The Nature Discovery Center’s Enchanted Woods capital campaign officially reached 85% of its $2.5 million goal following a citywide youth fundraising event held Aug. 22, according to a news release.
The collected proceeds will go toward the nonprofit wilderness facility’s upcoming Russ Pitman Park expansion, also known as the Enchanted Woods Nature Play Space and Cottage Classroom.
A public groundbreaking ceremony for the renovated playground is scheduled to take place on Oct. 7 from 5-6 p.m. at the NDC, officials confirmed.
What happened
The fundraising event, titled “Pucker Up for the Park,” followed 18 teams of Bellaire Youth Entrepreneurs as they set up and operated lemonade stands throughout the city.
Participating youths sold ice cold lemonade, cookies, original canvas paintings, drawings, 3D-printed creations and other handmade items, which allowed them to practice their entrepreneurial skills and engage with wider parts of the community, officials said.
In a single day, participants raised $13,175 in funding for the Enchanted Woods project’s construction, boosting it from 84% to 85% of its overall goal, per release details.
“I keep calling the kids who signed up our ‘entrepreneur philanthropists’ because they are learning about entrepreneurship, generosity and what it means to give back to their community. That’s exactly what we need in this world and I'm proud of them,” NDC board member Kristin Berry said in a statement via news release. “Their efforts brought us one step closer to funding Enchanted Woods, and seeing their passion and excitement personally reminded me why we, as volunteers and a board, are working so hard to build something special for the community."
How we got here
In May 2025, Community Impact reported that one purpose of the Enchanted Woods project is to revitalize outdated playground setups, including those that have not been upgraded since the early 2000s. A larger goal involves creating an immersive environment where children and families can explore nature through hands-on tools, terrains and a surplus of educational activities.
In place of conventional plastic slides and swings, park visitors can expect to see natural play elements such as hills, tunnels, water, sand and loose parts throughout the new grounds that encourage children to partake in creative, yet challenging play, per prior reporting.
What’s new
According to site overview plans from Aug. 10, the Enchanted Woods Nature Play Space is divided into three signature play zones.
- Imagination Meadow
- Discovery Creek
- Nature Workshop
These zones are anchored by a fully air-conditioned “Cottage Classroom” with its accompanying outdoor Observation Deck.
- The Cottage Classroom: a 24-seat programming space equipped with 18 feet of counterspace, a cleanup sink, a wall-mounted TV for presentations and a restroom for classroom use
- The Observation Deck: an elevated overlook surrounding the classroom that is intended for wildlife viewing and education through play binoculars, a two-faucet trough sink, a designated teaching space, a drinking fountain, a bottle filling station and parental seating
The NDC is partnering with TBG Partners and StudioRed Architects for the playground’s consultation and design, which is near completion as of late August. Once designs are finalized, Forney Construction will begin its services related to building and executing said plans, per its website.
Next steps
NDC Development Director Darenda Dorsey said the anticipated start date for construction of the Enchanted Woods Nature Play Space is sometime in September.
Members of the public who plan on attending the Oct. 7 groundbreaking celebration must RSVP their attendance in advance of the event online. The ceremony will be held on the northwest corner of Evergreen Street and Newcastle Drive at Russ Pitman Park.
