New trail connections and park amenities are rolling out across Harris County Precinct 3, including in the Tomball and surrounding areas, more than two years after the Parks and Trails Master Plan was initially outlined.
The update
Officials with Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s office said several projects have been completed since 2023, with additional trail links and park enhancements scheduled to continue through 2026 and beyond.
In 2025, several projects in the Tomball area advanced, including the Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve. Precinct 3 officials added a new parking lot, playground, boardwalk and south trail that connects visitors to the YMCA pond trail.
The agreement and final design for the future 24,000-square-foot Mathews Community Center at Samuel Mathews Park is also nearly complete, officials said, with the anticipated bid date projected by the end of 2026.
The North Houston Association—made up of more than 150 regional businesses—advocates for the establishment of green space, parks and trails as part of its mission.
“A robust parks and trails system provides places to play, to exercise and simply to take a mental break by immersing ourselves in nature,” NHA President Marlisa Briggs said. “Parks provide places to gather and foster a sense of community.”
Click the points on the map to see additional details.
How we got here
The Precinct 3 Parks and Trails Master Plan debuted in 2023 and divided the north Houston area into four service areas: Cypress, Spring, Humble and Crosby. Officials with Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s office said park improvements were needed because population in the area, which spans over 555 square miles, is expected to double by 2045. The population growth will also increase demand for recreational facilities, trails and green space access, officials said.
“Population growth in the north Houston area is a major driver for the master plan,” Precinct 3 officials said. “Planning is required to ensure parks and trails keep pace with that growth.”
When the plan was first released, an estimated cost of all the projects totaled over $758 million and was being funded through a mix of county, state and other partner funds. The total project cost is subject to change as more projects launch, officials said.
Tomball is located within both the Cypress and Spring service areas, which, when combined, have over 30 total parks of varying sizes.
- Cypress service area
- 14 pocket parks
- 9 neighborhood or community parks
- 2 specialty parks
- 2 regional parks
- 1 undeveloped park
- 1 greenway
- 1 sports complex
- Spring service area
- 12 total parks
- 1,456 acres of greenway
- 779 acres of developed parkland
The projections
Precinct 3 officials said projects in the master plan could also be completed through partnerships with other entities.
Tomball officials said recent park improvements have expanded how residents use local green spaces. Council member Lisa Covington said she believes park usage has increased as amenities have been added.
Out of 472 people surveyed as part of Tomball’s 2024 parks master plan, 79% said they use the city’s parks at least one day a week or more, per the survey results.
“With the pickleball courts and tennis courts, the parks are now used every day of the week,” Covington said.
Looking ahead, Covington said she is “most excited to see the fruition of the combined Samuel Matthews Park and Broussard Park.”
“This combined park would greatly enhance Tomball’s park system and could be a fantastic partnership between Precinct 3 and the city of Tomball,” she said.
Reporters Sarah Brager and Nichaela Shaheen contributed to this report.
