Several new parks will be coming to Bridgeland providing residents with even more unique places to play and explore. These additions will be in Creekland Village and Prairieland Village. First up, and centrally located within Creekland Village’s first neighborhoods of Medina and White Rock will be Turtle Cove – a thoughtfully curated riparian corridor, with Lily Pad Park at its crescent. Riparian corridors are land areas near rivers and streams that play significant roles in storm water conveyance and improve air and water quality, providing benefits to both humans and wildlife. Turtle Cove will offer residents a dynamic outdoor social space that blends modern aesthetics with trails alongside wetlands and a series of stair stepped lakes.
Masses of trees mixed with perennial and native grasses compliment overlooks along the trail, a pedestrian bridge, a low water crossing, and a terraced vehicular bridge balance soft and hard elements for scenic views at every turn. A weir, or small waterfall used for controlling water flow will offer the calming sounds of falling water, adding a bit of serenity to your morning walk.
One of the best vantage points for viewing the beautiful riparian corridor of Turtle Cove is Lily Pad Park. At over 4.5 acres, this park and all its elements celebrates the coming together of community. Over 200 homes have been built so far in Creekland Village, and Lily Pad Park will be the village’s first large gathering space.
A prominently placed covered pavilion that will seat 50 will include picnic tables, an open kitchen with grilling space, and a countertop bar with sink, offering residents a place to entertain and socialize in a relaxed setting. Restrooms will also be available onsite.
Spilling out from the pavilion will be a series of lily pad decks that terrace down to an open expanse of green lawn set along the edge of Turtle Cove. Framing this flex lawn will be a generous buffer of reforestation/trees. The trail system will encircle the park and will lead to several amenities set within tree-lined spaces: a dog run, a half-basketball court, and a whimsical playground that will echo the theme of the village, the turtle.
Creekland Village’s turtle theme will be made evident in playful details within Lily Pad Park such as the custom pavilion paving and resilient surfacing at the playground that borrow from the geometric shapes on a turtle shell. Other features of the park will include tetherball, game lawn with foosball and pool table, and a mix of seating and gathering spaces. A parking lot will provide space for food trucks.
Providing separate play zones for children 2-5 years old and 5-12 years old, the playground at Lily Pad Park will provide many types of climbing apparatuses, swings, spinners, and opportunities for creative play. Native perennial grasses in surrounding gardens will provide a healthy habitat for area mammals while enhancing the aesthetics of the park. Together, Lily Pad Park and Turtle Cove will provide residents with access to nature and unparalleled amenities in a tranquil setting.
As creek restoration is a central theme in this village, this riparian area will serve as floodwater conveyance during rain events. We live in an area subject to great swings of nature. Drought, flood, cold, and wind are elements we experience from time to time – sometimes we experience several in one year. Howard Hughes heeds these weather fluctuations with great consideration as it develops spaces like Turtle Cove in Creekland Village. Similar to community areas in the other villages, all elements within the corridor and park have been carefully selected and designed to flood first, helping to mitigate storm water during heavy rain events.
Located at the intersection of Mulberry Creek and Flowing Creek Drives is another neighborhood park filled with color and room to roam – Mosaic Park. Trees and gardens will be assembled throughout the park, along with a colorful rubber fall surface of the playground that will offer a pallet of color. A tiered pavilion will offer shade for picnic tables as changing sunlight will cast a pattern on the surface below.
New additions coming to Prairieland Village include Sunfish Park, which will overflow with fun as this park will be a splash pad and playground. Offering a variety of spray features for children of all ages, it will become a favorite place to cool off next summer. Sunfish Park also will offer a small play area with a climbing structure and rockers for small children. A covered pavilion with seating area for lunch and snacks, a shaded trellis with Adirondack chairs, and onsite restrooms will make it easy for hours to sail away. Much of the surrounding area will be reforested with native trees that are flood and drought resistant.
And last but not least, also coming to Prairieland Village is Mariposa Park. Located near Migration Way, this vibrant park will provide everything your child is looking for: climbing structures, swings, spinners, and slides. Plenty of seating will be available for catching up with your neighbors or a game of chess, while butterfly inspired shade structures will offer relief from the Texas sun. Numerous trees will be planted within and around the park which will also offer shade as the trees mature. Gardens will be planted with pollinator attracting plants, completing a colorful space for recreation and relaxation.
Providing unique outdoor spaces for residents to engage with each other or enjoy the serenity of nature is a hallmark of Howard Hughes. The sights and sounds of nature can have restorative effects that contribute to a healthier well-being. All five parks are under construction and slated to open by summer 2025, adding to Bridgeland’s impressive number of parks and greenspaces throughout its 11,500 acres.
