On Wednesday, December 13, 2023, Houston City Council voted to officially rename “River Oaks Park” as “Pumpkin Park.”
THANK YOU to everyone who signed the petition and submitted comments to the City for consideration. We are thrilled to have reached this milestone.
We are grateful to Council Member Huffman and Mayor Sylvester Turner for supporting the proposal and to Council Members Alcorn and Kamin for speaking in favor of the renaming during the meeting. We are also very appreciative of HPARD Director Kenneth Allen and the Name Change Review Committee for their recommendation and to the River Oaks Garden Club for submitting the original petition on our behalf.
The proposal was submitted for two main reasons:
Changing the name to “Pumpkin Park” will help to communicate that all Houston residents are welcome to use and enjoy the Park and its facilities; i.e., it is not limited to residents of the River Oaks neighborhood. Removing "River Oaks" from the name will convey the Park's inclusive nature.
The name "Pumpkin Park" is comprehensive and encapsulates the charming nature of the Park, highlighted by the pumpkin carriage that has remained a focal point in the playground for years. Since many Houstonians already know and refer to the Park as "Pumpkin Park,” changing the name removes any confusion park goers may have.
Permitting
In September 2025, Friends of Pumpkin Park filed the permitting paperwork with the City of Houston for the renovation of Pumpkin Park. This step marks a milestone in the project, which has been in development since 2019. The latest timeline estimates that we will be able to break ground on the construction in the first half of 2026.
Once the permitting process has been completed and the project moves on to bidding, we will have a clearer idea for the tentative groundbreaking date. Friends of Pumpkin Park has been working with the Houston Parks Board and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department in the development of the project. We have also been in communication with Council Member Huffman and her office as details develop. A communication plan will be put in place to inform neighborhood residents and the larger community of construction and related closures ahead of any work.
We thank the Houston Business Journal for sharing the story. The article can be found here.