Citizens For Missouri City's Future

Holiday Lighting Celebration

Special Bond Issue Passes

By a 72% margin, the Special Bond Issue to invest $17.5M in Quail Valley Park and develop new amenities for the community passed.This restored money to the parks budget that had been shifted to take advantage of the opportunity. As Mayor Allen Owen has often said, "An opportunity to acquire such beautiful land and mature landscaping and wildlife habitat rarely come along for a community. The recreation for all ages and supervised character development for youth are an investment in our future."

Future Group President Floyd Emery reinforced Mayor Owen's sentiments, "When there is need in the community, we always seem to step up."

Along with improvements to the Golf Courses, a new community center, re-vamping and acquiring the old tennis center on Cypress Point near Cartwright, and developing a learn to play golf amenity are major items in how the money will be spent. People are already enjoying the new trails and beauty along with record numbers playing golf at the La Quinta 18 hole course.

A three year old child said it best while I was working the polls at City Hall, "Mommy, this is good. We need to vote for it."

The City is working with architects on how a community hub concept can be employed to make a rich experience for families with multiple recreational interests.

To see results of local races, go to Fort Bend County election results.

Unveiling of Architectural Concept at Happy Trails Hike and Bike

Unveiling!

Utilizing work put together by the various Quail Valley Acquisition Committees along with professional ideas, AUTOARCH Architects has developed a concept of what Quail Valley Park might be like and how it would enhance all of Missouri City.

They are fittingly unveiling this at the

Happy Trails Bike and Hike Event

Sunday, Nov 2 at 3 PM.

Old Executive 9 at the Halfway House

at Hampton and East Creek Club.

Don't miss this exciting event and opportunity to

• Discuss the Future of Missouri City
  

• Meet friends

• Enjoy nature

• Stay fit!
  

Please press images to enlarge them.

For a Trail Map, press here.

To vote for this issue, go to the bottom of the Ballot, Special Bond Issue, and check "For"

 

Happy Trails Event November 2

Missouri City residents are enjoying all the new recreational benefits Quail Valley Park offers to the public. With over 11 miles of existing trails in parkland with mature trees, open space, creeks, lakes and established wildlife, area residents enjoyed a “Bike the Course” event while a throng of people played golf on the 18 hole golf course on the other part of the 400 acre property.

The event is somewhat misnamed because walkers and even some golf carters participated along with the bikers. So the name is changing to Happy Trails . . . and there are 6.5 miles of trails that are open at all times until the El Dorado Golf Course is reconditioned. Before and after golf adds almost 5 additional miles of trail to over 11 miles!

What is special is the natural beauty.

Event Organizer Gretchen Cockerill wanted to keep the event simple and fun. “It’s a little intimidating to try something new . . . and with this park being in a residential subdivision, it’s even more daunting. We appreciate the Missouri City Future Group for supplying maps so people could make decisions on what they wanted to explore today . . . and have information to return to visit another time. Everyone loved all the prizes from Sugar Cycles, Chick-fil-A and the Missouri City Future Group along with the “fishing” event. The venue is so beautiful. It rivals established parks such as Hermann Park for natural beauty. With all the interest we’ve scheduled another event for Sunday, November 2 at 3 PM.”

Mayor Allen Owen was delighted that residents from various Missouri City subdivisions attended as well as people from Houston and Stafford. “Most parks spend 30 or 40 years achieving the natural beauty of Quail Valley Park. 

  As the word gets out about this park, we’ve had increasing interest despite the challenges Ike threw our way. We have so many possibilities for this park and how it connects to the rest of our park system. With golf, a planned fitness center, parkland and lakes, you can meet at the community center, and the whole family can do their thing. Anyone who has kids knows how interests change. People have a safe area to come and spend the day and enjoy nature in a setting that is beautiful. When our community center is finished, businesses, civic organizations or families can hold distinctive events.”

Developing a park that is flexible for the young and the young at heart is a goal of the Missouri City Parks department. They succeeded with aces as shown by this Happy Trails event. Babies from two and a half months old to a gentlemen sporting a nifty new bike received for his 80^th birthday attended.

But don’t take our word for it . . . come see for your self.

Attend November 2 at 3 PM.We're meeting at Hampton and East Creek Club . . . to start talking about the parkland and possibilities for fun that meet your needs and see an architectural concept.

Jim Young has also printed pictures from the last event . . . come pick up yours!

Or better yet, go discover for your self. Download a map to explore the area.

Read and see pictures about the last event.

Great Weekend at Quail Valley Park

This past weekend was  a great week end at Quail Valley Park. Over 600 played golf and around 100 attended a "Bike the Course" event to experience the trails and just meet new friends.

The top pictures shows the bikers, walkers and golf carters queuing up to enjoy the wonderful weather and beautiful scenery. Golf and others sports can co-exist if hikers and bikers respect that struck golf balls are dangerous and stay off open courses. For golfers, it's learning that other forms of recreation enhance, not limit, the community. Before and after use of the trails brings better community feelings toward the golf courses and provides other forms of recreation. It's win win  . . . not win lose.

Our Golf Pro, Tyson Stittleburg, tells me that a national tournament organizer visited the course about holding a 36 hole national tournament at Quail Valley. While we're not ready yet with 36 holes, we will be. The tournament organizer was not only impressed with the golf course and players, but also with the community involvement when she saw the hikers and bikers. And community involvement is a must. As John Walsh on the Board of Directors at Hermann Park Conservancy told me, "people won't go to parks that aren't beautiful; and they won't support beauty unless programs bring them to the parks. You need many varied interests to ensure a park is supported."

  So passing the bond issue is vital to ensure we can develop this property to the fullest and do the most to enhance the value of living, working and playing in Missouri City.

On Bike the Course, people who completed the 6.5 miles were pleased with themselves. As one couple with two small children who took the "leisure" half-mile course mentioned, we went further then we intended. Everything was so beautiful we just kept walking.

The youngest attendee was 2.5 months, and a gentleman sporting his new bike he got for his 80th birthday proudly showed its features.

And that's what brings more community is about . . . as a Missouri City resident wrote to Mayor Allen Owen, As a resident of Quail Valley and participant in our Bike The Course event today, I would like to thank Brett Faulk and all the rest of the gang at Sugar Cycles for their support and contribution to this event. I had a terrific time as the weather was perfect and the company; friendly.

  "A sense of community" is what these events are all about and we are fortunate enough to have recently acquired the QVGC for the purpose of creating a recreational area in the center of Missouri City for all to enjoy. We residents of Missouri city owe Mayor Owen and his staff our deepest appreciation for having the foresight and vision regarding this recent acquisition.

  Last but not least, a very big "Thank You" to The Citizens For Missouri City's Future for putting this event together. I for one, look forward the next Bike The Course event scheduled in the coming weeks. Hope to see all you good people again.

Sugar Cycles, Chick-fil-A, Joan Fox and the MC Future Group contributed prizes. One child who came with QV residents who keep her while her Mom works week ends . . .and has a very tight budget, won a hula hoop. She was thrilled because hers had broken . . . and told her Mom, "it's a good one." That makes your day . . . along with the families, smiles and just plain fun.

 Our intention is to create a hub where the whole family can participate in various activities that are safe, supervised and wholesome. Just as the Quail Valley Proud Golf Tournament included a "county fair" after the tournament, all groups and interests will have opportunities to create programs and events that bring people. The entire community wins. Kids who are engaged and busy, stay out of trouble . . . and with an obesity epidemic in America, creating life long recreation benefits us all.

Numerous people appreciated the trail map and the ability to return to explore on their on. A resident of Hunter's Glen resident mentioned how welcoming the group was . . .

That''s why learn to play golf and character development for all kinds of sports are important.

And the great news, a group of runners are getting organized . . . who knows what group might be next. We have the perfect place for a kayak park. But we need the bond issue to pass! Do your part to bring this destination to Missouri City.

Since "Bike the Course" is a misnomer, the next "Happy Trails" event will be Sunday, November the 2 at 3 PM. Hikers, bikers, and golf carters are welcome and encouraged to attend. We plan to meet at Hampton and East Creek Club to enjoy the trails, see a possible concept for the park and view of the setting sun on Old Executive at Hampton and East Creek Club. There's parking at Hampton and East Creek Club. This is about fun for everyone.

Come enjoy the fun and beauty and think how you'd like to use this facility for your hobby, civic, social or family event. Please click on images to enlarge them.

 

Missouri City Future Group Supports Missouri City Special Bond Issue

As a supporter of the Future Group, you understand how important building a new community asset in the center of Missouri City is to our future. That's why the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council has endorsed the Special Election Bond Issue and SO ARE WE!

Many people do not realize what is covered by this bond issue or how it benefits the entire community as well as people who do not play golf. Therefore, we are asking you to do two things:

1. Support the bond issue by VOTING YES. 
2. Make your friends and neighbors aware how important voting yes is to the future of our community. 

 If you or your neighbors need more information . . . and many individuals even in the immediate vicinity of Quail Valley do not understand all the benefits of this package which include:

• Making Missouri City a Destination with something unique      for the entire family, not just golfers or near residents of Quail Valley. 
• Fun for many interests      . . . the possibilities to make our community untouchable are staggering. 
• Supervised, safe environment for youth to build character through recreational programs and      keep our kids and grand kids engaged in positive activities. 
• Fitness for the entire community. 

  If you would like more information, a flier or place you can send your friends, please go to Download vote_yes_download.pdf

We also have a map of area.

Now what you can do right now . . . send this link to ALL your friends in Missouri City!

Bike the Course Rescheduled

Bike the Course has been rescheduled for October 18 (rain date October 25).

Join these Missouri City families . . . bikers, walkers, scooters, and golf carters welcome.

Sugar Cycles gave us some neat prizes for a drawing at noon . . . Joan Fox will provide free therapeutic massages . . . There will be kite flying and DISC Golf demos . . . and kids games. Special "leisure trail" in addition to 6.4 miles of trails . . . and a challenge level suited to YOUR stamina.

There will be packaged sandwiches because the Grill is still getting fixed after it's bout with Hurricane Ike . . .

Learn details about this event.

For a map of the El Dorado Course and the Executive 9 parkland trails,  Download quail_valley_park_trails.pdf  

FLASH NEWS! Bike the Course Postponed

Due to Hurricane Ike creating weather uncertainty, Bike the Course has been postponed until course is cleared. Likely in October.

For more info, press here.

Nature YOU Can Touch, Today

FLASH! Due to Hurricane Ike, this event is postponed until October 18 (rain date October 25).

Become part of the picture! There’s much to enjoy besides golf in the Quail Valley Properties acquisition, including nature you can touch today . . . and you have over six miles of trail to explore all or part of it with guides and a map sponsored by Missouri City Future Group.

On Saturday, October 18, with "Bike the Course" we’re welcoming bikers, walkers, scooters, roller skaters, golf carters or just people who’d like to try the grille for lunch. With sandwiches beginning at $2, you can enjoy a meal with the entire family.

 If your muscles get sore, Registered Massage Therapist Joan Fox will be on hand, no pun intended, with a free massage. We’ll also have some fun for the kids so bring the entire family with a special trail for kids under 5—and trikes and wagons are welcome as well.

Sugar Cycles is donating a bike basket and other neat things for your bike. The lucky winners must be present to win, with the drawing before lunch at Noon.

There’s a lot more than the 18-hole municipal golf course for the over 80% of us, including me, who don’t play golf. While the El Dorado course is being re-conditioned, we’ll have the full day to explore it and venture into the old Executive 9 which is already set up for DISC golf and open space fun. These trails will serve as hiking and biking trails morning and evening, but come enjoy the full day before 18 more holes of golf resume in addition to the 18 already in play.

Explore the course in the morning, have lunch with us and stay and fly a kite, throw a ball or Frisbee, bring your hula hoop or just bring lawn chairs and enjoy the wildlife, creeks, lakes and beauty under the shade of the mature trees! Some DISC golfers will be on hand to show this isn’t your average Frisbee. And we'll get a biking demonstration as well.

Think of how long it usually takes to have nice trees in a park . . . well you don’t have to wait! When I chaired the Open Space Committee for the Quail Valley Property Acquisition, we realized that Missouri City had some low cost, high impact opportunities to develop recreation that taxpayers could use immediately besides existing trails.

For example, the Kiamesha Weir, that runs under Crow Valley, and the earthen dam between it and lakes is a perfect area for a kayak park, with the other side a fishing park. You may see possibilities we missed.

This area forks into the El Dorado course or the former Executive 9 that is designated park space. DISC golf is set up already there and ready for fun. The area is just waiting for a picnic today as you read this!

Come out and see the beauty and possibilities for fun your tax dollars are buying, Saturday, October 18 at 9 am. Meet on the Patio behind the Grille and Golf Shop. Rain date October 25. Parking at El Dorado and La Quinta. Happy trails!

Click on the pictures to enlarge them. Then, become part of them by joining us . . . you'll make new friends who enjoy wholesome fun, love nature and the outdoors! Invite your friends!

Missouri City Police Officers Sponsor Charity Golf Tournament

The Missouri City Police Officer’s Association (MCPOA) takes their “protect and serve” mission seriously. We know they do a great job protecting, but did you know they raised money for community service and have been doing it for 31 years?

The 31^st Annual Charity Police Invitational Golf Scramble (P.I.G.S.) will be held Friday, August 8 at Missouri City’s Golf Course at  Quail Valley.  This tournament is always a fun day and that's why it has lasted 31 years! 

Over the years the proceeds from this event have benefited various community outreach efforts for kids, families in need, and helped families of officers. This year in addition to outreach programs, proceeds from the tournament will be earmarked to provide educational scholarships in honor of Officer Damian Bucker and Sergeant Andrew Svoboda.

You can have fun and benefit our community by encouraging MCPOA involvement in the community, supporting various groups from boys and girls little league and Special Olympics to Toys for Santa’s Sack, Fort Bend Child Advocates and many other worthy local endeavors as well as supporting our new city golf course!

The 4 person team, “Handicapped Florida Scramble” format is open to the first 36 paid teams to sign up by August 4, 2008. 10:30 registration box lunch with a noon shotgun start that includes golf pack with shirt, hat/visor and door prizes. Fees are $100 per participant or $115 player with a guest for dinner.

The public is also invited to participate in the dinner for $20 each. Contact Preston Cates at 281 403-1198 for more information or to sign up and support the Missouri City Police Officers Association.