Elyson breaks ground on 145-acre Elyson Commons at Bear Creek park

Elyson has broken ground on its largest amenity, Elyson Commons at Bear Creek, a 145-acre park that will include sports fields, a dog park, a playground, an outdoor fitness training park, picnic areas, a Great Lawn and more. 

An opening is planned for late 2021.

Located along Elyson Blvd., north of FM 529, Elyson Commons will also have trails meandering through meadows of wildflowers and native Katy Prairie grasses and trees along Bear Creek.

The active amenities of Elyson Commons, such as the sports fields, dog park and playground, will cover approximately 12 acres at the southwest corner of the site, with an entrance and parking lot off of Elyson Blvd.

The remaining 133 acres of Elyson Commons will be devoted to natural open space with approximately 1.4 miles of trails meandering through meadows of wildflowers, trees, native grasses and other plantings. These trails will be connected to Elyson’s overall trail system, which will extend for almost 30 miles when completed.

Newland, Elyson’s developer, chose the name Elyson Commons because this new amenity is envisioned as a major gathering space for the 3,642-acre community, which will be home to an estimated 6,000 homes when completed. (So far, Elyson is home to about 1,400 families.)

“Commons and community are words rooted in the spirit of sharing, and we see Elyson Commons as a place where all of Elyson can come together to share a wide variety of interests and activities, from sports and fitness, to enjoying a movie or concert on the Great Lawn,” said Heather Gustafson, marketing director for Elyson.

Here’s a more detailed look at each of the major activity areas coming soon to Elyson Commons.

Trailblazer Park

Trailblazer Park will be a playground designed to create a spirit of adventure and exploration among Elyson’s youngest residents. One highlight will be a parkour obstacle course with balance ropes, climbing nets, stilts, beams and other challenges designed to help kids develop cross-body coordination and muscle strength, along with life skills such as turn-taking and cooperation. Trailblazer Park will also include a swing set with two single swings and a bird’s nest swing, a play tower fortress with a slide and bridge, and pony and bee springer rides.

Pooch Playground

Covering 1.4 acres, the Pooch Playground will have separate fenced play areas for small and large dogs, with play structures, shade pavilions and seating areas. The park will also have a dog water fountain and a dog wash station.

Outdoor Fitness Training Park

Adding another workout option in addition to the indoor fitness center at Elyson House, the Outdoor Fitness Training Park will have a hill climber rope and a suspension trainer with scalable resistance for 49 exercises. An adjustable stationary bike with a touchscreen will allow users to adjust resistance and other variables. This area will also have parallel bars and a decline bench for core training.

Sports Field & Basketball Court

Elyson Commons will include a half-court basketball court near the parking lot. Restroom facilities will be next to the court. A short walk across the park and through a shaded grove area, the Sports Field will be a multipurpose playing field that can be used for baseball, football, soccer and other games.

Great Lawn

The Great Lawn will have a permanent stage that can accommodate a variety of events, from concerts to outdoor movies. The lawn will slope gently downward toward the stage, to provide visibility for residents enjoying outdoor events with their blankets and lawn chairs. Shaded picnic areas with outdoor grills will be located at the edges of the Great Lawn.

Wildflower Trail

A trailhead arch will provide access to the Wildflower Trail, a 1.4-mile trail that will meander through meadows of wildflowers and other natural areas near Bear Creek. The wildflower palette will include Texas Bluebonnet, Indian Paintbrush, Black-Eyed Susan, Mexican Hat and other species. The wildflowers will bloom in the spring and summer, and native grasses will offer seasonal color in the fall and winter.

Native Prairie Landscaping

Along with native wildflowers, Elyson Commons will restore many species of native Katy Prairie grasses in the upland and bottomland areas surrounding Bear Creek. Ten species of tall upland grasses will be seeded, including Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Switchgrass and Texas Wintergrass. The bottomland mix includes grasses such as Prairie Wildrye and Green Sprangletop, along with wildflowers including Plains Coreopsis, Purple Coneflower and Lemon Mint.

Hundreds of native trees and shrubs will also be planted throughout Elyson Commons, both in the active and passive natural areas. In the active areas, large structural trees such as Live Oaks will be planted to provide shade for picnic and seating areas. Many native trees such as Loblolly Pines and Bald Cypresses will also be added to the Wildflower Trail area. Ornamental trees and shrubs such as Fringtrees, Pride of Houston Yaupons and Muskogee Crape Myrtles will provide seasonal color and food and habitat for wildlife.

A growing community

Elyson Commons is the latest addition to Elyson’s overall master plan to provide more than 750 acres of parks, trails, recreational amenities and natural open space for residents to enjoy.

Major amenities already completed include Elyson House, which was ready in time for Elyson’s grand opening in the fall of 2016. Elyson House includes a Prairie-style community center building with a fitness center, a game room, meeting rooms and a café. Elyson House also offers a swimming pool, tennis courts, a playground and an event lawn.

Opened in 2021, Timber Grove Park is one of Elyson’s newest amenities, offering three distinct areas for play and relaxation. One area has tables and chairs under a grove of large Live Oak trees adorned with festive hanging lights. A second area offers an open field for flying kites, playing catch and other activities. A playscape with natural timber structures highlights the third area.

To see more of Elyson Commons at Bear Creek, watch our video here.

Learn more about Elyson’s lifestyle.

The artist renderings are for illustration purposes only, based upon current development concepts, which are subject to change without notice. No guarantee is made that the features depicted will be built, or, if built, will be as depicted.