For those of you in Houston and, more specifically, inside the loop, there is a really beautiful 21-acre park off of 11th Street very close to TC Jester in Timbergrove (near the Heights). It is quiet with walking/jogging trails, beautiful pine trees and the homes of a number of birds you don't normally find this close to the city. For years the land has been owned by HISD, who considered putting the campus of HSPVA on it a number of years back. The people who live in and around the park (it literally covers about a 4-block radius with homes directly across the street) worked then to preserve the natural area and were successful. However, HISD is now wanting to sell off the land and it has given supporters until the end of the year to raise the needed money. The city has already chipped in $4 million to preserve the greenspace and has said it supports any effort to maintain the park as is. Friends of the park, who have non-profit status, have raised well over $1 million but still need to go substantially further to keep the park a natural environment. Developers have already begun lining up to buy the property if it becomes available including Perry Homes, infamous in the Heights for buying single properties and building 2 to 4 homes on a single plot, removing completely the original historic homes to do it. The fear is that they would remove the vast majority of the trees and certainly all the habitat to put in a townhome development that is not in keeping with the homes or community. This would be pretty typical for them. If anyone works for an organization willing to help out or is willing to donate funds or is just willing to spread the word, please email me at jbalke@tworoadsmedia.com. Because the park is supported by a non-profit organization, all donations are tax deductibe. I've taken quite a few pictures in this park, gone for jogs and just enjoyed how quiet the place is. So much of this area near White Oak Bayou has been lost to developers in the past 20 years and that loss of greenspace was a key contributor to the massive flooding in the area during Tropical Storm Allison. The more small places like this we can preserve, the better, IMO. http://www.west11thstreetpark.org/
i don't know if you're looking for physical help somehow but i can bring this up at my volunteer group's next meeting.
Actually, my aunt is very involved with this group and she asked me about helping out. Right now, they are good on volunteer help. The friends who work in the park actually do an AMAZING job of maintaining it, mowing the perimeter, clearing pathways, putting up signage, planting wildflowers and providing printed guides for the wildlife in the park. The Audubon Society even does walking tours of the park. Right now, what they really need are people to spread the word so they can raise the approximately $3 million left to purchase the park. They are particularly looking for corporate donors and I doubt they'd have a problem putting up plaques or signage representing sponsors and donors. Up until now, this park has been 100% maintained by the residents of Timbergrove. They've put all the money and time into it. They just need some help buying it. Whenever I go by there in the afternoon, there are always people out walking, letting their dogs run, playing with their kids, etc. Also, I'm sure they'd love any media attention they can get, so contacts with the press will help. I've sent out emails today to everyone I thought might be interested or might be willing to get involved even if it is just to send out more emails to people on their lists. Thanks!
Thanks for the heads up. I saw this on the news the other night. Nothing upsets me more than development taking over pristine greenlands especially in cities where this land is rare. I'll see what I can do.
Buddy of mine lives on Pineshade about 7 houses down from the park; been there a lot, it's a great place. I had no idea HISD was selling it. My Polish peeps do a fun run every fall, last year the money raised went to 3 Polish families who lost their homes to Katrina. I suggested that we give some of the money raised this year to these guys. Thanks, Jeff.
Jeff, I was wondering when this would finally happen. Having grown up around the block from that park on Waltway, I always wondered how long before HISD finally unloaded it. I'll be sending the website to my parents so they can spread the word. Of course if Houston had zoning then they could force any builder to at least build homes comparable in size to the rest of Timbergrove. Once again, Houston is chaos in motion.
looks like the council went to bat, and hit a home run... nice job guys hopefully the remainder of the money will be raised. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4368492.html
It's not done yet. As the guy said in the story, they are still on the first step, not the last. Getting the loan has been a tricky process and no one is sure if they'll be able to do it. Obviously, it's a step in the right direction and publicity helps, but it's far from over.
