What you need to know
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department awarded a $455,013 "nonurban outdoor grant" to the North Houston District for renovations to Thomas R. Wussow Park—located at 500 Greens Road, Houston—according to a Jan. 25 TPWD news release. The grant will fund about half of the project while the other half comes from funds the district has saved for years in anticipation of the project, according to a Feb. 6 email from Robert Fiederlein, vice president of planning and infrastructure for the district.
Planning and permitting for the project will take place this year, while construction is slated to begin in 2025, according to the North Houston District’s news release.
“Our two overarching goals for this project are to help improve the health and wellness of the community and to give the residents a more authentic and enhanced natural experience,” Fiederlein said in a statement. “This grant makes that possible.”
The details
The project is part of the North Houston District’s Parks Master Plan, according to the district's news release, and will include improvements, such as:
- Two youth soccer fields, which are currently being built
- An expansion of the children’s playground
- A shaded adult’s fitness area with workout stations, many of which will be accessible for people with disabilities
- New picnic areas, walking paths and park benches
- Three new planting areas: a pollinator garden, a coastal prairie section lining the park's bayou trail and additions in an on-site drainage ravine to "filter pollutants" from entering Greens Bayou
- Additional lighting for improved security
Quote of note
“Wussow Park is our signature neighborhood park, serving a densely populated community,” North Houston District President Greg Simpson said in a statement. “We are thankful for this grant and excited about the renovations that will update this 22-year-old facility, allowing it to better serve local families and children.”
