1000 lbs of Trash Removed on World Cleanup Day

World Cleanup Day was September 16th and nearly 1000 pounds of trash were removed from the park!!! Amazing to have such a devoted coalition of schools - Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, St. Thomas High School, Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and St. Pius X High School - come together to clean up Woodland Park. Combined with the work of the Baringa crew yesterday, nearly 1000 pounds of trash - including 9 tires and 2 shopping carts - were removed from the Woodland Park Nature Reserve including Little White Oak Bayou.

Checkout and like this short video of the day by the Duchesne Environmental Club!

Bird Survey Spies 19 Species!

We had an exciting morning on September 16th at Woodland Park during our monthly bird survey walk. This time, we were a cozy group of four dedicated birders who gathered bright and early at 7:30 am. It's always great to see familiar faces and welcome newcomers to our community of bird enthusiasts.

We spotted a total of 19 different bird species during our walk. The Fall Migration is underway - we now see our year-round residents and the exciting additions of migrating birds passing through our area.

Our next bird survey is scheduled for Saturday, October 21st, 2023, starting at 7:30 am near the community center. Whether you're a seasoned birder or a beginner eager to learn, everyone is welcome to join our friendly group, led by Mary Goldsby.

As always, remember to bring your binoculars, bird field guides, comfortable walking shoes, and your curiosity.

Birds spotted on Sept 16, 2023 in Woodland Park with a photo of a female Summer Tanager

Help Woodland Park Win $75,000

FWP is asking you, our most enthusiastic park supporters, to vote every day until September 18! But we are getting ahead of ourselves. First the fantastic news: Woodland Park has been chosen as one of 9 parks, nationwide, to be a finalist in a contest to win $75,000.

HPARD submitted Woodland Park to the Niagara Perk Your Park contest where 3 of 9 finalists will each be awarded $75,000. In Woodland Park that money will be earmarked for forest restoration, and for education regarding riparian forest ecosystems on the Gulf Coast.

Should Woodland Park win the grant, HPARD will plan and supervise the work.

To win the grant we must be one of the top 3 vote-getters in the contest sponsored by Niagra. Park supporters can vote every day until September 18. (And, for those with more than one email account and more than one platform from which to submit votes, voters can vote 2 or 3 times per day!). We recommend leaving a browser open with the website to facilitate casting your daily vote.

A short list of what we have to gain if we win this $75,000 grant:

• In the summer months parts of the trails are impassable due to invasive grasses and weeds.

• More native plants directly equates to more native insects, birds and other animals.

• An opportunity to look back into our natural history with a view to what a Gulf Coastal bayou ecosystem looked like before our city was developed.

• Opportunities for young urban park users to experience a pristine natural habitat, and to learn how that habitat works from the soil to the skies above (birds!).

Please help Friends of Woodland Park campaign for this grant. In a world of social media, it is all about getting the word out and keeping the fires lit for one month! FWP, with help from many of you, has raised much smaller amounts in the past, and it was hard work. This is such a rare opportunity for us, and the grant would make such a difference in our park, we cannot afford to let this chance slide by!

We thank all you for your support and help in this endeavor!

WOODY Merch has Crawled into our Store!

Woody has arrived, and so has NEW Woody inspired merch! Featuring a one-of-a-kind Picasso inspired hand-drawn rendering of Woody by the artist, Dylan Conner, these items are guaranteed to make you smile. Limited quantities will be available at the Happy Turtles, Trails, and Hot Dogs event on May 13th from 11am-1pm in the park. Come join us, and you can always order online!

Woody the Turtle Goes Live Today!

Woody is Here! Join us TODAY, May 13th, for Happy Trails, Turtles and Hot Dogs! We are monitoring the weather and will make another announcement just after 10am if we have to change our plans.

Rain, Rain, Go Away! Turtles, Face Painters, and Hot Dogs can stay!

Woody the Turtle Dedication THIS SATURDAY!

Happy Turtles, Trails, and Hot Dogs is happening this Saturday, May 13th, from 11a-1pm at Woodland Park, 212 Parkview St. This annual FREE family event is TURTALLY special this year as it will feature the unveiling and dedication of our newest park addition - Woody the Turtle, an artistic play sculpture imagined and created by Heights resident and artist Dylan Conner.

Face Painting, special turtle guests, and local organizations will be on hand for all to enjoy. The event will kick-off at 11am with the dedication and speakers starting at 11:30. Hot dogs and root-beer floats will be provided free of charge while supplies last.

We are watching the weather and will communicate any changes as needed.

St Thomas High School Hosts Mutli-school Clean-Up Event

A HUGE thank you to St. Thomas High School Environmental Club for partnering with FWP and hosting an outstanding clean up and graffiti removal campaign on March 4th! IWA and Duchesne students made tremendous contributions as well.

What an impressive group of students who demonstrated such hard work! The results speak for themselves - thousands of pounds of rubbish, 4 tires, and, well, a car (sort-of!)!

White Oak Bayou Association also commented - “What great work. Thank you so much. We know it’s tough, but so rewarding to see these places free of trash.” Thanks WOBA, STH, IWS and Duchesne!