Program enrollment (overall):
GROWING PARTICIPATION
my kids have been on my team since the beginning. … It’s fun watching these kids grow up and be a part of their lives.” Meeting the demand As Montgomery has also identi- ed more people using its parks, City Council members approved funding an events and recreation specialist position for $52,000 in August. The position includes organizing city events and establishing recreational activities, including an inaugural spring break camp with arts and crafts, reading, writing, and indoor and outdoor activities. Campuzano said she hopes to pro- vide a better quality of life for resi- dents through recreation activities, and she believes Montgomery will be able to mirror other cities with a big recreation center, classes, a gym and sports as programs take o. Meanwhile, Conroe also added a recreational specialist position in 2023 for about $76,000 to support its program growth. Riggens said the position is important because it helps the recreation coordinator for sports programming. Previously, there was only one full-time sta member run-
230,099
2019
146,088
2020
170,191
2021
Conroe’s recreational programs are anticipated to see
252,558
2022
27%
overall growth in enrollment
74,851
292,404
2023
from 2019-23, with programs including:
through January
projected through December
youth ag football
art
Youth ag football enrollment: +211.22% 305
Youth soccer enrollment: +86.85%
1,932
youth soccer
music
263
1,492
1,034 1,127
karate
dance
98
27*
SOURCE: CITY OF CONROE COMMUNITY IMPACT *IN 2020, THE SPRING AND FALL FLAG FOOTBALL SEASONS WERE CUT SHORT BY COVID 19.
2019 (fall)
2020 2021 2022
2019 2020 2021 2022
FUNDING
According to Conroe’s budget for FY 2022-23, from FY 2021-22, ath- letic eld usage has increased by 18% and special event facilities usage has increased 21%. Perry said the city’s soccer program has seen enrollment climb the most since its launch.
CONTINUED FROM 1
PROGRAMS
Montgomery has noted more tra c within the parks but had not provided recreation activities for kids until the new position was created. “We do need something for the kids to do out here; there’s not a lot really for the children,” Campuzano said in an interview. “We have playgrounds but not a lot for kids to do during school breaks.” At the county level, Montgomery County Precinct 2 is also working to provide more green space. Com- missioner Charlie Riley said in an interview that Johnson Develop- ment—developer of master-planned community Woodforest—donated 391 acres of land to the county west of Fish Creek Thoroughfare in December 2021, as the land is in a ood plain and cannot be used for commercial devel- opment. As such, the county is plan- ning for the land to be turned into a recreational site. “It’s a perfect way for people to get real acquainted with nature,” Riley said. Demand for recreation According to Director of Parks and Recreation Mike Riggens, the city’s 2021 comprehensive plan revealed Conroe fell below the national aver- age in many parks categories. The plan reported 6% of the city’s land is used for parks and recreation while the national average is 15%. He said 28% of the population in Conroe lives within a 10-minute walk to a park, while the national average is 54%.
Montgomery
Montgomery added an event and recreation specialist
position in 2022 to launch recreational programs.
According to enroll- ment data, the soc- cer program has seen a more than 230% increase in children enrolled as of Feb. 27 since its launch in fall 2018. Riggens said this comprehensive plan was the inspiration for Conroe to weigh the need for addi- tional park space. In 2019, the city of Conroe had more than 230,000 total participants in its
ning every program, according to city information. Additionally, Con- roe’s newly opened Owen Park and Westside Recreation Center includes a tness room equipped with free weights and cardio machines, locker rooms, racquetball courts, spin rooms, a kids zone, a gymna- sium, and a heated outdoor pool. “This is a great
"
City Council approved
The acquisition of Owen Park and the Westside Recreation Center gives citizens on the west side of Conroe as well as the surrounding area another opportunity to enhance their
$52,000
for the position in FY 2022-23.
The city launched its recreational programming with 7
kids registered for a spring break camp as of the close of registration.
QUALITY OF LIFE .
"
MIKE RIGGENS, CONROE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION
Conroe
Funding for new positions and programs have increased year over year with the exception of 2022-23. City Council approved $76,071 for a new recreation specialist in February, which is funded by sports program fees. The city projects sports fee revenue will grow from $75,000 in FY 2022-23 to $95,000 in FY 2026-27.
recreation programs. Scott Perry, assistant director of parks and recre- ation, said the city is anticipating to surpass 292,000 total participants in 2023, which would be a 27% increase from 2019. Abigail Harrison said she has been a volunteer soccer coach with the city of Conroe for six seasons along with her husband. She said in an interview that her son’s team was split into two separate divisions because of the amount of interest. “It’s actually really cool to be able to reach out to more kids and make them a part of something bigger than themselves,” Harrison said. “Some of
addition to our park’s system. The 110 acres allows Conroe room to expand for future outdoor activities. We are committed to providing a safe and positive recreational environment for our children and citizens of Conroe,” Council Member Marsha Porter said in a Jan. 26 statement. According to Riggens, the city invested over $1 million in improve- ments to the park and renovations to the recreation center. Improvements include a new asphalt road with addi- tional parking, an o-leash area for dogs, resurfacing of the large pavilion, a new roof for the recreation center, air lighting in the gymnasium, new
SOURCES: CITY OF MONTGOMERY, CITY OF CONROE COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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