Spooktacular Fall Concert! Thursday Oct 17th!

The Woodland Community Center Concert Series continues with its Fall Concert , featuring a special Halloween Show with Jo Bird - The Fiddle Witch from Galveston. FWP promises this to be a spooktacular evening of music and fun! On October 17th, join us for a night of hauntingly good musical performances, all set against the backdrop of our charming community center. Click here to add to your calender for google calendar or ICS files.

Did you know that the Woodland Community Center was a hub of weekend concerts and dances through the years, including performances by Kenny Rogers and his first band, The Scholars, who attended Northside High School! In 2022, FWP worked with HPARD to launch the Woodland Community Center Concert Series to “bring music back to the park” with a concert by our very own - now FWP Music Director - Loreta Kovacic!

JPMC and HPARD Blaze a New Trail!

The triangle adjoining Little White Oak Bayou between Wrightwood and White Oak streets - between “Woodland” and “Freed” Parks - has suffered longtime neglect, in part because no one was sure who it belonged to (hence its nickname, "no man's land").  But earlier this year, Houston Parks and Recreation (HPARD) clarified that that "no man's land" and Freed Park were now, in fact, part of Woodland Park. FWP sprung into action to clean it up and upgrade the existing "goat trail" running through it, connecting Freed Park and the main section of Woodland Park north of Wrightwood.  

More than four dozen energetic volunteers from JP Morgan Chase, HPARD, and local community volunteers came out on a warm September 28th Saturday morning to pick up trash, remove hurricane debris, clear vegetation, line a new trail between Woodland Park and Freed Park, then move and smooth over eight cubic yards of mulch. All in less than three hours! By lunchtime, “No Man's Land” was transformed, with a broad, smooth and welcoming path connecting the two parks.  Thank you JPMC!

None of this would have happened without a great deal of preplanning and skillful execution by the tireless Cindy and Serin from #BreakADifference, HPARD’s Oneika Peters, and FWP’s Pat Rutledge, Amanda Brown, and Taylor Chapman. The HPARD effort was part of the city-wide Park Recovery and Restoration project, and the city even worked throughout the week prior to insure that the park trails were cleared and safe for the workday to take place.

Maggie Holsten, Sr Manager at BreakADifference, said “It was such a pleasure working with each of you, and I'm thrilled to hear you are pleased with the results of the volunteers' efforts. It's a privilege to be able to partner with orgs like FWP that work year-round to support the communities you live in.”

Taylor Chapman, FWP Bayou Director, noted the very next day. “I drove past the trail this morning and saw someone walking his dog on the new trail that your volunteers built less than a week ago!  It's already attracting new foot traffic, which should make a positive impact in the neighborhood.”

So, check out the new trail! We are excited to have this new area and Freed Park officially recognized as extensions to Woodland Park.

So Many September Events!

FWP has kicked off the new school year with our own exciting late summer and fall activities! Click the calendar below for more details!

  • CEC Happy Hour (Sept 12)

  • FWP Membership Drive (Through Sept 20)

  • September Bird Survey (Sept 21)

  • Community Clean-up (Sept 22)

  • HPARD Park Recovery Event (Sept 28)

PLUS - Save the date for our Annual General Meeting on October 10th with 3 very special guests AND our Spooktacular Fall Concert on October 17th!

Girl Scout Silver Award BringS Recycling to Clean-ups

Nora Egan and Grace Lindsay are now 8th graders at Hogg Middle School working on their Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest achievement in Girl Scouting. The Silver Award requires the identification a problem in the community, partnering with a community agency and creating a sustainable solution.  Each Girl Scout must put a minimum of 50 hours towards their chosen project.

At Hogg, Nora and Grace were horrified by the amount of paper, including textbooks, which were thrown away and not recycled so they vowed to find a solution. Additionally, they were concerned about the lack of recycling at Woodland Park Clean-up Events.

To address these issues, they have created a Recycling Club at Hogg and meet weekly during the Friday afternoon advocacy period, creating recycling boxes for the classrooms they identified as producing the most paper waste.

They have also participated in clean-ups in Woodland Park and have separated materials which they have then brought home for recycling. The young woman had a wonderful table at the FWP Happy Trails and Hot Dogs event which explained the problem and their work to-date

Soon, they will submit their project for approval by the San Jacinto Girl Scout Council with the idea that the Recycling Club will continue and expand going forward.

Nora and Grace are very grateful for all of the neighborhood support they have received.       

Tree Removals Near Community Center.

Have you wondered what is going on with the disturbed area on the near the community center?

Several months ago, after a lightning strike fatally damaged two pine trees near the Woodland Community Center, the FWP board requested that HPARD remove those trees and also consider allowing FWP to commission a chainsaw artist to create a sculpture from the lower trunk. The tree sculpture idea gained support from HPARD and the Forestry Department was engaged to remove the trees with a special request to preserve the lower 14 feet of the tree upon removal. As we awaited the scheduling of the tree removal, preliminary steps were taken to pre-qualify the artist with HPARD. The tree removal commenced on Thursday, April 11th, and an FWP board member briefed the contractors on-site about the 14-foot stump preservation and the need to avoid damaging the surrounding pollinator garden.

The initial, smaller tree was swiftly cut down, segmented, and prepared for removal. Subsequently, the lead chainsaw operator began pruning the larger tree's side branches from his elevated platform. Intermittently, he captured photos and made calls engaging FWP and HPARD. Soon after, a ground supervisor showed a board member from the FWP the decayed core of the downed tree, voicing concerns about the second tree's similar condition and its unsuitability for use as a sculpture. FWP soon received a message from the forestry manager stating the remaining tree's trunk was extensively damaged, posing a risk to the crew, necessitating its felling at the base—a course of action that was ultimately executed.

Unfortunately, the butterfly garden was significantly impacted. FWP is monitoring completion of the work in the area and will then seek to restore the jewel of a garden back to beauty! If you or your group would like to help, please contact louise@friendsofwoodlandpark.org.

 



 



 



 



 



 

 

Birding in Woodland Park: A Springtime Adventure

Woodland Park, a haven for bird enthusiasts, hosted a delightful Saturday morning of birding. With ten birders in attendance, the group identified an impressive array of 32 different species. The next survey is eagerly anticipated for April 20, 2024, at 7:30 am, promising another opportunity to engage with nature's symphony.

The recent bird list (see below, and click each for more info) from March 23, 2024, reflects the vibrant bird life in Woodland Park. Highlights include the graceful Snowy Egret, the majestic Great Blue Heron, and a remarkable gathering of 50 Cedar Waxwings. Each species observed has been thoughtfully linked to further information on the park's website, inviting visitors to explore and deepen their understanding of these feathered friends.

As spring migration continues, the next six weeks are prime for birdwatching. Enthusiasts are encouraged to venture outdoors and witness the seasonal spectacle.

However, the joy of birding is shadowed by a significant challenge: the perilous journey migratory birds face each year. As they traverse the Texas skies, the allure of artificial lights can lead to fatal collisions with buildings, a tragic fate for up to one billion birds annually in the US. The solution is simple yet impactful – turning off lights during peak migration hours can safeguard these winged travelers. Learn more here for some simple steps you can take to help

Happy birding to all, and may the skies remain a safe passage for our avian companions.

 

Bird List March 23. 2024