Westchase District’s Greenspace for Westchase campaign to fund the planned Wilcrest Park is off to a strong start thanks to major donations from companies, organizations and foundations familiar to all Houstonians.
The Greenspace campaign was created to cover the $3.2 million gap in funds necessary to build Wilcrest Park into a regional destination. Wilcrest Park will be built on a 3.5-acre parcel of land located on Wilcrest Drive immediately north of Robinson-Westchase Library and Westchase District’s Library Loop Trail. The park is in final design and the District’s board is expected to award a construction contract for the park later this year.
So far, more than $1 million has been donated or pledged to the Greenspace for Westchase campaign, according to Louis Jullien, Westchase District’s Parks Programming Director. “We invited leading organizations and companies to join our campaign and invest in the community,” said Jullien. “These leadership gifts add up to about one-third of our overall goal of $3.2 million.”
Some contributions earn naming rights for a particular venue within Wilcrest Park. “H-E-B is proud to sponsor the Wilcrest Park Performance Pavilion,” said Kristina Leal Jewasko, who handles public affairs, diversity and environmental affairs for H-E-B. “We look forward to partnering with the District and the Westchase District Community Fund on future park programming and events.”
Recent drone photography captures the progress of Woodchase Park.
Wilcrest Park’s promenade has been sponsored by Phillips 66. “Phillips 66 moved our world headquarters to the Westchase District in 2016, and we believe Wilcrest Park will be a great asset to the area,” said Claudia Kreisle, social impact manager and corporate communications for Phillips 66. “We are excited to support Greenspace for Westchase because it complements our three pillars of giving: the environment and sustainability, education and literacy, and community safety and preparedness,” she added.
CenterPoint Energy sponsored the water play zone. BGE has sponsored the outdoor reading room and Perry Homes has sponsored the seating grove. “We believe that Wilcrest Park is an important project that will increase the quality of life for the West Houston community,” said John Sousa, CenterPoint Energy vice president.
Other leadership gift donors include: Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc.; Park Eight; Texas Parks & Wildlife; Stedman West Foundation; The Brown Foundation; and The Sunderland Foundation.
Community donors also step forward
Leadership gifts include all donations $25,000 and greater. The Greenspace for Westchase campaign also includes a community giving element that allows individuals and smaller companies to be recognized for their donations to Wilcrest Park. “Every gift represents a community vote of support for this much-needed park,” said Jullien.
Any contribution $1,000 or greater will be recognized in a special edition of Westchase Today and The Wire. Contributions between $2,500 and $10,000 will be recognized on donor markers in the park. “We want everyone to have the opportunity to invest in Wilcrest Park because it will be a park for the entire community,” added Jullien.
Visit wdcfund.org/greenspace for more information about donating to Wilcrest Park.
Woodchase Park under construction
While Wilcrest Park is still being designed, Westchase District residents will have an opportunity to see the kind of first-class park it will be when Woodchase Park opens this winter. “We have some spectacular renderings of both parks,” said Jullien. “But renderings don’t tell the whole story. When Woodchase Park opens, we’ll kick off a vast programming schedule that will utilize the entire park. There will be activities every day of the week for kids, adults, and even dogs.”
