In partnership with the City of Brownsville, the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce hosted “Friday with the City” at the Communications and Marketing Department/Convention and Visitors Complex, where city leadership unveiled the new Parks, Health, and Recreation Master Plan.
Community members and stakeholders gathered to hear from City Manager Helen Ramirez, ICMA-CM, AICP; Parks Director Sean De Palma; and Dr. Arturo Rodriguez, Director of the Department of Health, Wellness, and Animal Services. Together, they shared how this 10-year strategic plan aims to shape the future of Brownsville by expanding green spaces, improving wellness programs, upgrading facilities, and enhancing recreational opportunities for residents of all ages.
The last update to the Parks Master Plan was in 2015. Since then, the city has experienced significant growth, prompting the need to revisit the plan and include public input to better reflect the community’s current and future needs.
“We were fortunate to have our ONE City partner, the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, to fund our master plan, and here we are today implementing it,” said City Manager Helen Ramirez. She emphasized that the Brownsville City Commission has been discussing major projects, including the expansion of parks and recreational infrastructure.
Parks Director Sean De Palma highlighted the comprehensive scope of the plan, stating, “The Parks Master Plan is going to capture many things. It will capture how we interact with our environment, how we maintain sustainability, how we invest in our green spaces, and how we safeguard our history and culture.”
Dr. Arturo Rodriguez noted a positive trend in public health, crediting local wellness programs for a significant reduction in diabetes rates. “Exercising and being healthy have made a real difference. Diabetes cases in the area have decreased by 11.5%, while the State’s data have gone up,” he said.
The event marked a significant step toward aligning Brownsville’s future recreational development with the community’s evolving needs and priorities.