Park Potluck Rescheduled

Rain, rain go away!

Given the forecast, we are going to reschedule for NEXT Tuesday, Oct 10, 5:30- 7:30.

I'm sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

I look forward to seeing you then.

Best,

Alex

A Summer Update on the Wagner Greenspace

We hope you have had a good Summer so far. As we endure the August heat we want share some exciting updates that happened over the Summer on the Wagner Greenspace.

Latest Updates

Below are some of the recent things we have achieved: 

• Friends of Wagner Greenspace is partnering with Houston Parks Board (click here for more information about partnering with HPB)

• Wagner Park Signs installed

• Regular Mowing on a regular cycle

• Anticipation of two benches and marked tree removal/trimming.

Please feel free to email HPARD and make your appreciation known to the new director Steve Wright: steve.wright@houstontx.gov

Fundraising & How You can Donate

The first step to develop the land with HPARD is to raise $15,000 for a master plan. The master plan will incorporate input from our community in order to define a high level vision for the space. 

Please consider making a donation to progress the goal of a Master Park Plan. 

• Donations can be made to Houston Park Board and directed for the "Wagner Greenspace" via our web page with the Parks Board
• Click here and choose Wagner Greenspace from dropdown list to make an online donation.
• You can also always navigate or direct others to our Donate Page

Reaching our Fundraising Goal

I know what your thinking...$15K sound like a lot of money...but we believe it is an achievable goal in the next 1-2 years. While Friends of Wagner Greenspace works on planning the initial fundraising events there are some ways we can start raising money now:

• Neighborhood Donations: Approximately 100 house holds are in the area adjacent to the Wagner Greenspace.

• If each household donates $50, we would raise $5000 in one year (1/3 of our initial goal)

• If each household donates between $50 & $150 dollars, we could raise between $5000 and $15,000 (our goal) in one year.

• Thinking outside the Neighborhood: If each household forwarded the donation link to family, friends, or coworkers interested in supporting our cause we could raise much more.

• Company Donation Matching: If your company matches donations and you make a donation via their matching program we could maximize donations.

What Happens After reaching the Master Plan Fundraising Goal?

Once we reach the $15K goal to develop a master plan the Friends of Wagner Greenspace will work with Houston Parks Board to engage an architecture firm to develop the Master Plan. At this point community ideas for the space will be critical so that the can be incorporated into the design.

Additionally, with an HPARD approved Master Plan in hand the Friends of Wagner Greenspace will be able to approach larger businesses for donations for the next phases: Detailed Plans through Build.

If you have any questions about donating please contact us at FriendsofWagnerGreenspace@gmail.com

And We'll Leave You with a Few Photos...

 

Trash and Trees and Level Ground (oh my!)

We have some exciting updates on ongoing improvements to our park.

Previously when you walked on parts of our park you never knew what you were going to find...old rusted saw blades, broken glass, chunks of concrete, snarling vines...but all of that is changing!

Wizard of Oz

The land that is Wagner Greenspace is slowly becoming a respectable space everyone can use safely and comfortably.

The last few weeks have brought exciting changes and updates:

Community Cleanup

The Community Clean-up on April 29 made a significant dent in the debris and vines that were cluttering our park. You may not have thought there was much junk out there, but take a look at these pictures to see just some of what we picked up. A big thank you to everyone who came out.

Digging up concrete and sheet metal

One of our piles of trash

HPARD front loader collecting trash

 Check out more pictures on our Instagram.

HPARD Improvements

Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) has indicated they will take care of some of the bigger issues.  Although there is no exact timeline for this, we suspect it will be fairly soon.

1. Remove the dead trees and trim the overgrown trees 
2. Level the land where there are low spots and holes.  This is particularly important as we enter mosquito season.

Trees that need maintenace

One of the low spots

Fundraising

Currently we are working with setting up an account with a non profit so that we can begin fundraising for the capital improvements in the park (think walking path, play-spaces, swings, etc).

Landscape Design

Finally we are also working on getting professional estimates and designs for developing the space. To see what we presented to the Parks Department in February as an initial idea check out our "Vision Page"

Go out and enjoy

So, while the weather is still fairly nice - grab a chair and a nice beverage and go out and enjoy the space. You no longer need to wonder about what 'strange things' are polluting the Wagner Greenspace.