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In a Dec. 1 update, Bellaire City Council member Cindy Cohen-Taylor shared that the final conceptual design for Evergreen Park is expected to be voted on by City Council in January.

The project includes creating an all-inclusive and accessible playground, renovating the pool complex and providing a green space with flexible uses.

Latest update: The project has already garnered close to $700,000 in proceeds, as of Dec. 1. The sum includes a combination of grants, fundraising and event promotion. Cohen-Taylor said the overall cost of the project is slated to cost approximately $6 million to $8 million.

Next steps: Cohen-Taylor said the next step of the process is to receive council approval of the conceptual design, which will take place in January.  As of Jan. 13, the item has not yet appeared before council. Bellaire's final City Council session in January will be held Jan. 26 at 6 p.m.

After council approval, the committee will kick off a capital campaign in 2026 to raise funds for the rest of the redevelopment.

Houston Fitness Partners, a Planet Fitness franchisee, experienced one of its biggest growth years yet in 2025, according to a Jan. 14 news release from a company representative.

The details: Last year, Houston Fitness Partners invested more than $28 million in gym expansions, which included a new Planet Fitness location near NRG Stadium. 

One more thing: The gym is open from 4 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Basic memberships start at $15 per month. 

• 9567 S. Main St., Houston

Efforts to formalize a local, resident-led preservation society advanced after the Jan. 12 West University Place City Council meeting.

Quote of note: Council member Clay Brett told Community Impact the city experienced numerous architectural movements since its founding 100-plus years ago.

“We have a tremendous opportunity to preserve West U's heritage while increasing our property values and quality of life by using these efforts to continue to beautify our neighborhood,” Brett said. 

Digging deeper: The agenda item brought forth by council member Kalie Rainsberger focused the topic on different methods that would preserve and enhance West University Place’s neighborhood character, according to agenda documents. The four main discussion items were focused on how to:

• Maintain the neighborhood’s beauty, classic style and high-quality residential character
• Continue to improve property values
• Preserve the city’s peaceful setting
• Explore successful cases from different communities on this effort

Eat Drink HTX, the sister fundraiser to Houston Restaurant Weeks, will return for its fifth year from Feb. 14 through Feb. 28, according to a Jan. 12 news release from the Cleverley Stone Foundation. 

At a glance: The two-week dining event was designed around the casual dining experience and features lower price points than Houston Restaurant Weeks. While menus won’t go live until Feb. 1, the foundation announced dinner will be priced at $25, with lunch and brunch both priced at $15. 

The local impact: Both Houston Restaurant Weeks and Eat Drink HTX were inspired by Cleverley Stone, the late philanthropist and food correspondent who was passionate about bringing business to restaurants during traditionally slower seasons of the year, according to the release.

Texas health officials are proposing sweeping new regulations on the state’s hemp industry, including raising the fees required to sell and manufacture consumable hemp products by roughly 10,000%.

The overview: In late December, the Texas Department of State Health Services published a slate of proposed rules regulating consumable hemp products. The proposals include:

• A prohibition on sales to customers under 21 years old
• Stricter testing and labeling requirements
• Guidelines for product recalls
• Tens of thousands of dollars in annual fees