Peaking above the treetops at Arthur Storey Park, not far from the busy streets of Houston’s Asiatown, is a solid wood roof. If visitors were to get close, they may still be able to smell the mint it was shipped with to deter bugs.

The hand-carved, Chinese-style roof was made in Taiwan by master craftsmen and now tops a new pavilion under construction. Since April, crews have been working to add this new centerpiece just feet from the edge of the park’s pond.

While not yet ready for visitors to enjoy, the pavilion will soon be a place for residents to gather with family and friends to celebrate birthdays, weddings, and major holidays, such as Lunar New Year.

“We're the ears — we listen to the community,” said Precinct 4’s Senior Planner Archie Thompson, who is in charge of the project. “When we're out in the community listening to constituents telling us things that they want, we want to bring it to life.”

Authenticity at the forefront

Along with the wooden roof, three experts traveled from Taiwan to help Precinct 4 complete the project. One of the experts, Wei Ming Cheng, is one of only a handful of people certified to lay the more than 200 clay tiles needed for the traditional roof, which he cuts onsite himself.

Another of the experts, Kuei Jung Wang created the one-of-a-kind, multicolored, intricate designs that will be painted along the underside of the pavilion’s roof.

“It’s very detailed art – and that’s what’s going to take the longest,” said Thompson. “You can’t get just a regular painter to come out to paint it. This has to be someone with artistic skills.”

The craftsmen have been focusing on more than what will be seen by visitors. When the roof was added to the structure, Cheng noticed that some of the wood had changed color while it had been shipped and sitting in a warehouse. Cheng asked one of the contractors on the project to track down some ink so he could dye the plank of wood to match the rest of the roof.

After scouring Asiatown, the contractor returned with black calligraphy ink, which Cheng quickly mixed with wood filler to the exact shade needed to match the wood.

“It was spot on,” said the contractor. “I guess over time he knows exactly what to do. I told him everything was going to be painted at the end, and he said, ‘I want my stuff to match.’”

Adding — not disrupting — services

When the team began the project, there were discussions about closing the trails at Arthur Storey Park, but Archie didn’t want to do that, he said.

“We got several people that come out here every day and they exercise,” said Thompson. “So, we wanted to find a way to still do the construction here and keep the trail open so people could still enjoy the park.”

While the trails stayed open, safety was paramount. Precinct 4 set up fences to block the construction area, which sits only feet from the trail. Keeping the trails open also allowed visitors to watch as the pavilion was constructed throughout the summer.

“I’ve had several people stop by and ask about what we’re doing here,” said Thompson. “When I told them about the pavilion, they seemed excited and told me they were looking forward to the opening.”

Visitors can expect to see the pavilion completed and ready for use in fall 2025. If residents would like to reserve the pavilion for special events when it opens, they can call Precinct 4’s Parks Department at (281) 353-8100 or visit the website to book the space.

“This project has been in the works for a while,” said Thompson. “I’m excited to complete it and watch the community enjoy it.”