Earlier this month, I heard from a neighbor that Mac Whitney had passed away. Why, you may ask, is that relevant? It is because his art is a piece you may walk by when you visit Stude Park.
The 50,000-pound, 50-foot-tall abstract monument titled 'Houston' stands tall on a hill above White Oak Bayou, visible from I-10 toward downtown. The piece was completed and installed in 1982 and was one of the first public artworks commissioned by the City of Houston.
Mac Whitney was born in 1936 in Manhattan, Kansas. He grew up on his parents' farm and learned to weld in High School. He went on to attend the College of Emporia and then studied at the Kansas State Teachers College and Kansas University. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Kansas in 1968.
In 1969, he moved to Texas and became associated with a Dallas group called the Oak Cliff Four. Around 1983 Whitney bought a 22.5-acre property on forested Red Oak Creek in Ovilla, outside of Midlothian, south of Dallas, on the northeast Texas prairie. He built his studio on this property and continued to produce artwork that has been called
"dynamic sculptures and extensive career have become a recognized part of Texas' rich cultural environment. His abstracted raw steel sculptures portray the primary forces of tension and resolution while instilling a sense of monumentality. The freestanding sculptures are both prodigious and lyrical- heavy metal seems effortlessly bent, unfolding toward the sky." – Gallery Sonja Roesch
Mac Whitney's work has been shown nationally and internationally and is part of many public collections, including the Dallas Museum of Art, the Fort Worth Museum of Art, the Art Museum of South Texas, the University of North Texas Museum, and the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, Texas. It is worth recognizing, and you can see one of his many pieces when you take your morning or evening walk through Stude Park.
Additional information on Mac Whitney and his art is found at the following links.
Glass Tire - https://glasstire.com/2025/03/13/mac-whitney-1936-2025/
Glass Tire - https://glasstire.com/2025/01/08/mac-whitney-man-of-steel/
Houston Chronicle - https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Paintings-expand-meaning-of-sculptures-by-Whitney-4294878.php#photo-4226173
Gallery Sonja Roesch - https://www.gallerysonjaroesch.com/mac-whitney
Kirk Hopper Fine Art - https://www.kirkhopperfineart.com/whitney.html
Mac Whitney Art - https://macwhitneyart.com/
To find a list of Art in Parks located throughout Houston visit
Houston Parks & Recreation Department Art in Parks - https://www.houstontx.gov/parks/artinparks/pdfs/Houston.pdf
Solid Waste Management - Heavy Trash /
The City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department announced two service changes that took effect on March 9 and 10, 2025, regarding Heavy Trash Pickup and Neighborhood Depository Hours. (Read COH SWMD's press release)
Heavy Trash Removal Change
The all-inclusive heavy trash removal has been changed to a tree waste only collection. Residents will need to take any waste outside of this guideline to one of the City's 6 Neighborhood Depositories.
Neighborhood Depository Hours and Requirements
All six City Neighborhood Depositories will operate under new hours: Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (closed Mondays). When dropping off heavy trash at a depository, each user must provide proof of residency, including a valid Texas Driver's License or other ID, along with a current utility bill or city property tax receipt. Citizens may use the depositories four times per month and are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes before closing time to allow adequate unloading time.
Note that some items are accepted at neighborhood depositories, and some are not. Download a copy of SWMD Neighborhood Depository & Recycling Centers Standard Operating Rules and Regulations before your visit to be sure you have all the items required to use the depository sites and that your items will be accepted at the sites.
Neighborhood Depository Locations - Open Tuesday - Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Closed Mondays)
North - 9003 N Main, 77022
Northeast - 5565 Kirkpatrick, 77028
Northwest - 14400 Sommermeyer, 77041
South - 5100 Sunbeam, 77033
Southeast - 2240 Central Street, 77017
Southwest - 10785 SW Freeway, 77074
In Answer to Your Questions /
We have a few updates to pass on to questions we've received from neighbors. They are regarding a water leak near the Norhill Esplanade, the repair of the sign and retaining wall at the corner of greenspace at Houston Avenue and White Oak Drive, and the status of repairs to the bollards and large rocks at the entrance to our neighborhood at the corner of Watson and Usener Streets. Also, you might see new signage around the neighborhood courtesy of Harris County Constable Alan Rosen, Precinct 1 office.
The Water Leak near the Norhill Esplanade
originally identified and reported on February 20, 2025, was fixed on March 19, 2025. We understand that many, including the WHCA Board, would have liked this to have been addressed at a more rapid pace, but we have received information indicating that the repair was basically triaged in terms of the many other repairs throughout the city that were more serious. In the end, the City of Houston Public Works did make the repair, and we are all thankful.
The Retaining Wall Repair at Houston Avenue and White Oak Drive
We still have not received an update from the Greater Northside Management District (GNMD) regarding when they will begin repairing the signage at the parkette at White Oak and Houston Avenue. We will continue to reach out to the GNMD until we receive a timeline for this repair. Again, thank you for your patience.
The Watson Street Esplanade
The damage caused by the February 13 two-car collision to the Watson Street Esplanade bollards and boulders has been fixed. Many thanks to Ryan Taylor, WHCA Director of Beautification, and his volunteers for addressing the damage and working to repair it. The esplanade looks beautiful with its new coat of paint and brand-new larger than ever boulder. As always, the Beautification Team is looking for more volunteers to help beautify the greenspaces across our neighborhood. They'd love to hear from you and welcome you into their ranks; email beautification@woodland-heights.org.
New Signage Comes to Woodland Heights
You may have noticed the new signage that Harris Country Precinct 1 has installed across our neighborhood. We've got 8 to 10 new signs throughout the neighborhood, letting the public know that Harris County Precinct 1 Constables are on patrol throughout Woodland Heights.
Creature Feature - Hummers Are Coming! /
Spring signals the beginning of bird migration for many migrating species. One of the smallest birds is the Bee Hummingbird; it is only found in Cuba, so we will not see this little guy in Houston. But several other little green jewels will fly back from their winter home in the south to Houston and beyond. For people who like to plant their gardens and set up extra feeding sites for the little hummers, the Spring Migration for hummingbirds usually can be as early as January or February in some areas. However, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recommends having your feeders up by the Ides of March or March 15th.
Hummingbird watching is a great way to relax and sit out on your front or back porch with a favorite beverage to watch the little guys and gals jockey for ownership of your hummingbird feeders. According to the Cornell Lab's All About Birds, there is no need to use red dye in your feeders. Instead, try the Audubon Society's recipe for making your own nectar to help supplement the little bird's food supply. It's a pretty easy recipe; your reward is seeing the hummies sitting around your feeders and enjoying a great long drink from them.
Some hummingbird FAQs for you to ponder over
The hummingbird family is very large, with 366 species and 112 genera.
Fewer than two dozen species venture into the United States and Canada, and only a few remain year-round.
Hummingbirds are members of the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest birds, with most species in the 3"-5" range.
Many hummingbirds spend the winter in Central America or Mexico and migrate north to their breeding grounds in the southern United States as early as February. Later in the spring, they migrate to areas further north, even into Canada.
The first migratory arrivals in spring are usually males.
Want to learn more about hummingbirds? Here are some sites you might like to visit: available at the following resources
Snow People & Other Creatures /
Do You Want To Build A Snowman?
Today’s snowfall sent kids of all ages out to build snow people, snow narwhals, and a snow bear. We took a trip this afternoon around the neighborhood to capture the artwork before, like all the snow, it melted away.
Snow Day! Snow Day! /
A once-in-a-lifetime event – measurable snowfall in Houston, Texas. That is what we’ve just experienced, and hopefully, it was a good experience for everyone. Some dates to consider as you put January 21, 2025 down in your family history books for telling tales about when you experienced snow in Houston. For a really interesting article Houston’s Great Snow of 1895 visit Space City Weather.
Historic Houston Snow Dates (Houston Public Media)
Feb. 14, 1895 — 20 inches (This was before the NWS began keeping records, but multiple newspapers from the time reported 20 inches of snow in the area, according to Space City Weather.)
Jan. 22, 1940 — 3 inches
Feb. 12, 1960 — 3 inches
Jan. 30, 1949 — 2.6 inches
Dec. 23, 1929 — 2.5 inches
Jan. 12, 1973 — 2 inches
Dec. 22, 1989 — 1.7 inches
Feb. 2, 1980 — 1.4 inches
Dec. 10, 2008 — 1.4 inches
With afternoon temperatures well above freezing, and even some sun, the snow has been melting. All the resulting water will be transformed into nice, smooth ice by the hard freeze expected overnight tonight. This has the potential to make Wednesday morning very dangerous on the roads.
Take a Book. Share a Book. /
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend...
...Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx
"Take a Book. Share a Book." This is the rallying cry of the nonprofit organization Little Free Library, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Their goal "is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-exchange boxes."
A stroll through our neighborhood indicates that many of our neighbors feel the same way and have built their own free library boxes to share their favorite books with others. With the start of a new school year just beginning a few weeks ago, it seemed only fitting to highlight the Little Free Libraries across our neighborhood. Their offers are for young and old alike, all sharing these neighborhood libraries for all who love reading.
For information on the Little Free Library World map visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/ enter your zip code and you'll be able to find LFL near you. There are also a variety of other other resources to help you build a LFL of your own, information on how to set up your library, and ways to stock it with books.
For more information on the Little Free Library organization, including how to become a Little Free Library Steward, resources to replenish your book collection, or kits to build your own library, they have resources available to support you. Visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/books/ for more information and to replenish your book collection for your readers.
2024 LITH - We Have A Winner! Beat the Rush - Order Yours Today! /
This is a mock-up of the 2024 Lights in the Heights Ornament. It is not to scale or an exact replica of what the final cloisonné ornament will look like.
A big THANK YOU to all the artists who submitted their designs during the 2024 Open Call for Ornament/Logo Design contest. It is now official we have a winner!
We extend our heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS TO Karla Cisneros for her winning design which recognizes both the Bayou City, NASA, and a favorite Woodland Heights unofficial mascot.
Accompanying her entry and why it is a fitting tribute for consideration, the artist, a proud member of our community, said, "While most people don't necessarily associate dinosaurs with Christmas, here in the Woodland Heights, the "Travisaurus" at Travis Elementary School has sparked the creation of playful and fanciful dinosaur-themed decorations during Lights in the Heights. Imagining our neighborhood T-Rex as an astronaut is a nod to Houston's identity and historic role in space exploration."
"Travisaurus" will be the official logo design for all 2024 Lights in the Heights merchandise, which will be available for pre-order at the Woodland Heights store. In addition, the logo will be featured on signage for this year's event. You can place your order today to be sure you get your ornament! Proceeds raised will be used to secure street closure permits, security and police presence, and provide port-a-cans in addition to signage and other necessary items, helping to make the Lights In the Heights event in December a memorable one.
The 1930 Model A Ford Coupe Leads the Way /
Charles Philpott, a proud member of the Restorer Model A Ford Club of America, drove the red 1930 Model A Ford Coupe that led the 4th of July Kids Parade around the Norhill Esplanade. This vintage automobile, a cherished part of his family's history, has been in their possession for an impressive 64 years.
His father, a man of remarkable skill and dedication, restored cars as a hobby. The red Ford Coupe, a symbol of his passion, was not one of his restoration projects. Charles fondly recalls that of the cars his father restored, "Some were in absolutely horrible condition when he got them. His most challenging restoration was a 1928 paddy wagon from the Chicago area."
Tom Philpott, a dedicated Restorer Model A Ford Club of America member, wrote about that particular vehicle. For those interested in its restoration, we've included Mr. Philpott's story. Click on the button below to read his article. His son Charles, a man committed to preserving his father's legacy, provided a copy of his article.
2024 WHCA 4TH OF JULY KIDS PARADE! /
The WHCA Annual 4th of July Kids Parade was well attended and provided families with a chance to get together and celebrate the U.S.'s 248th birthday!
Kids and parents arrived with their favorite rides decked up to join the parade around the Norhill esplanade. Before the parade they were treated to popsicles, glow sticks, and festive beads to keep cool. Think Tacos was on hand for any hardy bites. Their tacos were excellent and enjoyed by many. Their tacos were excellent and enjoyed by many.
Special thanks to Constable Lemons and Constable Early for being on hand to watch over everyone and ensure a safe ride. We appreciate their always being on hand when called on.
Since 2011, Woodland Heights Civic Association has administered a Constable Patrol Program, serviced by Harris County Precinct One. Our Constable Patrol Program is a supplemental police force, currently two deputies, hired to patrol our neighborhood for two 40-hour shifts per week. This program is funded solely by paid subscriptions. Please help us sustain both of our patrol shifts and encourage your neighbors to join — the more members we have, the more patrol coverage we can support. If you would like to support the WHCA Constable Patrol visit our website and sign up!
JOIN US FOR THE WHCA ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY KIDS PARADE! /
2023 Annual 4th of July Kids Parade Participants
Join us on July 4th from 6-8pm at Norhill Esplanade for our annual WHCA 4th of July Kids Parade!
Date: July 4th, 2024
Time: 6 pm - 8 pm
Location: Norhill Esplanade
Get ready for a evening of fun with your friends, family, and neighbors. Gussy up your kids bikes and meet us at the Norhill Esplanade so they can participate in this annual bike ride/parade!
Charles Philpott will lead the parade in his 1930 Model A Ford Coupe.
The Constable Patrol will be on hand for security and parade festivities assistance.
Think Tacos will be on hand for food and drinks
WHCA will provide fee bottled water and popsicles (until they run out).
The event is open to the neighborhood, making it a perfect opportunity to connect with your neighbors and foster a sense of unity.
So mark your calendars and let's make this 4th of July celebration one to remember. We look forward to seeing you there and creating cherished memories together!
LIGHTS IN THE HEIGHTS PLANNING IS UNDERWAY! /
Lights in the Heights, a heartwarming holiday gathering that has been a part of our community since 1988, is scheduled for December 14, 2024. The planning for this beloved event is currently underway, and we warmly invite you to contribute! Your participation is what makes this event truly special. Here's how you can get involved in the planning:
Call for Ornament Designs
Imagine your design becoming the official Lights in the Heights Logo for 2024 and featured on the annual Lights in the Heights ornament! We're calling on all our creative neighbors and friends to be a part of Lights in the Heights history by submitting their design ideas to the Committee. The chosen design will be showcased on signs, posters, letters, T-shirts, and tree ornaments. As a tradition, the artist's name will be included on the underside of the ornament and mentioned on the card that accompanies it. Don't miss this unique opportunity to contribute to our community's history. Please email your submissions to LightsInTheHeights@gmail.com by July 1, 2024.
Lights in the Heights Update /
2022 Lights in the Heights Updates! 🥳 The BASH is back! Plus, calling for volunteers and ornament designs. Find out more.
Read MoreTexas Parks & Wildlife - Bayou City Episode /
Take a tour of the last preserved bayou in the Bayou City with Mark Kramer from the Armand Bayou Nature Center and learn of the importance the habitat plays in flood control.
Houston Parks & Recreation Department (HPARD) has begun restoring riparian habitat along the bayous. HPARD's Kelli Ondracek discusses the restoration project at Milby Park.
Little White Oak Bayou in Woodland Park is among the unique riparian habitats slated for restoration by HPARD.
“Meet some of Houston’s most dedicated bayou conservationists, learn about issues the bayou ecosystem has faced over the past century, and see some hope for keeping an urban area and its watery wilderness in balance.”
Greater Heights Super Neighborhood 15 Council Supports 11th Street Project /
After reviewing the matter at the May 17, 2022 meeting, the GHSNC voted unanimously, with one abstention, to issue this letter and formally support the 11th Street Project.
Woodland Heights Permits Approved in April 2022 /
Below are permits sold by the city of houston to houses in our neighborhood from April 1 to May 2. These are for a variety of things: additions, pools, electrical work, etc. Please contact deedrestrictions@woodland-heights.org
1120 E. 6th 1/2
1102 E. 7th
205 Bayland
423 Bayland
803 Bayland
820 Bayland
1012 Bayland
204 Byrne
417 Byrne
526 Byrne
616 Byrne
715 Byrne
936 Byrne
2626 Beauchamp
2714 Beauchamp
403 Euclid
614 Euclid
817 Euclid
935 Euclid
1030 Euclid
709 Highland
808 Highland
1010 Highland
1014 Highland
1017 Highland
3006 Houston
2603 Julian
902 Merrill
940 Merrill
943 Merrill
1112 Merrill
1136 Merrill
2512 Norhill
411 Omar
710 Omar
1011 Omar
1128 Omar
1129 Omar
408 Pecore
600 Pecore
702 Pecore
709 Pecore
506 Redan
907 Redan
2624 Reagan
701 Ridge
706 Ridge
804 Ridge
929 Ridge
916 Ridge
501 Teetshorn
825 Usener
1038 Usener
1107 Usener
2503 White Oak
2531 White Oak
308 Woodland
902 Woodland
District H Town Hall Recording Now Available Online /
A recording of the District H Town Hall, including discussions of both Redistricting as well as the District's Capital Improvement Projects (CIP), is now available to view online here. As a reminder, the public can attend any Town Hall meeting, a list of which can be viewed on the Redistricting website here. Residents who cannot attend the meetings in person may choose to attend a virtual meeting on May 25th at 6pm
Water Works Festival on Saturday /
Houston Public Works is celebrating the 27th Annual Water Works Festival this Saturday. The free festival is a celebration of all the ways water impacts our lives. There will be family-friendly activities, raffles, giveaways and more! Details here.
When: Sat, May 7th, 10am-2pm
Where: Houston Botanic Garden, 1 Botanic Ln
Houston is First City to Adopt Children's Bill of Rights in Sports /
The Mayor’s Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence (MOHT&DV) announced the City of Houston's adoption of the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports.
This initiative builds healthy children and communities through sports, by working with local organizations on the positive physical and mental health benefits needed for young people to thrive and learn.
Organizations may be eligible for grant funds to implement new programs and services. See the media release here.
East End Street Festival this Saturday /
The 2022 East End Street Fest is a celebration of art, music and heritage in East End Houston. Come and enjoy performances by various Mexican and Chicano artists during Cinco de Mayo week. There will be dance performances, kids activities, and a car show. Admission is free! Follow this link for more details.
When: Sat, May 7th, 12-6pm
Where: 2600 Navigation Blvd