Preliminary master plans for a 25,004-square-foot community and nature center along Fish Creek Thoroughfare were revealed by Burditt Consultants during a Nov. 28 public meeting at the Woodforest Golf Club on 1199 Fish Creek Thoroughfare Road, Montgomery.

What you need to know

The new community and nature center will be constructed by Montgomery County in 2024 in the Fish Creek Thoroughfare area. As previously reported by Community Impact, Montgomery County Commissioners Court approved a master plan analysis on the 391-acre park March 28.

The center will contain:

• A 3,412-square-foot multipurpose hall
• A 4,350-square-foot exhibit hall
• 1,182-square-foot classroom spaces
• 1,052-square-foot pop-up shop centers
• 3,874-square-foot covered porch areas

The center will also contain shower spaces and kitchen areas for events and other uses, according to information presented at the meeting. Additional trail access points will also feed off of the main center, according to plans by Burditt Consultants.

Several sports grounds are also expected to be constructed surrounding the center, including three baseball fields and a number of rectangular sports fields.

How we got here

The 391-acre section of land was donated to Montgomery County Precinct 2 Commissioner’s Office from Johnson Development Company. After an assessment by Burditt Consultants, only 45 acres are usable for parks and amenities. Shane Howard, senior vice president of Burditt, said the majority of the area is within a floodway, which prohibits construction and development.

What’s next

Construction on the project is expected to begin in 2024, and according to previous reporting, the funding for the project will come from public and private sources, Precinct 2 Chief of Staff Bruce Berger said. Berger said in an email the current estimate for the community and nature center with additional developments could range up to $75 million.

Editor's note: The story has been updated to correct the name of the consulting firm.