March 5, 2020

The City of West University Place Parks and Recreation Department was honored with the prestigious Gold Medal Award at the 2020 Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS) Institute Annual Awards Ceremony on February 27 at the Moody Gardens Convention Center in Galveston, Texas. West University Place is the only Class IV (Populations up to 25,000) city in Texas to receive this designation in 2020.  

February 17, 2019

Revelers Go Medieval for One Magical Evening

February 8, 2020

The 29th annual Park Lovers’ Ball was an affair for the record books, raising over $490,000 to benefit the parks and greenspaces of West University Place. 

November 18, 2019

The City of West University Place is pleased to announce that Whitt Johnson Park, 6540 Wakeforest Ave., has now reopened to the public after completion of a $150,000 makeover!

May 9, 2019

The City of West University Place generously hosted the 2019 Star Citizens Awards and Friends Appreciation Luncheon on May 8, 2019.  The awards recipients were the 2017 and 2018 Fathers & Flashlights Chairs Alison and Gary Moorhead, Julia and Carl Williams and Mitra and Josh Woody.

February 2, 2019

Close to 600 West University Place neighbors and friends joined together for La Fête du Jardin, “The Garden Party.” The 28th annual Park Lovers’ Ball raised $425,000! 

October 31, 2018

Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Olson to the Friends’ Board of Directors. Stephen was appointed to the Board at the October 22, 2018 City Council meeting.

October 20, 2018

The 12th annual Fathers & Flashlights urban campout was held on Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21 on the fields surrounding West University Elementary School. 515 children and 247 dads camped and 247 volunteer moms took part in this unique and wonderful neighborhood urban camp out.

September 13, 2018

Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. is delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah Knysh and Dan Fertig to the Friends’ Board of Directors. Sarah and Dani were appointed to the Board at the September 10th City Council meeting and attended their first Friends Board meeting on September 12.

September 13, 2018

Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. is pleased to announce the following new slate of officers. Sami Morrison is replacing Mark Prescott as Chair. Michelle Huth is the Vice Chair, Peyton Popp is the Secretary and Christine Parker will continue in her role as the Treasurer. All were voted in at the September 12, 2018 Friends Board of Directors meeting.

June 18, 2018

The City of West University Place held a ceremonial groundbreaking on June 13 to kick-off the construction of Jennie Elizabeth Hughes Park, 6446 Sewanee. The occasion commemorated the start of construction activities which begin on Monday, June 18, and the park is projected to open in October of this year.

May 24, 2018

Get ready to enjoy a fantastic lineup with some of Houston’s best known bands! West U’s own Dee Dee & Mike and the Moondance Band kick off the first Party on the Patio concert of the season at Colonial Park Pool on June 8. The concert series is sponsored by JONES DAY.

May 9, 2018

The City of West University Place generously hosted the 2018 Star Citizens Award luncheon celebration on May 9, 2018. This year’s recipients were the 2018 Park Lovers’ Ball Chairs Jennifer and Daniel Blum and Jennifer and William Swallen. Themed A Night in Old Havana, the ball held in February raised well over $400,000 for West U parks.

April 27, 2018

Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. is delighted to announce the appointment of Peyton Popp to the Friends’ Board of Directors. Peyton was appointed to the Board at the April 26 City Council meeting and attended her first Friends Board meeting on April 11. 

February 10, 2018

Over 600 West University Place neighbors and friends joined together for a Night in Old Havana.  The 27th annual Park Lovers’ Ball raised well over $400,000!

October 26, 2017

The 11th annual Fathers & Flashlights urban campout was held on Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22 on the fields surrounding West University Elementary School. 527 children and 248 dads camped and 248 volunteer moms took part in this unique and wonderful neighborhood urban camp out. Friends of West University Place Parks Fathers & Flashlights 11th Annual
Campout Celebrates Another Neighborhood Success!

May 10, 2017

The City of West University Place generously hosted the 2017 Star Citizens Award luncheon celebration on May 10, 2017. This year’s recipients were the 2017 Park Lovers’ Ball Chairs, Sami and Jud Morrison and Peyton and Alex Popp; the 2015 and 2016 Fathers & Flashlights Chairs, Kelly and Sean Butler, Kristine and Joaquin Martinez and Kara and Curt Schaefer; and Anna Stewart, Member of the Board of Directors of Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc.

October 26, 2016

The 26th Annual Park Lovers’ Ball Celebration will be held on February 18, 2017, at the Hilton Americas-Houston downtown from 7pm to midnight, with the theme “Masquerade in the Park”. Event co-chairs Peyton and Alex Popp and Sami and Jud Morrison are planning a fun and festive evening full of surprises, including dancing to Dysfunkshun Junkshun from Austin. On behalf of the chairs, Peyton says, “We are co-chairing the Park Lovers’ Ball in 2017 because the parks have meant so much to our families since we moved to West U. The parks have provided a place for all of our children to play in a safe and secure environment, and we have met some of our closest friends while spending hours upon hours at the parks. Co-chairing the ball allows us to show our appreciation and to give back to the community, which means so much to our families.” The auction team consists of Jessica Newell, Jessica Breitbeil and Kathy Bolks. The underwriting chair is Nancy Kate Prescott. Look for your invitation to the ball to arrive in the mail in early January. 

October 3, 2016

The annual Fathers & Flashlights campout celebrated the 10th Anniversary event with record attendance and perfect weather on Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2.  The highly anticipated and popular event was attended by 529 children and 259 dads, setting up tents and creating memories on the fields surrounding West U Elementary School.  Daryl and Aaron Hoover and Jennifer Gatto, the inaugural Fathers & Flashlights Chairs and visionaries of the event served as Honorary Chairs.  Children’s Memorial Hermann generously supported the event as Camp Boss, the $10,000 lead sponsor. 

May 11, 2016

The City of West University Place Star Citizen Award program recognizes volunteers whose efforts improve the overall quality of life in the West U Community. This year City Council honored Park Lovers’ Ball 2016 Co-chairs Judy and Comfort Cheng, and Michele and Paul Marvin as Star Citizens in appreciation of their generous contributions to the Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc. The awards presentation took place on May 11th following Friends’ monthly board meeting held at Cyclone Anaya’s in Rice Village.

July 1, 2015

West U’s social event of the year is February 13, 2016, at the Omni Hotel Riverway from 7pm to midnight. The 25th annual Ball chairs, Judy and Comfort Cheng, and Michele and Paul Marvin, promise a fun evening of dinner, dancing, a Silent and Live auction, Big Board, and Wine and Whisky pulls. The Underwriting Chair for this spectacular event is Sami Morrison.

October 6, 2015

The 9th annual Fathers & Flashlights urban campout was held on Saturday October 3rd and Sunday October 4th on the fields surrounding West University Elementary School.  Once again, this event was a huge success and raised funds for Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc., which will be applied to West U parks.     As in years past, the Fathers & Flashlights event was sold out in record time.  505 children, 250 dads, and 250 moms took part in this unique and wonderful West University Place tradition.  The Butler, Martinez and Schaefer families co-chaired this ever-popular and ultimate community event.  

May 13, 2015

Friends Star Citizen Awards were presented at the May 13 Friends board meeting and annual appreciation luncheon. Awards were presented to the Cheng, Gilder and Gumbert families for co-chairing Fathers & Flashlights, Michele and Charles Still, Adrienne and William Vanderbloemen, and Christi and John Young for co-chairing Park Lovers' Ball 2015. A Star Citizen Award was also presented to Susie Boyce for her many contributions to Friends over the years. Susie has served on the Friends board since 2005. 

October 8, 2013

September 19, 2013

August 29, 2013