West University Place officials are set to consider a plan for updated equipment for the city’s recreation center during the upcoming July 27 city council meeting.

What happened: In the spring, West U officials requested feedback from residents on proposed layouts and equipment for the city’s recreation center.

As a result of the feedback, the Parks and Recreation Board approved the plan and made a $390,000 funding request to the Friends of West University Parks Fund, a volunteer-based organization that raises funds for development and improvement of parks and green spaces in the city. The funding was approved May 6.

Some background: In 2024, as part of the city's Facilities Master Plan, officials began exploring potential improvements to the recreation center. In early 2025, the department conducted a public survey for residents to provide input on what potential improvements to the facility they’d like to see.

The survey received over 250 responses, and based on its results, the cardio and weight room and the racquetball courts were identified as priority areas for improvement.

Construction of Houston’s first Thursday Boot Co. location, a retailer specializing in leather footwear and apparel, is anticipated to begin in early August, co-founder and executive chair Connor Wilson confirmed. 

Another detail: Per a filing from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the 2,625-square-foot storefront will occupy a property along Kelvin Drive in Rice Village.

What they offer: Thursday’s craftsmanship is shown in its extensive offerings of booties, sneakers, loafers, heeled shoes and even western-style boots for men and women. These shoes are handcrafted from ethically sourced materials obtained from around the world, including partners across North America and Europe, according to its website.

Looking ahead: Wilson noted that construction plans aim for the new location to be open by October.

“We’ve had amazing support from customers in the Houston area and are thrilled to offer the option to shop in-person,” Wilson said in a statement via email to Community Impact.

• 5407 Kelvin Dr., Houston

Taking place from Aug. 24-30, theater fanatics can score exclusive deals on live performances in the city, including opera, music and dance performances, per a July 16 release.

The overview: For the fifth year, consumers can take advantage of buy-one-get-one-free tickets to hundreds of shows for Houston Theater Week, including favorites such as:

• "A Christmas Carol"
• "A Raisin in the Sun"
• Disney’s "The Little Mermaid"

Individuals interested in running for local office are now able to apply for a place on the November general election ballot through Aug.17, according to the Texas Secretary of State's office.

What you need to know: Individuals interested in filing to run for office within a local subdivision or school district must file an application with the entity in charge of the election as well as meet several criteria, including:

• Be 18 years of age or older

• Be a resident of the city, district or subdivision

• Be a U.S. citizen

What else: Several local entities across the Greater Houston area are set to have elections, such as:

• Harris County Emergency Services District No. 9

• Klein ISD

• Fort Bend ISD

• New Caney ISD

• City of Roman Forest

• Tomball ISD

• The Woodlands Township

Individuals interested in running for office should check with their local entities for any additional information or application packets ahead of the November general election.

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from last week? Check out six trending stories from the South Houston area from July 20-24.

1. Pearland shifts with new mayor and city leadership changes

2. New 17-acre River Oaks development set to define luxury with new amenities

3. New DPS office to open in Katy after 15-plus years

4. Goodwill to open 2nd Missouri City store in Sienna

5. Pomodoro’s Cucina Italiana awarded $850K incentive to open in Seabrook

6. Blue Mambo to rebrand, relocate to Bissonnet in elevated beauty partnership with Hair Craft Collective

As more data centers are being built in Texas, the state’s water planning agency warns that limited information is available about the booming industry and its impact on water supplies.

The overview: The Texas Water Development Board adopted its initial 2027 State Water Plan on July 23, with a “more robust” version of the plan expected later this year. The plan consists of 3,000 water management projects and 6,700 strategies that experts say are needed to prepare for future severe droughts.

It will cost about $174 billion to complete the projects, according to the TWDB. However, if they are not implemented, a severe drought could cost the state $91 billion in economic damages as soon as 2030 and lead to $177 billion in annual losses by 2080.

The context: These projections do not account for the amount of water that data centers—which largely purchase their water from public systems—may use or how the large facilities could contribute to overall water availability. Right now, the board said it did not have enough information to do so.