Northpark Update: Sidewalks, Entry Ponds Nearing Completion

8/20/2026 – Ralph DeLeon, project manager for the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority, shared some good news about Northpark Drive expansion today. It concerns the entry ponds at US59 and sidewalks near Loop 494.

Entergy has relocated power poles that were partially blocking sidewalks.
Entry ponds could have water in them by the end of October.

Here are the stories behind the developments.

Entergy Power Poles Relocated

Years before the Northpark project began, Entergy placed more than half a dozen power poles in front of Public Storage and Self-U storage west of the UnionPacific Railroad tracks. The placement of the poles encroached on the City’s easement. But the encroachment did not become apparent until construction of the 10-foot wide sidewalks along Northpark began as part of the expansion project.

Had Entergy fought moving the poles, the sidewalks would have had to narrow down in that area from 10 feet to 4.

Then the sidewalks would have expanded again past the pinch point. That could have compromised the functionality of the sidewalks which were designated as multi-use pathways. The idea behind the wider-than-normal pathways: allow pedestrians, handicapped people and bicyclists to all use the paths simultaneously. But the pinch point could have prohibited that.

Entergy began moving the encroaching poles on 8/12/26.

Northpark expansion entergy — *Entergy began moving the poles last week.* *Image supplied by De Leon.*

Northpark expansion — *New Entergy Pole. Image taken today by De Leon.*

*The job’s not quite done, but the wider sidewalks will make the pedestrian experience much more pleasant.*

As of this afternoon, Entergy has finished relocating all its conflicting poles. That means continuous 10’-wide sidewalk along the north side of the roadway.

Entry Pond Liners and Well

On 7/24/26, I wrote a brief update about the entry ponds at US59 Two things were holding up completion.

Closing on property for the well that would fill the ponds when rainwater doesn’t
The need to cover the pond liners with water to keep sunlight from damaging them.

De Leon says he now hopes to close on the property for the well during the first week of October 2026. If all goes according to plan, that would allow installation of the pond liners and filling of the ponds, presumably before the end of October.

Photographs supplied by De Leon today show that the pond liners have already arrived on location. They will prevent the loss of water due to seepage and stabilize lake levels.

Entry pond liners stored under protective blankets near Exxon station.

When complete, the Northpark entries should look as beautiful as the Kingwood Drive entries. That will be a major upgrade for the entire community.

For more than 20 years, I was president of the Northpark Place Commercial Association. During that time, I received hundreds, if not thousands of complaints about the appearance of Northpark entries compared to Kingwood Drive. Now, 30 years later, the community will get its wish.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/20/26

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