Fulshear-Katy Community Guide 2025-26

A FULSHEAR PARKS AND PATHWAYS UPDATE Grow Again by Melanie Saxton

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O ne of the great challenges faced by city expansion and development create a need for more hiking trails, league sports venues, and social spaces. The good news for those who love the great outdoors is that Fulshear continuously weaves “Parks and Pathways” planning into its developing and redeveloping areas. Tiffany Stodder, Assistant Director of Public Works for the City of Fulshear, notes that parks and recreational facilities elevate the quality of life for families and attract newcomers to the area. “The Parks & Pathways Master Plan serves as a strategic roadmap for prioritizing park projects in alignment with community needs and long-term goals,” she says. During a community survey this past fall, residents were asked to prioritize features they’d like to see in city parks. The response from 953 people included trails, playgrounds, tennis courts, pickleball courts, soccer fields, baseball fields, outdoor event spaces, and amphitheaters. PRIMROSE CITY PARK Exciting things continue to happen at Primrose Park, just west of Huggins Elementary on Dixon Road. This green space checks all the boxes requested by survey respondents. Phase 1 of the project included walking trails and parking, while Phase 2 included four youth baseball fields with lighting, a restroom, and a concession building, parking, and required detention. The most recent update, Phase 3, outlines an amphitheater, additional parking, walking trails, an outdoor education pavilion, a playground, a food truck court, additional detention, restrooms, scoreboards, governments is keeping up with the growing demand for outdoor recreational amenities. Rapid

Also, Fulshear families will be able to enjoy soccer fields, playground equipment, concession facilities, a covered patio with tables, and 310 parking lots this summer at Eagle Landing Park, located at 4131 Woods Road. The park will offer children a place to run, play, and strengthen their sports skills. The name “Eagle Landing” pays homage to the bird varieties that visited this former rice field. GREEN SPACES MAKE LIFE BETTER Parks certainly contribute to the quality of life in any public domain. The ecological advantages include mitigating storm runoff and providing wildlife habitats. Green spaces can be a tourism draw and, of equal importance, add intrinsic and extrinsic value to homes. “The real estate market consistently demonstrates that many people are willing to pay a larger amount for a property located close to parks and open space areas than for a home that does not offer this amenity,” writes John L. Crompton, a distinguished professor at Texas A&M University. His article, “The Impact of Parks on Property Values: A Review of the Empirical Evidence” has been widely discussed and cited as city governments consider how to prioritize parks and recreation. Fortunately for our community, parks and pathways are a point of pride and are enjoyed by residents throughout Fulshear. Learn more about the beautiful parks and green spaces in our area at fulsheartexas.gov.

and maintenance building plans. With bond approval, completion is anticipated in late 2025 or early 2026. OTHER PARKS IN THE NEWS In April 2025, the city announced a Parks and Pathways Master Plan update in which the Fulshear City Council approved a $7M investment in three parks—Frances Smart, Irene Stern, and Bessie’s Creek. Amenities at Frances Smart Park include a playground, plaza space, and parking. The 0.87 acre is located just north of Downtown Fulshear at 7926 FM 359 and was named after Mrs. Frances Smart in honor of her dedication to public service in Fulshear, serving two terms as Mayor and later as Planning Commissioner. A future plan is for the space to become a Veteran’s Memorial Park. Residents can look forward to renovations in the 1.45 acres of the Irene Stern Community Center and the 0.76 acres of the Irene Stern City Park, located at 6920 Fulshear Katy Rd. Basketball, tennis, pickleball courts, a pavilion, walking paths, and a playground are included. The amenities were named after Irene Stern, whose ranch became part of the city when Fulshear incorporated and is now known as Cross Creek Ranch. An investment in a new 11.5-acre park along Bessie’s Creek, three miles south of Fulshear, would include a walking trail, an outdoor fitness station, a boardwalk with a pier overlook, and potential parking. The creek is thought to have been named after Isaac Best, an early Waller County settler, and flows southeast through northern Fort Bend County to its mouth on the Brazos River.

Photos Courtesy of Fairmont Custom Homes