Coastal Prairie Conservancy members and community officials gathered April 10 to cut the ribbon on the new Katy Prairie Welcome Center.
The full story
The Welcome Center’s main purpose is to act as a starting point for guests to experience firsthand the almost 20,000-acre Katy Prairie Reserve, which aims to decrease flood risk, support wildlife, maintain the region’s agricultural heritage and provide the public with recreational activities.
The center, located at 31975 Hebert Road, also serves as a hub for year-round programming and events. The remodeled facility previously belonged to Dow Chemical, said Shirley Hunter, who serves as a Coastal Prairie Conservancy board member.
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“It’s a place where kids can come and learn about nature and what’s going on,” Hunter said. “We’re really excited that we have an official place for people to come see the value of a prairie.”
What they’re saying
As the need for both development and conservation continues to affect the area, Waller County Judge Trey Duhon highlighted how holding on to the past can still shape the present and future.
“Real progress is not just about what we build, it’s also about what we choose to protect and that’s why the Katy Prairie matters,” he said. “The Katy Prairie is a part of the identity of this region, it’s a part of our history, it’s a part of our landscape, it’s what makes this area of Texas so special.”
Remember this?
The Coastal Prairie Conservancy preserved the final 221 acres of Three Oaks Farm, closing a gap in the Katy Prairie Preserve, in March, Community Impact reported.
Three Oaks Farm links the Indiangrass Preserve and Hebert Reservoir together, allowing water, wildlife and working lands to “function more naturally” throughout the landscape.
Looking ahead
The conservatory aims to permanently protect 50,000 acres across southeast Texas, according to an April 14 news release.