Greetings!
The season of pumpkins, sweaters, and colorful leaves finally arrived, bringing with it mild temperatures and plenty of recreational opportunities. I encourage you to take advantage of the fall weather to explore your local parks.
Many of these parks wouldn't exist without strong community partners. The City of Tomball's newly opened Broussard Park features a connection to Precinct 4's Samuel Mathews Park, along with paved trails, a sensory garden, sports fields, and more. Your Precinct 4 and City of Tomball employees worked for years to make this park a reality, and we look forward to watching it grow into a staple of the community, beloved by generations of families.
Additionally, Precinct 4's Burroughs Park now connects to Bayou Land Conservancy's 14-mile Spring Creek Nature Trail. This natural surface path winds along Spring Creek through an expansive pine forest, offering stunning creekside views. If you love woodland trails, this path is for you!
I'm also proud to recognize the Near Northwest Management District, Qatar Harvey Fund, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, and the City of Houston for supporting the development of Precinct 4's Alabonson Park. These partnerships prove that when we work together, we can provide more than we ever could alone. Because of this generous support, Precinct 4 began work on Alabonson Park last year and celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony in October. Plans include building world-class sports fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, and trails, with opportunities to connect to White Oaks Bayou in the future. Stay tuned for more updates!
As a reminder, Nov. 3 is Election Day. If you haven’t taken advantage of early voting, please get out and vote! We compiled a list of voting resources to help you vote safely.
If you'd like to learn more about happenings around Precinct 4, I encourage you to check out the issue below. I hope you all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
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Construction Continues on Alabonson Park
A new 50-acre park is coming to Precinct 4! Alabonson Park in Spring Branch will include softball, football, and soccer fields, picnic areas, playgrounds, and paved and natural-surface trails that could connect to the White Oak Bayou trails.
The family-centric venue will also include programs, a cable run for the blind, concessions, a butterfly garden, and a small meeting room in which neighborhood organizations can conduct Scout and other community meetings.
Precinct 4 celebrated the park's groundbreaking during a ceremony in October. Construction began in April 2019 and should conclude in the second quarter of 2022.
Once the park is complete, Precinct 4's Parks Department will manage it, and the Friends of Alabonson Park will support it by establishing recreational programs and volunteer activities.
The park was made possible through funding and donations from Harris County Precinct 4, Texas Park & Wildlife, the City of Houston, and the State of Qatar.
Alabonson Park is on North Houston Rosslyn Road near White Oak Bayou. For more information, visit http://friendsofalabonsonpark.org/.
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Early Voting Sets Record
A record number of early voters turned out for the Nov. 3 general election. If you were not among them, please keep the momentum going by casting your vote on Election Day, Nov. 3, at any Harris County polling location between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Check current wait times and polling locations here.
Are you wondering if you're registered to vote? Click here.
No matter who you support, your county workers are here to help. For any other questions, click here.
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Explore Natural Trails At Burroughs Park
Take advantage of the fall weather by exploring the beautiful Burroughs Park! This popular park now features a connection to the Spring Creek Nature Trail, a 14-mile natural-surface trail along Spring Creek.
Travel from Burroughs Park to the bridge leading to the Montgomery County Preserve Trailhead. Along the way, enjoy beautiful creek views, pristine wetlands, and abundant wildlife.
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Jones Park's 34th Annual Pioneer Day Recreates 1830s Texas
Join Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center for its 34th Annual Pioneer Day, featuring authentically outfitted reenactors, settler skill demonstrations, and folk music performances on Saturday, Nov. 14.
Learn how Texas settlers and Native Americans lived in the 1830s. Watch live demonstrations of blacksmithing, spinning and weaving, and woodworking, and enjoy programs covering American Indian lore, camp life, and survival skills.
Activities are available to those who book tours of the Akokisa Indian Village and the Redbud Hill Homestead. Tours begin at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and last approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Following the tour, view a battle reenactment between the Texan and Mexican armies at noon and 3:30 p.m. Tours and battle reenactments require separate reservations. Premade craft kits will be available for kids to take home.
Masks are recommended for outdoor programs and required when entering any building at Jones Park.
Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center is a Harris County Precinct 4 facility at 20634 Kenswick Drive in Humble. For more information about the park or any of the activities and programs offered, please call 281-446-8588 or visit www.hcp4.net/community/parks/jones.
Caption: A historical reenactor serves hoecakes, a fried cornbread patty cooked over an open flame, during last year's Pioneer Day.
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City of Tomball Opens New Park Featuring Trail, Playground, Sensory
Garden, and Sports Fields
Precinct 4's Mathews Park now features a connection to the City of Tomball's newly opened Broussard Park, creating one 20-acre space.
Visitors to Broussard and Mathews parks can enjoy playgrounds, walking trails, a sensory garden, sports fields, and a pond. Both facilities include restrooms and a parking lot.
Mathews Park includes a softball field, a basketball pavilion and court, a volleyball court, a barbecue pavilion, a community building, a playground, picnic tables, barbecue grills, a 1/3-mile paved trail, and restroom facilities.
A community building within the park offers an activity room with a kitchen, and the outdoor area offers a barbecue pit and gazebo with electricity.
The community building can accommodate as many as 75 people and may be reserved for a maximum of five hours a day.
Visitors can access Broussard Park at 1414 E. Hufsmith Road and Mathews Park at 1728 Hufsmith Road in Tomball.
Caption: Broussard Park in Tomball connects with Precinct 4's Mathews Park.
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Harris County Nears Deal To Purchase Development Linked To Flooding in Kingwood
Relief is on the way for Elm Grove Village residents in Kingwood.
Members of Harris County Commissioners Court voted unanimously last month to authorize an earnest money contract with Figure Four Partners, a subsidiary of Perry Homes, to purchase Woodridge Village, a 267-acre development in Montgomery County.
Harris County wants to buy the property and build a regional stormwater detention facility to reduce flooding in the Kingwood and Lake Houston region. The $14 million contract, which is about $5 million below the land's appraised value, brings the Harris County Flood Control District one step closer to acquiring the property.
An investigation last year found that the Woodridge Village development contributed to flooding in the Elm Grove Village subdivision in May 2019 and during Tropical Storm Imelda.
For the project to move forward, HCFCD must sign an interlocal agreement with the City of Houston within 120 days of the execution of the earnest money contract, no later than Dec. 31.
Caption: Harris County Flood Control District performs maintenance on Taylor Gull near Elm Grove Village in Kingwood.
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Legacy Trees Project Earns Tree Grant
Precinct 4 residents can look forward to shadier streets and parks, thanks to a recent grant from the Apache Corporation.
Through the Apache Corporation 2020-2021 Tree Grant Program, Precinct 4 received 1,500 trees, including 1,000 bare-root seedlings and 500 3-gallon trees.
The grant allowed Precinct 4's Legacy Trees Project to plant 30 different tree species, including pecan, Chickasaw plum, green ash, and river birch, in the Mackenzie Park subdivision in Spring earlier this month.
During the two-day event, 50 people volunteered to plant, mulch, and water more than 320 5-gallon trees. Volunteers included Boy Scout troops 1665, 1550, and 878; Madre Tierra; and nearby residents. Precinct 4 staff members were also onsite to assist. Mackenzie Park was selected to receive the trees because of the neighborhood's interest in the Foster-A-Legacy Tree program.
Legacy Trees Project arborist Laura Medick said the event proved to be one of Precinct 4's most successful tree plantings, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This grant is an opportunity to do something good in our Precinct 4 communities together with families and neighbors in times of tribulation and uncertainty," she said.
With the support of groups like Apache Corporation, Precinct 4 has helped restore trees and forested areas throughout the region. It is estimated that cities earn a $2.25 return on each dollar invested in planting through energy savings, increased property values, and improved air quality.
Join Legacy Trees for upcoming tree planting events, Holiday Tree Planting on Saturday, Dec. 5, and Plant It for the Planet on Saturday, Jan. 23.
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Halloween Happenings at Pundt Park
Join Trails As Parks at Pundt Park for a morning of fun on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to noon at Pundt Park-- just in time for Halloween! Learn about creepy creatures, make your own slime, and dissect an owl pellet. Costumes are encouraged.
All ages are welcome.
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Texas Arbor Day at Mercer Botanic Gardens
Celebrate Texas Arbor Day at Mercer's West Side Arboretum on Friday, Nov. 6, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. View a tree planting demonstration and receive a complimentary sapling while supplies last. A certified arborist will be available to answer your tree questions. Learn about Precinct 4's Legacy Trees Project, explore the arboretum trails, and more. Registration is required, as space is limited. To register or for more information, call 713-274-4160 or visit www.hcp4.net/legacytrees/.
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First Friday Friends:
Going Native at Jones Park
Using native plants for landscaping benefits homeowners and native wildlife. Visit Jones Park on Friday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m. to learn about common native plants for landscaping and their benefits, followed by a short tour of the Nature Center's native gardens. Must be 55 or older. For more information, visit www.hcp4.net/parks/jjp/.
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