1. The 80-acre Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve opened to the public April 1, representing another milestone in the ongoing Cypress Creek Greenway project. The preserve, located on the east side of Hwy. 249 just south of Chasewood Park Drive, offers 1.7 miles of paved trail surrounding the 40-acre Marshall Lake.

The project, which was developed by Harris County through a partnership with Prestonwood Forest Utility District, includes restrooms and showers and can be used as a camping site by scouts. The park’s director and caretakers will provide educational and recreational programs at the site, and additional amenities slated for the future include fishing piers, a picnic pavilion, an outdoor classroom and an amphitheater.

2. The 81-bed Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital is now open. Located at 27800 Hwy. 290, Cypress, between Mueschke and Mason roads, the $168 million project features a 24-hour emergency center, eight operating rooms, a 16-bed intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit, labor and delivery center, cardiac catheterization lab and Life Flight helipad. The hospital offers a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and officials also plan to apply with the State of Texas to obtain Level III status for the trauma center. www.memorialhermann.org/locations/cypress

3. A portion of the Hwy. 290 high occupancy vehicle lane will temporarily close beginning at 9 p.m., Friday, April 7. The HOV lane will be closed between Hempstead Road and the Northwest Transit Center on Old Katy Road for a little over one week—through 3 a.m., Monday, April 17—according to an alert released by the Texas Department of Transportation.

The closure is necessary as the contractor progresses with bridge work on the Loop 610/Hwy. 290 interchange, officials said. Crews are also working on the new Hwy. 290 HOV lane between Dacoma Street and the Northwest Transit Center. Find information on detours during the closure here.

4. April is National Autism Awareness Month. Stay tuned to www.communityimpact.com/cy-fair for autism awareness coverage this week, including local events, statewide facts about autism in Texas and spotlights of local businesses catering to those on the spectrum.

5. This week is Flood Safety Awareness Week in Harris County. According to the National Weather Service, the spring and summer months bring a greater potential for thunderstorms that can trigger flooding in places like Harris County. Officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety are urging drivers out during flood conditions to "turn around, don't drown." Officials are reminding residents that only six inches of water can cause tires to lose traction and begin to slide, and 12 inches of water can float many vehicles.

Follow the Harris County Office of Emergency Management on Facebook and Twitter for daily safety tips this week. Download the ReadyHarris app for real-time weather alerts and a step-by-step guide to building a personalized family disaster plan.