LAKE HOUSTON STATE PARK TRANSFERRED TO CITY
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department transferred Lake Houston State Park to the city of Houston at 10 am this morning. The park, 4,919.5 acres, is located in New Caney, thirty miles north of Houston. It is bounded by the San Jacinto River, Peach Creek and Caney Creek. A small section of the park is the former Peach Creek Ranch Girl Scout camp. The State acquired the majority of the land in the 1980’s from a lumber company. Funding problems with State Parks, which have stalled developing and improving the park, led to the divestiture of this park, as well as others across the state, from the state system.
The park will be operated primarily by the City of Houston in cooperation with Harris and Montgomery counties. Joe Bill Cochran will be its director. The park will keep the same hours, 8 am to 10 pm, seven days a week, Cochran said.
Robert L. Cook, TPWD executive director, said, “We have a clear understanding that they will continue the park’s current recreational character and safeguard its natural resource and historical characteristics. It took careful consideration and lengthy discussion with our partners, but it finally became clear that in this case transferring this site to local control was the right thing to do for the park and the people who will enjoy it in future years.†Houston mayor Bill White said, “This transfer is a wonderful opportunity for both the City of Houston and surrounding counties to preserve green space and to increase tourism and economic development that will benefit the entire area.”
Joe Turner of the Houston Parks Department said, “Twenty years from now, this area will be surrounded by residential development. . . and right in the middle will be almost 5,000 acres of parkland for all to enjoy.â€
Jerry Walls, formerly at Jesse Jones Park, will be Lake Houston Park’s naturalist. Walls said plans for the park include building a nature center, constructing wildlife exhibits, conducting adult and school programs, and scientific research.
Christina Wilkerson of the Park People said, “We have committed to raise money to improve the park and are also making it one of the sites for our Trail of Trash clean up next year. One of the special features of the park is its white sand beaches.â€
The park’s existing facilities, remnants of its days as a Girl Scout Camp, include walk-in campsites, a picnic pavilion, showers, a 12-mile hike/bike trail, and 8 miles of equestrian trails. There are several dormitory styled cabins.
The park will be renamed Lake Houston Park. It is at 22031 Baptist Encampment Road, New Caney. From Houston, take US Highway 59 north to the New Caney exit, FM 1485; travel east 2 miles to Baptist Encampment Road, turn south for 1.5 miles to the park entrance. Admission is $3 for each person older than 13.
To make reservations for cabins and other facilities, call the state park reservation center at (512) 389-8900.
In other park news, a ribbon cutting for improvements at Lindsay/Lyons Park will be held on Tuesday, Aug 29, at 9:30 am. The park, part of Harris County Precinct 4, has added five new soccer fields; two new parking areas; a new concession, pavilion, and restroom facility; a barrier-free playground for children of all abilities; and a family restroom with adult changing tables.