Hearts for Our Parks, 34th Annual Park Lovers’ Ball at The Post Oak Hotel Celebrates An Unforgettable Valentine’s Event
- Friends of West University Parks
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Post Oak Hotel – February 14, 2026
West University Place – February 25, 2026 – On Valentine’s Day, over 300 West University Place community members came together for an evening of love, appreciation and fundraising at the 34th annual Park Lovers’ Ball, supporting West University Parks. Gala chairs Michelle & Doug Huth and Stephanie & Bryan Magers planned a love-themed evening at the Post Oak Hotel as nearly $500,000 was raised to further beautify and improve West U’s parks and green spaces.
Guests loved pursuing the silent, big board and live items, along with playing whiskey blackjack and participating in an impressive bubbles and vino pull. Rev. Katie Montgomery Mears, associate pastor at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and a West University Place resident, provided the invocation. Fellow West University Place resident and KHOU morning anchor, Illona Carson emceed the event.
An exciting game of Heads or Tails kicked off the after-dinner activities with the champion winning two tickets to Park Lovers’ Ball in 2027. The live auction featured a collection of fascinating items including a getaway to a private home in The Hamptons for a week, two Argentinian Dove Hunts and a unique brass bull sculpture, created by international contemporary artist and West University resident, Enrique Cabrera. “Skeeter,” the goldendoodle puppy from popular breeder, Lonestar Doodles, stole the audience’s hearts and went home with one lucky family.
The success of the gala would not have been possible without our chairs and their team of dedicated committees, sponsors, generous donors and West University Place and Southside Place residents. The auction was carefully curated by Carrie Allen. The impressive underwriting team was led by chairs Eliza Coleman, Meagan Glover and Jennifer LaForge. The décor was vibrant and romantic thanks to Décor chairs, Sarah Barrett & Chea Kelly. Popular band, Password, kept guests grooving all night with their party tunes, along with a live cupid statue, Valentine’s mascot and stilt walker.
This year’s co-chairs, along with the entire event team, Friends Executive Director, Donna LaMond, and Friends Chair, Sami Morrison, would like to give a heartfelt thanks to all guests who helped make Park Lovers’ Ball 2026 another successful event for our beloved neighborhood’s parks.
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The Friends of West University Parks Fund is a volunteer based 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to raising funds for the renovation, expansion, development and improvement of parks and green spaces in the neighborhood parks of the City of West University Place. The board is appointed by City Council and raises money through foundation grants, citizens’ bequests, memorials, special events and various other programs and events including partnerships with local businesses.
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