Over nineteen years ago, West University saw the beginning of a new boom—the number of resident children was rapidly growing along with the rapid shrinking of backyard space.  According to a use and safety audit performed in the late eighties, park playgrounds needed upgrading and updating.  More open green spaces had to be located. 

Realizing action needed to be taken quickly, the West University Parks Board commissioned Tapley-Lunow Architects to develop a master plan.  The plan was ambitious, designed to build quality parks throughout West U.  It called for new parklands to be purchased, trees protected, picnic areas established, beautification of and new uses for existing parks, and new, quality recreation areas formed.  Each park had a specific design plan, aesthetic and functional, suited to West U’s residential character.

A great deal of money was needed to complete this plan.  Previously, all costs of the parks were paid from funds allocated within the budget of the city.  Because of the need to raise a great deal of money and to implement the plan as quickly as possible, it was the desire to move the cost of park development to a private source.  As a result, the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. was incorporated and officially recognized by the City of West University in May,1988.  Since its inception, taxpayer dollars have been used only for park maintenance and purchase of some additional land.

The Friends, a volunteer based group, is a private nonprofit 501(c) (3) corporation chartered to raise money to improve parks in the City of West University.  It is composed of citizens who are appointed by City Council in three-year renewable terms and one part-time paid position.  The Friends work closely with the West U. Parks and Recreation Board and are supported by an Advisory Committee of residents.

Since its inception, the Friends have raised nearly $4 million.  This amount includes money raised from foundation grants, citizens’ bequests, memorials, the annual Park Lovers' Ball, Fathers & Flashlights, and various other efforts including the sale of engraved park pavers, the sale of West U. logo golf shirts, t-shirts, and ornaments, and various community partnership efforts with local businesses. In particular, thank you to the Lewis Family Charitable Foundation for their role in helping raise $1 million with their matching grant!

With these funds, Colonial Park has doubled in size, the Milton Street site was purchased, developed, and is now named Huffington Park, due to a major donor.  Wier Park on Sunset, Judson Park in the chimney, and Whitt Johnson Park were totally refurbished.  The pocket park site on Rice and Auden was purchased and developed as well as additional lots on the Colonial site.   West U’s parks are fun, safe, little havens for all citizens and visitors to enjoy.

As the 1990’s drew to a close, the Friends and the Parks Board saw the need to develop a new long range plan.  After an extensive survey of the citizens’ desires for Parks, a new master plan, including the new Rec Center site (formerly the Southwest YMCA) and the re-development of Colonial Park, was developed by White Oak Consultants.  This plan will easily carry the city through the next decade.  The West University Place Recreation Center opened in March of 2010 and the new Colonial Park Pool Complex opens Memorial Day weekend of 2010.

West U. residents now anticipate an abundance of quality parks and green space in an urban environment.   To meet that expectation, the Friends of West U. Parks look to the City, its residents, partnering businesses, and foundations to raise the necessary funds to realize this vision.