Tomball’s master parks plan outlines $108M in projects, including sports fields, trails

At Wayne Stovall Sports Complex, where Tomball Little League plays, the plan's recommendations include reorganizing the field layout and upgrading signage and scoreboards.
(Lizzy Spangler/Community Impact)

Community Impact
By Lizzy Spangler 
5:17 PM Mar 27, 2024 CDT

Purchasing new property for parks and enhancing the city’s existing parks are among the recommendations listed in Tomball’s parks, recreation and trails master plan, which outlines $108 million in projects.

The plan was approved by Tomball City Council at its March 4 meeting. According to a survey conducted for the master plan that garnered 472 responses, 99% of respondents said they supported the idea of enhancing Tomball parks, and 93% said they feel a need for additional park amenities.

Tom Weatherford, who plays pickleball regularly at Juergens Park, served on the focus group for the master plan and said he would like to see more pickleball courts built, calling the four new courts underway “already sold-out.”

“The sense of community, it’s almost indescribable,” Weatherford said. “I have the biggest friend group I’ve ever had in my entire life from meeting the people out there at those ... pickleball courts.”

Diving in deeper

• Expanding the walking trail at Broussard Park
• Reorganizing the field layout and upgrading signage and scoreboards at Wayne Stovall Sports Complex
• Creating individual master plans for Wayne Stovall Sports Complex, Broussard Park and Juergens Park

“It’s no different than any other master plan that we have,” Esquivel said. “We’re going to approach it the same way, and so once we have a good refined number and list of projects, then we can identify all the funding sources.”

Tomball Little League President Jeanne Foster said she would like to see the Wayne Stovall Sports Complex, where the league plays, revamped and enlarged to provide more fields and amenities for players and their families.

• "The uphill battle is going to be the budget. I’m all for this [plan]. I think it will be great for our community." —Mark Stoll, Tomball City Council member
• "We have people from 8 to 80 playing [pickleball] out there. When you have kids out there in an environment like that, the benefits to the community and society in general are immeasurable."—Tom Weatherford, Magnolia resident and Tomball pickleball player
• "Parks are an integral part of community life in Tomball. It provides areas for exercise, recreation and building a sense of community." —Jeanne Foster, Tomball Little League president

Also of note

The city of Magnolia is also working on a parks and recreation master plan, hosting a workshop Feb. 22 where residents could provide feedback. Paul Howard, a project manager with Burditt Consultants who is developing the master plan, said the draft is anticipated to be presented to Magnolia City Council in late April or early May.

Additionally, last August, Harris County Precinct 3 released its own parks and trails master plan, which recommended more than $758 million in parks and trails investments that include projects such as adding or replacing playgrounds; creating tennis and pickleball courts; and building a community center at Burroughs and Matthews parks.