Possible Park conversion near Houston

[WoodButcher]

Saw this on another forum. Those of you in the area may want to participate.

http://www.texasoffroad.net/forum_php/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=family_neighbor&Number=314690&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

Follow that link for a discussion. Here is a cut and paste of the original message.

TPWD does not want to keep Lake Houston State Park (too high maintenance with low traffic/usage) and has decided to grant it or in some other way transfer ownership of it over to the City of Houston. Don't get yourself fired up over that...that ain't good news for us...yet...

In case you don't know where LHSP is, it is formally located in New Caney off FM1485 east of I-59.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/lake_houston/


Both Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) and City of Houston Parks And Recreation Dept (HPARD) have contacted me and asked me to ask you to help create an atmosphere of intelligent dialog and cooperation, and to help show that the public perception of the "typical offroad trailrider" is not the rowdy Bubba persona many think we are, but is in reality average hard working families of environmentally conscientious enthusiasts who desperately need the help of our elected and appointed representatives to create Offroad Recreation Areas (ORAs) for the taxpayers who enjoy this kind of recreation.

I realize this is short notice, but I hope anyone who can attend this public hearing will make an effort to be there and provide public comment on the desperate need for TPWD state sponsored and City-of-Houston sponsored support for at least one or more ORV Recreation Area (ORA) to serve the ORV community in the Houston metro area.

I'm not wanting to upset any of the TRH members, but I am aware this hearing falls on the same night as the monthly TRH meeting and wish to extend a plea for any TRH or SETORR members who can make the trip out to Spendora to please attend this hearing instead of your regular TRH meeting....we really need your support.

There is some concern from the Houston Parks and Recreation Dept that some of the unorganized ATV community in Harris and Montgomery county will be attending this meeting in order to voice opinions about this park being converted to allow motorized use and turned into a ORA.

As much as I'd also like to see this area converted to an ORA, it is also important to make a positive impression....and more importantly, to make sure the TPWD and HPARD knows they have an "organized alternative group" of taxpayers who are willing and able to help make positive progress happen.


*****

Details of next Monday's Public Hearing on the proposed transfer of Lake Houston State Park.

Who: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

When: Monday, December 5 at 7 p.m.

Where: Community Development Center in Splendora (off U.S 59N)
16401 First Street - Splendora, TX 77372

Site telephone # is 281-689-3490 in case of emergency.

In addition, written comments may be sent to: Tim.Hogsett@tpwd.state.tx.us - or - lhsp@cityofhouston.net

In a day or two, a PowerPoint presentation should be posted on the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) website for viewing.

The hearing will open with an introduction by TPWD State Parks Director Walt Dabney, who will then present a PowerPoint presentation, followed by HPARD Director Joe Turner with a PowerPoint presentation. Following this, public comments will be heard from speakers who have signed in, with a three minute maximum time limit.

The Community Dev Center is on the east side of I-59, just north of where FM 242 intersects with I-59 in Patton Village (watch for local speed trap buzzards in Patton Village). You can come up I-59 past FM 1485 and FM 242....or if you live up near Spring and the Woodlands, you can cut across from I-45 on FM 242 and make a short hop north.

I hope to see you there....thanks for your support....BB.

[Tourmeister]

:tab So, eventually, this could turn into a park where it would be legal to ride dirtbikes? All the ORA, ORV, and ORAH stuff gets a little confusing sometimes :roll: It would be cool though to have aother park nearby. I swear I will eventually have a dirt bike!!

[Squeaky]

I recently camped at LHSP, and it was a nice spot tucked into Houston that most would never know was there. I'd like to see at least part of it stay in use for camping/hiking, but trails would be pretty cool too.

[Tourmeister]

:tab If it were like Outlaw, there would be a camping area with a 5mph speedlimit, and then the riding area. Of course, the idea that you will go camping and enjoy the peaceful solitude of nature will likely be a pipe dream. Although, as it is already in most campground, peaceful solitude is drowned out by the constant drone of RV air conditioners :roll: You have to hit the remote and primitive places to get any real back to nature action going ;-)

[Squeaky]

Although, as it is already in most campground, peaceful solitude is drowned out by the constant drone of RV air conditioners :roll: You have to hit the remote and primitive places to get any real back to nature action going ;-)

There were cars and trucks with tent camping, but I don't recall seeing any RVs. That's one of the things I liked about this particular campsite. Well, that and the fact that within 45 minutes I felt like I was on vacation far, far away from home...

The downside was the location of the showers/restrooms. Was a long enough hike from the nearest access/parking lot that once you showered and got back to the car, you were already sweaty and dirty from the hike.

Riding trails paired with tent campsites and simple facilities within easy reach of Houston would definately be a good thing! :-P

[mlinkibikr]

One of the big reasons I haven't made the plunge into dirtbikes for the boys has been the absence of trail riding areas close enough to Houston that we could fit it in to their weekends which include baseball / basketball / football ...

An hour drive to Lake Houston for a few hours of trail riding would be doable and I would definitely pay whatever fee they levy towards maintenance of the site.

Dave.

[Bagwell]

I have been there many times. Just driving back to the park, you see many residences on the way, and if I were living in those houses I sure wouldnt want motorcycles making too much noise near my home. That said, I am not sure how much you could hear at those houses if the trails were on the east side of the creek mostly. Personally, I really like that park and sort of would love to see it stay what it already is. I have done a bit of primative camping on the property and its really nice that there is a place like that so close to houston. The trails are nice and the park is not so busy so you can often make last minute plans to go there. It will be a shame to see the park become something other than a hiking/backpacking/camping area, but its up to the people.


Vaughn

[Hoop]

I went to the meeting with Bobby Beamer and Marty Howell. There is little or no chance this area could be open to motorized vehicles, it's too small, and too much wetland to host a reasonable amount of trails. Likely the City of Houston and Montgomery County will get joint custody of the park from TPWD and develop it with a loop drive, campsites (primitive and RV), and trails for hiking, mountain bikes, and equestrian use.

[Tourmeister]

That's still cool. Those people need places to get away as well ;-)