On October 12, 2022 the City of Houston City Council passed a nature preserve ordinance. The ordinance protects some of its most beloved greenspace in an effort to combat climate change, improve the quality of life of its residents and mitigate flooding in a region devastated by powerful storms in recent years.

The nature preserve ordinance will protect in perpetuity a total of 7,423 acres of land within 26 city parks. Additional goals of this ordinance include improving air, water quality, reducing urban heat island effects, protecting wildlife habitat and providing educational opportunities for the public.

One of the first properties included in the ordinance was The Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve.

"Prior to now, there has never been any type of land preservation legislation or ordinances in the City of Houston," Kelli Ondracek, the natural resources manager for the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, said in a video released by the department. "Now that these areas have been approved as nature preserves, they will be protected and they won't be able to have development. They're just dedicated to nature."

Houston's Nature Preserve Ordinance restricts the construction of traditional park amenities. Instead, designated nature preserve properties will focus on passive recreational activities such as hiking and bird-watching.  Therefore amenities that can be added to a COH designated nature preserve include trails, benches, trash cans, signage and bird-friendly lighting.