenging for all children, so that everyone plays at the highest level of their ability. Without a focus on inclusivity, children living with disabilities will continue to be segregated from their peers and siblings. All children need outdoor play environments to build strength and socialization skills, learn to be independent, take turns and make challenges, instill a sense of self-esteem and enhance cerebral / motor development. Studies show that children living with disabilities are two-thirds more likely to experience bullying than their peers. At the playground, recreation time spent together removes the stigma of difference and allows friendships to develop. In addition, playing outside promotes physical exertion, which helps children sleep better, increases attention in the classroom, and helps battle the obesity epidemic. It is one of the most effective ways to establish healthy, active lifestyles as adults. For children living with disabilities, play is one of the few ways to encourage physical activity and is a primary way in which physical therapy is delivered. Chronic childhood illnesses and disabilities increase the risk in adulthood of developing serious long-term health consequences. For example, obesity in children with Spina Bifida contributes to mobility impairment. Similarly, the relationship between obesity and impaired ambulation is seen in many other conditions, including Duchene’s muscular dystrophy, partial paraplegia, and Cerebral Palsy.
In addition to addressing the needs of children with disabilities, the concept design also addresses adults living with disabilities and the importance of multi-generational recreation opportunities. In partnership with TIRR Memorial Hermann advisors, the detailed design will incorporate best practices for accessibility and inclusion for all ages and abilities with consideration for sensory, vision, hearing, mobility, communication and companionship needs.
By achieving grant funding and leveraging multiple funding sources, we can realize Independence Park’s full potential as a universally accessible, vibrant public space—an enduring legacy for Pearland’s present and future generations.