The Harris Health board has unanimously approved a plan to take 8.9 acres of Hermann Park in Houston to expand Ben Taub Hospital. The parkland was donated over a century ago by August Warneke, and the original deed includes a clause that could return the land to the family if it is no longer used as a park, as reported by ABC13.
Residents raised concerns after a vote to reduce Hermann Park, with Kathryn McNeil saying she was not informed by the Hermann Park Conservancy or elected officials. Emails show a July press announcement about the condemnation was planned but never released, while Harris Health contacted commissioners for support, according to CW39. The plan has support from The Metropolitan Organization, Baylor College of Medicine, and other Texas Medical Center entities. Hermann Park Conservancy Board Chair Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell said, "Hermann Park is not for sale. It is invaluable," as per ABC13.
Despite the board's unanimous vote, Dorsey Parker, a descendant of the family who donated the land, maintained defiance, saying, "My family is one of the original founding families of this city. I'm not scared of these people," as mentioned by ABC13. Parker says the goal is to preserve the park's legacy, not for financial gain. The Harris County commissioners have the final approval, and at least one commissioner has promised a public hearing, though details and the timeline are not yet set.
