NURTURE THE WONDER:

FUND A SANCTUARY FOR NATURE PLAY

Every child deserves a space where imagination knows no bounds and nature feels like home. The Enchanted Woods Nature Play Space will bring this vision to our city—a magical place rooted in learning, discovery, and playful adventure. The Enchanted Woods will reimagine the existing nature play area in the south corner of Russ Pitman Park as an immersive, ever-changing landscape. Here, children will be free to climb, dig, splash, build, invent, and uncover the wonders of the natural world.

Throughout the play space, children and caregivers will discover thoughtfully designed features including the Overlook Deck, sensory bins, parent seating areas, a play hut, water runnel and pump, dry creek, mulch paths, elevated boardwalk, and the beloved cypress pond, together creating a landscape rich with movement, discovery, and connection to nature.

Over the past two years, the Nature Discovery Center has partnered with TBG Partners to design a play environment rooted in child development, nature education, and joyful exploration. With the design nearing completion, the Board of Directors has selected Forney Construction to bring this vision to life, marking an exciting milestone as the project moves toward construction.

Key Areas:

Classroom – A warm and welcoming gathering space set atop a gentle hill, serving as the starting point for nature programs, camps, school visits, and community learning experiences.

The Nature Workshop – A hands-on, all-ages area filled with loose natural materials like sand, water, mud, and found objects that encourage open-ended building, creativity, and experimentation.

The Treehouse Terrace – An energetic zone for adventurers featuring the Exploration Tower, spider net climber, wood steppers, and a series of challenge-based play elements that build strength, balance, and confidence.

Why Nature Play Matters

Nature play supports children in ways traditional playgrounds cannot. It fuels creativity, builds confidence, strengthens coordination, and supports emotional well-being while nurturing a lifelong connection to the natural world. The Enchanted Woods is intentionally designed to ensure every child can experience these powerful, research-backed benefits.

Help Us Build Something Magical

This $2.5 million project will serve the thousands of families who visit the Nature Discovery Center each year, and thanks to generous supporters, 69% of the goal has already been raised. With your help, we can bring the Enchanted Woods to life for our entire community. Your gift builds a place where children can run, climb, splash, explore, and discover the magic of nature.

We are planning to break ground Fall 2026, and your support today helps turn this idea into a vibrant reality for families across the Houston area.

Watch the Woods Come to Life!

Thank You to Our Generous Donors

as of 1/26/26.

Trees Generously Donated By: 

Note: Any additional funds raised will support ongoing maintenance or future enhancements of the Enchanted Woods project. Thank you for your support of our mission and for helping bring this exciting initiative to life. We are deeply grateful to our supporters and for this meaningful moment in the expansion of the Nature Discovery Center.