In January 2016, the City of Sugar Land (COSL) annexed the 754-acre Cullinan Park under an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Houston and COSL, along with a Memorandum of Understanding between COSL and the Cullinan Park Conservancy (Conservancy). In accordance with the MOU, COSL agreed to take over the operation and maintenance of the park, and the Conservancy is responsible for raising $5M in 5 years and $10M in 10 years for capital improvements to the park.

By February 2017, the Conservancy had raised and donated a total of $1,073,717 to the City for the first phase of capital improvements for Cullinan Park.  

With this budget target ($1,073,717), the Conservancy Planning Committee, Parks and Recreation Department, and White Oak Studio (the Consultant) have been working closely on Phase 1 design.  The Consultant is currently under a design contract of $40,000 to provide conceptual design, schematic design and design development based on the previous Cullinan Park Master Plan. During this phase, the Conservancy has decided Phase 1 construction shall focus on 1) a restroom with electricity and water connections, 2) a lake trail with an overlook on the east side of White Lake and trail heads, 3) signage - including a donor recognition sign, 4) select understory clearing, and 5) landscape enhancements at the park entrance and along the entry road. 

As the preliminary design is finishing up, with the Conservancy Planning Committee’s approval, COSL recommends the City Council approve awarding a contract in the amount of $93,256 to the Consultant to complete the construction documentation, assist with contract bidding and perform construction administration. Under this contract, White Oak Studio is the direct consultant, and they will have sub consultants in place to perform wetland delineation, water utility engineering, electrical engineering and geotechnical engineering.

The funding for the project is provided by the Cullinan Park Conservancy and is identified in CIP PK1704.