Enchanted Woods Nature Play Campaign
Over the past several years, the Nature Discovery Center has engaged hundreds of community members and Houston’s leading play architects to help define our vision for a new nature play space: an inviting area where children know they are meant to run, climb, swing and slide, a place where plants are meant to be picked and puddles are meant to be splashed, a place that inspires lifelong love of running creeks, colorful wildflowers, and perfect climbing trees.
We are now launching a $2 million capital campaign to redevelop the southeast corner of our park into the Enchanted Woods, where logs and gardens, tunnels and towers help children discover the magic of nature. More than a neighborhood asset, more than a regional landmark – the Enchanted Woods will be a place that ignites lifelong curiosity, understanding, and respect for nature.
A nature-based adventure playground, with the R. L. Cook Family Treehouse Classroom as its focal point, will replace conventional plastic slides and swings with natural play elements such as hills, tunnels, water, sand, and loose parts stimulating creative, challenging play, and encouraging an emotional bond with nature.
We hope you will join us in supporting a wondrous new place to discover the natural world.
To arrange an Enchanted Woods Nature Play Campaign site visit, please email Colin O’Neal, Development Director.
Note: The existence of specific structures and features is subject to the final project design. A donation or pledge within a category (e.g. Red Oaks) will be entitled to donor recognition on a structure of donor’s choosing subject to availability. Following final project design, rights to dedication of specific structures will be assigned based on a) contribution amount and b) date of contribution or pledge. All donor recognition is subject to NDC terms and policies.
Our Generous Donors
Red Oak
The Brown Foundation, Inc.
Robert L. Cook Foundation
The Cullen Foundation
The Elkins Foundation
Loblolly Pine
Debbie & Chris Patton
The Wortham Foundation
Sugar Maple
CenterPoint Energy
Patrons for Bellaire Parks
Caddo Pecan
The Normal Barnes Estate
Shubha Bhat & Chethan Bachireddy in honor of Bhumi, Bodhin, and Bhanvi
Betsy & David Black
Kristen & David Buck
Sherri Chilivetis
Jayne & Garret Johnston
Bob & Patricia Lunn
Meghan & Ken Lutschg
Jeremy, Suzan, Ben Samuels & Marci Rosenberg
Shelley Starr
Bald Cypress
Rachel Cruz & Todd Auwarter
Mary Ann Beauchemin & Gary Gray
Christie & Henning Buchholz
Kathy & Randy Lake
Sean & Jolene McKenzie
Deb & Kurt Neubek
Lauren Snitzer
Jaclyn & John Vivrett
Brad & Gigi White
Yaupon Holly
Whitney & Marc Lawson
