Parks and streetscapes benefit landlords and tenants

It was 2004 when a group of bold leaders from Westchase District met in a board retreat to go through a visioning exercise to imagine what Westchase District might look like 20 years down the road. As a result of that exercise, the Westchase District Board of Directors established the following Vision Statement: “The Westchase community is a vibrant living and working community, with a high-quality downtown. The Westchase community is perceived by residents as the safest in the region and has the highest (measured) mobility level in the region. The community is known for having entertainment/recreation amenities, and there are inter-connecting hiking, biking, and pedestrian ways, linking a set of community gathering areas.”

Since that vision statement was adopted by the board in 2004, it appears on the District’s website and at the bottom of every board meeting agenda, serving as a constant reminder of the Board’s vision.

Parks and greenspaces

This fall, Woodchase Park — the area’s first, fully programmed park — will open at 3951 Woodchase Drive. Woodchase Park features a fenced dog park, children’s play area with a misting feature and climbing wall, a community garden, walking paths and exercise stations, plus a pavilion with restrooms and a covered patio available for events. The park will have a soft opening in early October, with weekly activities that include adult exercise classes, a children’s mobile library, and art and music activities for kids. Ten days of grand opening festivities will begin on Thursday, October 28, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Sylvester Turner. Click to read more at www.rednews.com.