John Paul Landing Park is a destination for outdoor lovers, offering nearly eight miles of trails, three playgrounds, a beautiful nature center, and over 850 acres of greenspaces and wetland.
But John Paul Landing is more than a park; it is a shining example of how flood control, wildlife habitat conservation, and public recreation can come together in one thoughtfully designed space.
4 completed the third and final phase of the park’s storm water detention basin years in the making.
Q: When did this project start?
A: The project launched in April 2020, and Precinct 4 has been dedicated to completing this new detention basin and natural area since taking over the project in 2023. Phase 3 — the final phase began in 2024.
Q: What was the purpose of the project?
A: As part of a drainage study of the Cypress and Langham Creek watersheds, the Harris County Flood Control District and the Office of the County Engineer identified a need for additional flood detention to support nearby housing subdivisions, future apartment complexes, and commercial growth.
The addition connects directly to Langham Creek, which runs behind many of these new subdivisions and provides additional detention capacity, reducing the flood risk for nearby residents.
Q: How did it change the landscape and footprint of John Paul Landing?
A: This new addition has increased the footprint of the park’s lake to approximately 200 acres and transformed the northeast corner of the park into a thriving aquatic ecosystem that supports both community resilience and environmental health.
If you’d like to see the addition for yourself, visit the John Paul Landing Environmental Education Center, walk out the back porch to the sidewalk, turn left, and follow the trail. Or, if you’d like a guided tour, feel free to ask any of our team members, and they would be more than happy to show you!
Q: What makes so special?
A: This space serves as a vital habitat for migrating birds. Birders from all over join Precinct 4’s park naturalist on a weekly bird walk in hopes to find birds they have never seen before. With this addition, the wetland continues to grow and flourish with over 40,000 native plants, which provide habitat to over 200 species of birds.
The lake is also a popular destination for local anglers and offers a serene environment for fishing enthusiasts of all kinds. Monthly fishing classes are held at the on-site Environmental Education Center to better promote safe fishing practices across all skill levels.
Harris County Precinct 4 and Texas Parks and Wildlife have partnered to create a network of fish habitat throughout the lake, aimed at promoting sustainable fishing and enhancing the aquatic ecosystem for future generations. This collaboration ensures that the fishing populations remain abundant and healthy, and that anglers have a better chance at securing a catch.
John Paul Landing Environmental Education Center is located at 9950 Katy Hockley Road in Cypress. The center is open Tuesday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.