WHO’S BEHIND THE NAME?
story by Taelor Smith
T
here is always a story behind the names on the many markers and street signs throughout our communities, but those stories tend to get lost over time. Precinct 4 has a rich history going back generations and that history can sometimes be revealed with just a peek at the people behind the names on our parks, buildings, and streets. Many of these now-common names were chosen by county commissioners, who have the authority to name streets, parks, and community centers in the precincts they represent. They often name these amenities and locations after those who have shown dedication and service to the precinct. Below are a few of the stories behind the names we come across daily without having the slightest inkling as to how they got there. DENNIS JOHNSTON PARK
This expansive space along the Spring Creek Greenway took years to develop but was worth the wait. Dennis Johnston was hired as an assistant caretaker at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center in 1983, after serving as a volunteer since the park's opening four months prior. From there, he worked his way up the ranks. After being promoted to Harris County Precinct 4 parks director under Commissioner Jerry Eversole in 2004, Johnston began negotiating property acquisitions to expand the Spring and Cypress Creek greenways. Most recently, he secured the pond and land behind the D. Bradley McWilliams YMCA to incorporate into the Cypress Creek Greenway. During a meeting with Johnston in 2009, Eversole expressed his intention to name a park after Johnston. Years later, after Eversole's departure, Commissioner R. Jack Cagle met with Johnston at the future park and said, "Dennis, I'm going to name this park after you." "I was amazed, honored, and humbled by it," Johnston says. Dennis Johnston Park opened in 2013 and has been an escape to nature for the growing Spring community ever since. With 38 years under his belt at Precinct 4, Johnston still serves as parks director and shows no signs of stopping. 8
Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021
DENNIS JOHNSTON PARK
JESSE H. JONES PARK & NATURE CENTER
Jesse H. Jones was a powerful and respected entrepreneur, politician and philanthropist in the early 1900s. Beyond his lumberyard, real estate, and banking businesses, he helped build the Houston Ship Channel and worked for the Reconstruction Finance Corporation under presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt to help rebuild the economy during the Great Depression. As his wealth grew, he created the nonprofit Houston Endowment in 1937, which supported several causes across Harris County. He also served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce during World War II. When Precinct 4 began developing plans for a new park in the early 1980s, the Jones family donated $250,000 toward the park’s development through the Houston Endowment. Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center opened in October 1982 and is now one of the region’s most popular parks, with many visitors exploring the trails and enjoying the wildlife each day.
JESSE H. JONES PARK & NATURE CENTER
