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The North Houston District began construction on Monday, March 24, 2025, for the nearly $1M expansion and renovation project scheduled for Wussow Park. Funding for the project is split 50/50 between Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Local Parks Grant Program and NHD. Vice President of Planning and Infrastructure for the District, Robert Fiederlein, shared details about the project, which the public will see roll out over the next several months.
Check out this video with more info: https://youtu.be/WRRwf6xZMCY
Wussow Park Expansion & Renovation Construction Update Has Begun
Contractors mobilized on March 24, 2025, breaking ground on the Thomas R. Wussow Park expansion and renovation project slated to last for four months, concluding at the end of July.
The expansion will feature two new youth soccer fields, a shaded fitness area, a new playground pod and equipment, enhanced lighting, and environmental improvements, including gardens with native plants. The park will remain open throughout the expansion but some areas will be temporarily closed while under construction.
“It is a relatively short construction period. Work will begin first on the youth soccer fields—one for Under 10 year-olds and one for Under 12 year-olds—along with upgraded and expanded lighting, picnic tables, and additional seating,” says Robert Fiederlein, VP of Planning and Infrastructure at North Houston District.
Improving Health & Wellness for Area Residents
Texas Parks and Wildlife’s grant funding required this project to directly address and improve the health and well-being of area residents, so included in the expansion are a new workout station with equipment will soon join the walking paths and bayou trail as ways to work up a sweat at Wussow Park, offering an enhanced fitness experience.
Comprised of a concrete pad with eight pieces of workout equipment, the adult fitness station will be covered with a sun shade to allow comfortable and safe use throughout the year. The design is inspired by a similar installation at Ida Gaye Gardens, which is used by the senior population in the neighboring apartment community.
From strength training and balance equipment to cardio opportunities, Wussow Park will soon have it all.
“These workout stations are free to use, so it’s like having a public gym available at no cost to residents. This is a great way for folks to take charge of their wellness and improve their health at their favorite local park,” said Fiederlein.
NHD Goes LED
The lighting portion of the project directly ties back to enhancing the park experience through a design-led approach to public safety.
“After listening to the public feedback from the Parks Master Plan in 2023, the North Houston community voiced some concerns about security at Wussow Park. Part of the response to that was improving the lighting so that people could enjoy the park without worry,” Fiederlein said.
Wussow Park is currently equipped with three tall field lights. The expansion project will add three more and will replace the old lightbulbs with new LED lights. “These lightbulbs are a great investment. They will actually help the District save money, even though there are more lights, thanks to the energy efficiency of switching from halogen to LED bulbs,” Fiederlein explained.
Additionally, LED lights shine brighter and further than halogen lights offering better lighting for a wider area of the park than before.
Wussow Park Soccer Complex Will Take Shape Ahead of World Cup 2026
Along with the Wussow Park Mini Pitch, unveiled in 2024 as a joint partnership with the Houston Dynamo, Houston Dash, and U.S. Soccer Foundation, two new grass fields will form a youth soccer complex that will be an asset to the community. And with the project set to be completed in 2025, the complex will be ready for the wave of soccer enthusiasm ahead of Houston hosting the World Cup in 2026.
The Mini Pitch is already very popular among parkgoers and is well-used. On any given afternoon or evening pick-up teams jog up and down the pitch’s hard surface scrimmaging. Soon even more will be able to enjoy the most popular sport in the world, right here in the District!
Native Plants Will Put a Spotlight on Greens Bayou Habitat
The project will also include three sections of plantings. Accompanying signage will educate the public on the crucial role of pollinators in the environment.
On the western end, a pollinator garden will support butterflies, bees, and other pollinators like insects and birds. Another section will be a drainage swale that runs north to south and discharges into Greens Bayou. Special plants will replace standard grass to help filter the drainage water before going into the bayou. The last section will be a coastal prairie restoration project that incorporates flowers and grasses native to the area.
North Houston District Utilizes BuyBoard to Source the Right Contractors
The District used BuyBoard to reduce costs while meeting the requirements for competitive bidding. The program allows government entities to come together to buy different equipment and large purchases, in this case park equipment.
The Wussow Park expansion and renovation is divided into two construction contracts. The first was awarded to Kraftsmen for the adult fitness pad and new playground pod. Due to the long lead time for the delivery of equipment, these pieces will be built from mid-June to mid-July towards the end of the project.
All of the other work, including new lighting for soccer fields, benches, playground pods, new signage, and plantings, will be performed by Jerdon Enterprise LP.
Stay tuned for updates.
