Milroy Park

I live too close to Proctor Park and my Big Boy goes to school too close to Donovan Park for us to experience many of the other parks in The Heights. However, curiosity got the best of me and I decided to stop by Milroy Park and see what it was all about. I don't know why, but I was surprised to see another park of this caliber in The Heights. We are truly spoiled with all these amazing recreation spaces.

Located on Yale at 12th, Milroy Park is within view of our much loved Heights Fire Station. It's kind of a cross between my two usual haunts- Proctor and Donovan. It is fully fenced in like Donovan. Great for parents with... active... yeah active... almost-3 year olds. It has a clubhouse like Proctor, which is available for rent and hosts playgroups and senior events weekly. Heights mom Julie takes her son Benjamin to Milroy for Tot Time on Mondays and Thursdays. Even thought they live closer to Proctor Julie says that the staffer, Maragrita, at Milroy is very open to having groups because the park isn't as busy. "Actually when we initially set up Tot Time it was just on Mondays" she said," but Margarita suggested that she also had Thursdays open if we wanted to come then too. She always seems genuinely excited when people, kids especially, come to Milroy."

The club house faces 12th street and you can enter the fenced in park area through a door on the other side.

A fun mural greets kids as they enter the park.

Julie loves that the club house balls, books, legos, puzzles and other toys for the kids. In Houston, there is a need to have indoor spaces for kids to play in the heat of the summer. Milroy Park is the closest neighborhood park for a lot of families, like Kristen and her daughter Kate. They love living close to the park and the open clubhouse is one reason. In the heat of the summer, they spend plenty of time at Milroy where "we can get out of the house and socialize but stay cool."

Play structure and swings can make a perfect day out for kids in many age brackets.

Green space for plain old running around.

Kristen says that living near Milroy definitely adds to her family's quality of life in The Heights. "We are so fortunate to have such a nice park only 5-6 blocks away. Being able to walk to so many parks, not only Milroy, makes the Heights is what it is." I agree. The walkability of The Heights is definitely something that sets it apart from other parts of Houston. In fact, Kristen says she and Kate also like Milroy "because it is close to the library, so we can hit both spots while we are out walking."

Sand volley ball court. Good for volleyball but kids also enjoy getting in there with trucks, shovels and pails.

Kristin likes the playscape at Milroy because she finds it closer to the ground and safer for her toddler, where the elaborate "castle" at Donovan is still too big. On the other hand, Julie feels that the playscape at Milroy is a little big for her toddler and prefers the one at Proctor for climbing. The variety of parks in the neighborhood means you can always find one that suits you and your family's needs. There are many more parks in The Heights to explore and visiting Donovan has helped get me out of my "home park" comfort zone. What park should we hit next?