Upcoming Events in the Park

We’ve still got some great events planned before the heat of summer hits us! See below for FWP events and the Woodland Community Center Schedule (Note: Events and dates/times may change without notice. Check the FWP website for updates.)

• FWP Events:

  • April 4th 6:15pm - Board Meeting. Contact Board President Kelli Fereday if you would like to attend or want to add an item to the Board’s agenda.

  • April 11th 8:30am-Noon - Travis Visits Woodland Park

  • April 15th 7:30am - Audubon Bird Survey. Monthly every third Saturday. Contact Mary Goldsby to be added to the email list.

  • April 20th - Ontility Workday

  • April 23rd 11am-4pm - Earth Day Community Clean-Up and Workday. Contact Board Members Lauren Lindsay or Amanda Brown for more information

  • May 2 6:15pm - Board Meeting. Contact Board President Kelli Fereday if you would like to attend or want to add an item to the Board’s agenda.

  • May 13th 11am - Happy Turtles, Trails, and Hot Dogs! Join in this annual free and fun event which, this year, includes the dedication of Woody the Turtle.

• Community Center Schedule: Open weekdays Noon-8pm and Saturday 10am-2pm. Contact Center Manager Rob Messa for more information on activities or to book the craft room.

  • Every Weekday: After-School Enrichment Program

  • Monday: Adult Volleyball 6-7:30pm

  • Tuesday: Free Play Basketball 6-8pm

  • Wednesday: Teen & Tween Volleyball 6-7:30 pm

  • Thursday: Free Play Basketball 6-8p

  • Saturday: Pickleball 10am-Noon

Woody the Turtle "March"-es to Completion

Are you wondering where in the world is Woody the Turtle? Fear not! As of mid-March, Woody is "March”-ing to completion. He truly is a work of art - as unique as Woodland Park and Woodland Heights.

Local artist Dylan Conner is hard at work bringing this piece to life. Ironically, much like the re-eared slider itself, progress is slow and steady.

Dylan shared that construction of Woody is a very unique process, where the pipe sections have to be manipulated inch by inch (literally). In fact, the bending of just one of the 20 leg pipes can take up to 5 hours to form and fit! Fabrication is expected to take another 3-4 weeks, with powder-coating and City of Houston playground certification to follow.

Dylan further explained that “I should have the last two front legs pipes formed and fit and our 5/16” thick webbed turtle foot plates cut out and tacked on this week. When the front foot plates are tacked on we will really start to get a sense of how the finished legs will look. I couldn’t be happier with the work. It is such a privilege to have the support of FWP and our neighborhood in bringing this unique interactive sculpture to life and I am forever grateful for that.”

The FWP Board is planning the official dedication at the annual “Happy Trails and Hot Dogs” event - renamed for this year to “Happy Turtle, Trails, and Hot Dogs!” on May 13th from 11am-1pm. Save the Date and watch our website for more information.

And thank you again to all of our generous donors who made this possible! We hope to see you out celebrating with us on May 13th as well.

Cub Scouts Tackle Litter in Woodland Park

Thank you to Cub Scout Dens 9 and 10 from Pack 88, from SPJST Lodge 88! Nineteen boys and girls worked to clean-up Woodland Park and Little White Oak Bayou on March 26th as part of work towards a merit badge. Their organizer, Andrea Gorney told FWP that “They had a lot of fun and a few times I overheard the girls exclaim “why do people litter?!!”.” Good question, ladies!

After a hard day of cleanup, the Scouts learned about the history of Woodland Park from Board Member and Treasurer Pat Rutledge as part of another merit badge. Then - because if there is one thing that Cub Scouts have, it’s energy - they tried out the new Gaga ball area!!

If your group would like to organize a clean-up or workday, please contact FWP at info@friendsofwoodlandark.org.

Thank you Cub Scouts!

March Birding Update

Dispatch from our intrepid Bird Survey Leader, Mary Goldsby:

Six of us enjoyed some brisk temperatures on the morning of March 18th and more birds than I initially thought we would with 24 species.  Next Bird Survey is April 15th.

I've shared this link before, but it's a good reminder at this time of year to keep an eye on the migration forecasts. This is a wonderful tool to help maximize your spring birding experience no matter where you're located. 

https://birdcast.info/migration-tools/migration-dashboard

Our next survey will be April 15th at 7:30am and we should see migrants. 

March’s List (for photos and more info check out the Birds page on the FWP website!)

White-winged Dove  3
Neotropic Cormorant  4
Great Blue Heron  2
Great Egret  1
Cooper's Hawk  2
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Barred Owl  1     (brief look while he relocated from one tree to another but couldn't re-find him)
Belted Kingfisher  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Downy Woodpecker  2
Blue Jay  6
Carolina Chickadee  1
Barn Swallow  1     FOS
Red-vented Bulbul  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  3
Carolina Wren  4
European Starling  1
Hermit Thrush  1
American Robin  2
Cedar Waxwing  300
House Sparrow  1
American Goldfinch  2
Great-tailed Grackle  6
Northern Cardinal  10

Happy birding!

Gaga over Gaga Ball!

First, the mysterious mound of sand arrived in Woodland Park.

Then, Troop 30 Boy Scouts helped shovel the pile into a square shape, soon to be covered by rubber mats.

Finally, on March 14th, a black octagonal shape appeared in the playground -what could it be????? If you guess GAGA BALL, you’d be right!

Thanks to an idea and a generous donation by a Woodland Park neighbor, Charles deLongchamp, Woodland Park has a new play amenity for kids of all ages.

According to Gagacenter.com, “Gaga is a fast paced, high energy sport played in an octagonal pit. The more players the better! Dubbed a kinder gentler version of dodge ball, the game is played with a soft foam ball, and combines the skills of dodging, striking, running, and jumping, while trying to hit opponents with a ball below the knees. Players need to keep moving to avoid getting hit by the ball. Fun and easy, everyone gets a serious workout.”

After Charles approached the FWP Board in 2022, Board Member Pat Rutledge worked with the City of Houston to get approval and obtained all of the foundation materials. Troop 30 Boy Scouts, based at St Marks UMC, helped build the foundation, and FWP added the signage and provided gagaballs to the Woodland Community Center for checkout during community center hours.

Girl Scouts Bring Butterflies and Beauty to the Park

Seventeen enthusiastic Girl Scouts (and 8 of their parents) from Troops 122288 and 122231 worked hard on several weekends in February and March planting 65 native pollinator plants in the new flower bed on the west side of the community building. 

The garden was designed and native plants selected by the Junior Girl Scouts, based at Travis Elementary School. HPARD generously donated the plants, and FWP donated the remaining materials and will install the irrigation system. The girls prepared the beds and completed the planting, and will continue to care for the gardens as part of the adoption agreement between FWP and HPARD. Board members Louise Moss and Beth Fischer guided the Girl Scouts, and Pat Rutledge obtained the City of Houston approvals.

FWP is looking for volunteer groups to plant more gardens, likely xeriscapes, on the north side of the Community Center.

We can't wait for the plants to thrive and bloom and attract beautiful bees and butterflies to Woodland Park.  We thank the Girl Scouts for their hard work and look forward to watching our garden grow!

Loreta & Stanko Bring Music Back to the Park!

Wow! What a night! On March 9th over 80 friends and neighbors enjoyed the inaugural concert of the Woodland Park Concert Series! Longtime master musician, Heights resident and FWP supporter Loreta Kovacic was joined by her brother Stanko Kovavic, cellist and music producer, on his first trip to the US from Croatia. The audience was treated to music crossing all genres from classical to folk to rock in a style that is uniquely Loreta!

Friends of Woodland Park and Houston Parks partnered to "bring music back to the park" by initiating a free concert series - inspired by Loreta's offer of a musical performance with her brother celebrating his trip to Texas. Historically, music has been a regular feature of the Woodland Community Center with dances every Friday night in the 1950's and 60's and even regular performances by Kenny Rogers who was a local resident and student at Northside High School. Many people attending commented on how great the acoustics were in the center and how beautiful the evening was overall. We agree and can't wait to host the next concert! If you are interested in lending your musical talents, please contact info@friendsofwoodlandpark.org.