The expansion would allow the nonprofit to bolster its program capacity and revitalize a playground that hasn’t seen upgrades since the early 2000s.
Meredith Symonds, a board of directors member for the nonprofit, said the project will go beyond a traditional, plastic playground and instead bring a nature-based adventure space that “ignites curiosity and understanding of nature.”
“We want to have loose parts. We want to have running water, the ability for kids to get dirty and play and create experiences as they unfold, instead of a prescribed play experience, which is what plastic structures do,” she said.
The framework
Symonds said the expanded playground will replace conventional plastic slides and swings with natural play elements such as hills, tunnels, water, sand and loose parts intended to stimulate creative, challenging play and encourage an emotional bond with nature.
The Enchanted Woods Nature Play Area features include:
- Lily Pad Pond: Kids can fill buckets, build dams and experiment with water, as well as enjoy animals that live around the water
- Nature Workshop: Children can construct and deconstruct sculptures made with sticks, water, sand and mud
- Rolling Hills: Different hills will surround this section of the playground where kids can run around on, under, or even through using tunnels and slides that connect each hill to one another
- Backyard Encounters: A path will wander from plant to plant, offering interaction with the creatures who rely on plants for life
- Treehouse Terrace: This area features challenging play such as an obstacle course and a spider net climber
Symonds said the project’s focal point will be the R.L. Cook Family Treehouse, used as a programming space. She said the programs allow kids and families to learn and connect with nature. The Nature Discovery Center served more than 15,600 people through programming in 2024.
“Children need, as part of their development, a connection to nature and a grounding space to have these sensory experiences,” Symonds said. “We’re just trying to evolve to meet the evolving world of education and nature education.”
Due to limited space, the treehouse will have more “unconditioned space” that can be used as both a classroom and an open space for kids to play in when there’s no programming, Symonds said.
The nonprofit’s President Jayne Johnston said one of the biggest problems the organization faces is running programming that’s always at full capacity, as well as sold-out camps, resulting in long wait lists.
“We knew the community was hungry for our nature education, but we were out of space to be able to accommodate more campers in our existing Henshaw House,” Johnston said.
The Henshaw House, which turned 100 years old in April, currently serves as the center’s headquarters and indoor program space. Symonds said the new expansion and addition of the treehouse will allow the nature center’s staff the flexibility to expand program offerings, school group visits, summer camps and homeschool classes beyond the Henshaw House’s capacity.
Ryan Smith, Bellaire’s parks, recreation and facilities director, said he believes the nature center serves as an important community hub for kids to engage with nature, and Symonds said the city helps support the nonprofit.
“A park like this builds a stronger sense of community, encourages healthy lifestyles and fosters environmental stewardship,” Smith said.
Some of the programs and classes offered include:
- Summer science camps: Different science-themed camps are held each week with hands-on activities, games and art projects
- Mess maker classes: Kids can explore natural and man-made objects such as mud, flowers and shaving cream through messy play
- Nature story time: Each week, the nature center reads books on different nature topics, featuring live animals and specimens
- Bird watching: A guided birding road trip is held during spring migration with the hopes of seeing as many as 100 species of birds
- Meet the animals: The Nature Discovery Center offers weekend sessions to meet different animals, such as reptiles and rabbits
Symonds said construction is expected to begin this fall after the Nature Discovery Center wraps up summer camps and bird migration season, with the goal of finishing construction before summer camps start in 2026.
As of April 15, the $2 million campaign project, which launched in early 2023, has raised $1.2 million, primarily from community donations and organizations that support parks, education and public service in Houston. Symonds said if the center doesn’t meet its fundraising goal before construction starts, the nonprofit will either extend fundraising or adjust their budget to meet the goal.
Cathleen Fishel, a mother of three, said she donated to the campaign because she believes the project will not only connect her kids and other families to nature but also bring a beautiful, natural aspect to Houston.
“To have [the Enchanted Woods] in the heart of Bellaire, inside the loop, [the] center of Houston, is pretty special,” Fishel said. “We have people who invest in these projects because they really do care about the city. The Nature Discovery Center is just a little part of Houston, but it holds a big part in people’s hearts.”
