An official aerial video shows off the golf-course-to-retention transformation that’s taken place across a few holes of the former Clear Lake City course north of where Diana Ln. and Ramada Dr. converge. The first all-inclusive shot comes at about 30 seconds. In it, paved and unpaved trails wrap the new pond, which is surrounding by just a few saplings — although plans note it will eventually be an “abundant natural habitat” filled with native vegetation. Some of those incoming species may reside on the so-called “habitat island” that shows up clearly at the 40 second mark.
A parking lot neighbors the southwestern waterfront, adjacent to a pair of new sports fields:
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The Clear Lake City Water Authority bought the 178-acre former golf course in 2011. It plans to park similar “engineered detention ponds” with adjacent trails on all remaining playing surfaces, creating a horseshoe of greenery south of Space Center Blvd.:
- Grand Opening [Exploration Green]
Video: Joe Bibby. Photo: Darren Riggle. Site plans: Exploration Green
More and more golf courses are disappearing …. it begs one to wonder; “Are golf courses soon to be an endangered species as younger people find other, more modern and cheaper forms of entertainment?” Golf communities seem to be a slowly dying breed ….
I don’t live remotely near to there so have no sense of how the local residents feel, but this seems like a great, very practical, amenity to me.
The Clear Lake community loves it, especially after seeing how it handled Hurricane Harvey flooding and now that major elements of its first phase are complete. Check it out on a Saturday or Sunday in you’ll lots of local residents walking, running and riding.
Next Saturday, April 28 is the Explore Your Green grand opening celebration from 10 am to 2 pm at 16205 Diana Lane, 77062. All kinds of free, fun activities, booths, e-cars and food trucks! Check it out Exploration Green on Facebook and website below.
Like many in Clear Lake, I never played golf at the course, but we’re there often now for running and dog walking.
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@Doug,
I thought homes along Diana flooded during Harvey? The rest of Oakbrook has not flooded and our old house was built in 64’. Great project and community involvement tho.
Doug, how long did the first phase of construction take?
Looks like a great reuse of that old course. Much mischief was had there back in the 1980s.