Spark School Park Program

Spark is an outstanding example of how government, the private sector and individual citizens can work together to accomplish great things.

The SPARK School Park Program was developed in 1983 as a way to increase park space in Houston, Texas. Former Houston School Board member and former City Council Member, Eleanor Tinsley, created SPARK to develop public school grounds into neighborhood parks. An inter-local agreement, one of the first in Houston, between the city, the Houston Parks Board and the school district, formally established the SPARK Program. In 1991, SPARK was granted 501 (c) (3) status. In 1996, SPARK was identified as a program of the Mayor, although the program retains its non-profit status. SPARK combines the resources of the Department of Housing and Community Development, seven local school districts, Harris County, the private sector, neighborhood groups, PTA/PTO groups, and concerned citizens.

SPARK is a unique program that has its roots in Houston.

In 2001 SPARK registered its trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. SPARK signed a licensing agreement with Baton Rouge Green, a non-profit organization in Louisiana to build the first SPARK Park outside of Houston. Banks Elementary in East Baton Rouge Parish was dedicated in September, 2002.

Recent conference presentations include:

Neighborhood USA Conference
National Urban Forest Conference
Texas Recreation and Parks Symposium
Partner's in Education Convention

SPARK has won numerous local, state and national awards including: Mayor's Proud Partner Award, Community Forestry Award, and National Environmental Achievement Award in the Public Lands and Open Space Protection category from RENEW America.

SPARK Art plays an important role.

More than 85 of the 180 SPARK Parks have public art components. About half of the projects are proposed and completed by art teachers at the schools. When there is no art teacher, a local artists is recruited to work with the students and architect on a project. The artwork often reflects the heritage of the neighborhood, a specific theme, the school mascot, and/or the school motto.