Submitted by Friends of West 11th Street Park

As the heat of the summer pushes into the fall season, West 11th Street Park is buzzing with activity as is Friends of West 11th Street Park, the non-profit organization that acts as stewards for the 21-acre nature preserve. Recently, longtime Board member Dave Dyers resigned from his post as Secretary of the organization. Dave served on the Board from the beginning and was instrumental in creating and maintaining the Wireless Wilderness Tour. The Tour has grown to be one of the Park’s more popular attractions. So please join the Board in giving a big thanks to Dave and wishing him well.

The Board would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest member, Peter Davies. Many Timbergrove Manor residents know Pete as he’s lived in the neighborhood since 1988 and raised both of his daughters here. He has also served as Secretary for the TMCC since 2010. Professionally, Pete is a Licensed Professional Engineer and has worked for Harris County since 1991. He has an extensive background in designing roads, bridges, park trails, etc. Friends of West 11th Street Park is excited as he steps into his newest volunteer role where his experience and talents will undoubtedly be put to good use. Thanks for serving, Peter!

West 11th Street Park is a very popular place for dogs and their humans. But the two most common complaints the Board regularly receives are dogs off-leash and “presents” being left behind. Please remember the Park is not a dog park. All dogs are always required to be kept on a leash no matter how friendly, well-trained, or generally lovable. Many young families enjoy visiting the park for both informal and formal nature education and have had scary and unwelcome encounters with off-leash dogs, not to mention the waste they leave behind. Please pick up after your dog. There are four bag dispensers located on each side of the park. Please use them. Concerns about off-leash pets can be reported to the City of Houston’s Urban Park Rangers at 832-395-7100.

The Board is working on resuming workdays in the Park next spring. The current goal is to have a couple of workdays each year, in the spring and fall. The work would include minor trail maintenance, weeding, mulching, and other flowerbed and garden upkeep. Details will be announced beforehand. Workdays are a great way help the Park and maybe make some new friends. If you would like to participate as a volunteer, with this or in other areas, please let us know.

In addition to lending your time, please consider a financial donation as well. We operate entirely on donations. Your money goes towards stocking the dog bags, operating the Wireless Wilderness Tour, the butterfly flower beds, and trail maintenance. Please help if you can. Any amount is greatly appreciated, especially as Friends of West 11th Street Park embarks on another year without the financial support previously offered from the Run the Grove Fun Run, which was canceled by our neighbors in the Timbergrove Manor Neighborhood Association due to a lack of volunteer participation and leadership.

To donate use the button below, or mail a check to “Friends of West 11th Street Park, Box 7679, Houston TX 77270-7679”.

See you in the park!