Development of Edgewater Park Restarting

According to Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, PE, “Exciting plans are in motion for Edgewater Park in Kingwood!” Ramsey’s most recent newsletter says that starting in 2026, visitors can look forward to:

• New trail connections
• Improved access
• Additional parking
• A brand-new restroom facility

“And that’s just the beginning,” says Ramsey. “This is only Phase One of a three-phase project!” Future improvements will bring:

• Even more trails
• A playground
• A public boat/canoe launch

Plans to redevelop the park were first announced in 2018 back when Kingwood was still in Precinct 4. Redistricting, permitting, budget, and wetlands issues delayed construction and forced the Precinct 3 Parks Department to rethink its plans.

Edgewater Park is located on the northeast corner of the San Jacinto West Fork and US59/Loop 494, just south of Hamblen Road.

Fourth Largest Urban Trail Network in North America

All of these upgrades are part of the Spring Creek Greenway connectivity plan. It will expand recreational opportunities across the region and create one of the largest urban trail networks in North America.

According to ChatGPT, the 40 miles of trails along Spring Creek and another 100+ miles in Kingwood would create the fourth largest urban trail network in North America. Only Calgary (600 miles), Philadelphia (400 miles) and Dallas (200 miles) have longer connected hike and bike trail networks.

Three Phases of Development Starting in Q4 2025

Edgewater Park will be developed in three phases:

• Phase 1 – Regional Trail connecting under-crossing and Ross Road, parking lots and nature trail access, and a restroom. Ross Road is the westernmost road between Hamblen and the river.
• Phase 2 – Additional Trail, Parking Lot, and Playground.
• Phase 3 – Parking Lot and Public Boat Launch.

Heppen anticipates that Phase 1 will be bid in the 4^th Quarter of this year with construction starting in the 1st Quarter of 2026.

Heppen provided this PDF showing the current plans.

Natural Feel

Note that the plan contains four detention basins, two on each side of the utility corridor that bisects the park.

Heppen says that the ponds be shallow and have dry bottoms.  The goal: let nature and the coastal grasses start to take over the bottoms to provide more of a natural feel.

Trails will wind around and over the basins and through the woods.

Heppen says that Phase 1 will form the backbone that enables future phases. It will create the final connection between the West Fork and Spring Creek Greenways. Once complete, residents will be able to use the Spring Creek Greenway from any point in Kingwood without going onto busy Hamblen Road. 

Northern Parcel Will Remain Wetlands

The County owns some land north of Hamblen, too. However, at this time, Eric Heppen, PE, PMP, Precinct 3’s Director of Engineering, says the County has no plans for it at present.

Specifically, Heppen is referring to the area between Loop 494, the Laurel Springs RV Resort, Laurel Springs Lane, and Hamblen, which is dotted with cypress ponds.

Evidently, wetland considerations restrict development of that area.

Dog Park No Longer Part of Edgewater Plans

The county also originally had plans for a dog park in Edgewater. However, that has changed, too. Heppen says the county is now working with the City of Houston to find an alternate location in Kingwood.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/9/2025

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