The Issue
Community members of all ages — especially families and children — have long cherished Josephine Zeiske Memorial Park as an integral part of our lives. For decades, this small but much-loved park has not only been a place for recreation — it has been a sanctuary for those who seek peace and connection in a little slice of green space at the heart of Bellville.

Today, however, a new development plan threatens the very essence of what makes this park special.
Bellville ISD has approved a proposal to fence off the park’s southwest (upper) improved section — home to its main pavilions, picnic tables, and open green area — for use as a privately operated dog park.

This change would restrict the freedom and spontaneity the park has always offered its visitors, impede access for many who rely on it as a place to gather, exercise, and relax, and put at risk the park’s health and future as a public space.

Josephine Zeiske Memorial Park is a vital green space for our community — essential for fostering physical activity, quiet reflection, and overall well-being.  Accessible neighborhood parks like ours strengthen community bonds, promote safety, and enhance quality of life for everyone.  

We urge the Bellville Independent School District (BISD) to reconsider its current plan and to prioritize keeping the park open, unfenced, and available for everyone. With support from residents, local organizations, and potential state or federal grants, the park can remain an inclusive and vibrant part of Bellville for generations to come.

Please sign and share this petition to help convince BISD to end plans that would convert the park’s most inviting and accessible section into a fenced facility. Together, we can protect this much-loved piece of Bellville’s heritage — keeping Josephine Zeiske Memorial Park a natural and welcoming space, just as those before us protected it for our community.