John Hargrove Environmental Complex Trail

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JHEC Trail Map

ADDRESS:

5750 Magnolia Road

Pearland, TX 77584

PHONE:(281) 652-1960

CATEGORIES:

Community Parks

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Dawn to Dusk

_{1 - Delores Fenwick Nature Center 2 - Rookery Nesting Islands}

_{-- -- --}_{Bald Eagle Loop - 1.4 miles -- -- -- Cypress Loop - .85 miles -- -- -- Monarch Loop - .78 miles}

The John Hargrove Environmental Complex (JHEC) site serves as an example to environmental stewardship in Pearland. JHEC is approximately 87 acres that consists of two large ponds with almost two miles of trails that take visitors around the park. The site also features three facilities, the Southwest Environmental Center, Stella Roberts Recycling Center, and the Delores Fenwick Nature Center.

The ponds attract abundant waterfowl beginning in the fall and lasting through the winter and the trails provide access to excellent birding year-round. A really unique spectacle occurs every spring and summer when large numbers of waterbirds concentrate on the park’s islands to nest, known as a rookery. The nature center and walking trails are open to the public at no cost.

Spoonbill - JHEC Bald Eagle at DFNC (2)

Bird Rookeries

Every spring through summer, JHEC is home to a nesting colony of waterbirds, otherwise known as a rookery. Rookery sites are very unique as they are areas where groups of birds congregate together to breed, nest, and fledge offspring, all in close proximity to one another. They seek sites that offer protection from predators, such as the islands in the JHEC ponds. The JHEC rookery supports an impressive 600+ nesting pairs of Neotropic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, and Roseate Spoonbill.

Spoonbill Nest - JHEC JHEC - West Island

NATURALIZATION PROJECT

JHEC is a recognized environmental site and is undergoing a naturalization of key areas of the park. This means converting mowed/manicured lawn into a more natural plant community that benefits wildlife by providing habitat, works to help filter runoff entering the pond, and provides visitors with a better sense of being in nature. The area outlined on the aerial image below delineates this naturalization project.

JHEC - Naturalized Areas

After removing non-native grass species, a native seed mix was spread over the site in December 2020. This mix consists of several species of native flowering plants and prairie grasses. Once established as a diverse habitat of native grasses and flowering plants, this area will add to the environmental teaching opportunities for City programming at the JHEC site, while also bringing more nature into our park system.

FLOATING WETLANDS

The floating wetlands located near the inflow to Mary's Creek in the east JHEC pond were a joint project between the City of Pearland and the Texas AgriLife Extension. Pearland was the first municipality in Texas to install these wetlands. The floating mats, made of recycled nylon materials, create a planting shelf for native wetland plants. Roots from these plants suspend into the water column and filter out pollutants coming to and from the creek. These platforms also provide critical habitat and basking structures for wildlife and are a great place to spot turtles. Staff and volunteers replant the floating mats twice a year in the spring and fall seasons.

Floating Wetlands - JHEC