Spring - Klein Edition | October 2023

Master plan outlines $758M in projects for Harris County Precinct 3 parks, trails over From the cover

How we got here

What you need to know

Following redistricting in 2022, Harris County Precinct 3 encompasses 555 square miles including 4,200 acres of parkland and 3,400 acres of green- way—the most of any precinct countywide. To maintain and improve upon the precinct’s existing green space and prepare for anticipated population growth, Precinct 3 ocials began working on a parks and trails master plan in 2022. As part of the master plan, Precinct 3 ocials completed an outreach phase to assess the needs and desires of the community, which included six meetings and an online survey conducted last fall. “Thank you to the residents who took time to provide us feedback,” Ramsey said. “They know their parks and trails better than anyone, so we’re con- dent in the information incorporated into the plan.” The parks and trails master plan assesses both cur- rent and future needs for the area’s parks and trails network. The analysis will inform the recommenda- tions process that has a baseline framework for the next 30 years, according to plan documents.

before trail connectivity was a priority. “It’s so important, I think, as these areas are developing to be getting the parkland now so that you can have large, beautiful parks in the future,” said Jim Robertson, chair of the Cypress Creek Greenway Project. Evan Bailey—an avid cyclist who owns Biking Roots with his wife, Alise, in Spring—said he was excited to read through the master plan until he saw the estimated costs and timelines for the recommended projects. “Twenty years is kind of the timeline for a lot of the [projects] plus another 10 years possibly for delays,” Bailey said. “So my kids would be grown and out of the house and have their own families probably by then.”

The plan divides Precinct 3 into four areas: Cypress, Spring, Humble and Crosby. Recommended parks projects in the Spring service area total nearly $44.2 million and include new facilities, natural features and renovations, per plan documents. The plan also recommends 57 miles of trail projects totaling $125 million, the majority of which aim to build upon the existing Spring Creek and Cypress Creek greenways. Of the four areas, Spring has the lowest anticipated population growth at 59% by 2045. Ocials noted all future park development and trail networks will have to respond to the existing framework of the community as many of the area’s developments were built over 20 years ago

Spring service area recommendations

Cost breakdown

Number of projects

Long-term projects (20+ years): 2 Medium-term projects (10-20 years): 25

Precinct 3 service areas • Existing parkland: 1,102 acres • Existing greenway: 46 acres • Population growth by 2045: +131% Cypress service area • Existing parkland: 779 acres • Existing greenway: 1,456 acres • Population growth by 2045: +59% Spring service area • Existing parkland: 778 acres • Existing greenway: 0 acres • Population growth by 2045: +294% Crosby service area • Existing parkland: 1,572 acres • Existing greenway: 1,911 acres • Population growth by 2045: +95% Humble service area

Natural parks features: $2.65M Park renovations: $21.38M New parks facilities: $20.15M

Short-term projects (less than 10 years): 40

Total: 67

Total: $169.18M

Spring service area parks projects

45 5 Kickerillo-Mischer Park Preserve: install a larger pavilion, extend trails and add a restroom 6 Kissing Tree Park: add walking paths, picnic areas, play equipment, a pavilion and fencing 1 Champion Forest Park: replace play equipment and add new trails, shade cover and bleachers 2 Collins Park: add a war memorial, community center, tennis courts and a new picnic pavilion 3 Meyer Park: replace play equipment and add covered basketball courts and pickleball courts 4 Farm League Park: renovate restrooms and increase tree canopy 7 Klein Park: improve drainage, increase tree canopy and consider uses other than baseball 8 Rothwood Park: develop trailhead and add classrooms, a boardwalk system and shing pier

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Spring

2920

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Klein

290

249

99 TOLL

1960

HARRIS COUNTY

NOTE: PRECINCT 3’S SPRING SERVICE AREA ALSO INCLUDES BURROUGHS AND MATTHEWS PARKS, WHICH ARE LOCATED IN TOMBALL.

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MAP NOT TO SCALE N

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 3 PARKS AND TRAILS MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 3 PARKS AND TRAILS MASTER PLANCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM