The future of lake Houston State Park is “in limbo,” says Ron Smith, NHA Environment Committee Chairman. The state purchased the 4,712-acre parcel, situated on the northern tip of lake Houston, in 1981, according to Jim Bell, General Parks Superintendent for Harris County Precinct 4. If developed, the park would be the largest in north Houston. The land — heavily forested with pine and hardwoods — is graced with 10 miles of waterfront along Peach and Caney Creeks, as well as the San Jacinto River.

While the land was purchased eight years ago. funds have not been made available for Phase I development. When the Texas economy started declining, park development funds were deferred. The southern portion of the land is the most beautiful. Bell says, and that is where the Grand Parkway would cross. So the Environment Committee is looking for options, such as trying to get the parkway route realigned to the north.

Another stumbling block to funding improvements is the apparent low level of interest in the park at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. Smith fears any conflict between the Grand Parkway and the state park will discourage state authorities from developing the land.
“We need to do whatever we can do to break this impasse,” said Smith, engineering adviser with Friendswood Development Company. Without further funding from the state. Lake Houston State Park will not become a reality.