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Tomball families, seniors and community organizations will have a new place to gather, exercise, take classes and participate in neighborhood activities when Harris County Precinct 3 opens the Mathews Community Center in summer 2028.

The planned $11.55 million facility, located at 11603 Hufsmith Kuykendahl Road in Tomball, will bring approximately 18,000 square feet of indoor community space to the area next to Samuel Mathews Park. The project will include classrooms, exercise and activity rooms, meeting and event spaces, and expanded parking, creating new opportunities for residents of different ages and interests to spend time together close to home.

Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey announced the project on November 4, 2026, following Harris County Commissioners Court's approval of the project's final investment memo and funding request on October 15.

For Tomball residents who already enjoy the park's playground, sports courts, walking trail and outdoor gathering areas, the new center will offer something the existing facilities cannot: a much larger indoor destination designed for regular programming, recreation and community events.

What Will the New Mathews Community Center in Tomball Include?

While Commissioner Ramsey's announcement describes the new community center as an approximately 18,000-square-foot facility, county planning documents specify a 17,325-square-foot, single-story building with flexible spaces intended to accommodate a variety of public activities.

According to the county's approved project plans, the Mathews Community Center will include:

• Five classrooms: Approximately 2,450 square feet of combined classroom space for workshops, tutoring, small-group learning and enrichment programs. Two classrooms will have audiovisual equipment.

• Two large exercise and activity rooms: Approximately 2,400 square feet of combined space, with audiovisual capabilities, intended to support exercise programs and other group activities.

• A large multipurpose room: Approximately 4,400 square feet with an elevated stage and audiovisual equipment for community meetings, performances, celebrations and civic gatherings.

• A conference room: A dedicated meeting space equipped for wired and wireless connectivity.

• Expanded parking: A 161-space parking lot with a designated bus loading zone.

• Direct access to Samuel Mathews Park: Connections between the building and existing outdoor recreation areas.

The combination of classrooms, exercise spaces and a large event room is intended to make the facility useful throughout the week rather than primarily for occasional reservations.

Although specific class schedules and programs have not yet been announced, Precinct 3 already offers recreational, educational, fitness and social activities through its community center network. The new Tomball location is expected to bring similar opportunities to the surrounding area.

Harris County has described the project as part of its effort to provide accessible public spaces where residents can build relationships, participate in programs and remain engaged in their communities.

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New Community Center Will Expand Recreation Opportunities at Samuel Mathews Park

The location beside Samuel Mathews Park is an important part of the county's plans.

Located at 1728 East Hufsmith Road, Samuel Mathews Park is a six-acre Harris County Precinct 3 park with a variety of recreational amenities already available to Tomball residents.

The park includes a playground, basketball court, volleyball court, baseball field, pavilion, picnic areas, benches and a walking trail measuring approximately 0.3 miles.

Currently, the park also has a smaller Samuel Mathews Community Center building. County documents describe the existing facility as having limited programming and being primarily available by reservation.

The new Mathews Community Center is intended to provide a significant expansion of those capabilities, giving visitors the option to participate in indoor programs while continuing to enjoy outdoor recreation at the park.

For families, that could mean having a convenient place for children's activities and enrichment programs alongside familiar outdoor play areas. Seniors and other adults could benefit from additional exercise classes, educational opportunities and social gatherings, depending on the programming ultimately offered.

The county's plans also emphasize improvements to the building's exterior and surrounding property, with landscaping and site enhancements intended to make the new facility an inviting addition to the park.

The project follows an approach Harris County Precinct 3 has used at other community centers associated with parks, including Collins Park, Crosby Park and Dennis Johnson Park.

By placing community facilities alongside existing recreation areas, the county can make use of publicly owned land while giving residents access to more activities in one location.

Mathews Community Center Could Also Serve Tomball Residents During Emergencies

Beyond its planned recreational and educational uses, the new center could eventually provide an additional resource for residents during extreme weather and other emergencies.

Harris County's approved investment memo includes plans to install an emergency generator within six months of the building becoming occupied.

Once the necessary equipment is installed and the facility is prepared for that role, the center is intended to function as a cooling and warming center during its regular operating hours, including in the aftermath of a disaster.

The county also anticipates that the building could be used to distribute emergency supplies following a disaster.

For residents in Tomball and surrounding northwest Harris County communities, those capabilities could be particularly useful during prolonged summer heat, severe winter weather or other events that disrupt normal household routines.

The emergency generator is not included in the initial building development, meaning the facility's ability to serve as a cooling or warming center will depend on that additional installation.

The plans do not establish the building as a continuously operating emergency shelter.

Harris County Approves $11.55 Million Investment in New Tomball Community Center

The Mathews Community Center represents a substantial investment in community infrastructure in the Tomball area.

On October 15, 2026, Harris County Commissioners Court approved the project's final investment memo, establishing a total estimated project cost of $11,550,000.

That amount includes $10.5 million for the anticipated construction contract and a $1.05 million contingency allocation.

Commissioners also approved $10.5 million in commercial paper funding, a form of short-term public borrowing. County financial documents indicate that the financing is expected to be repaid within three fiscal years through bonds, budgetary resources or other pay-as-you-go funding sources.

The project has been in development for approximately two years.

In October 2024, Commissioners Court authorized negotiations with STOA International Architects for architectural and engineering services associated with the proposed community center.

Additional professional services agreements followed in February and September 2025 as the county moved through the planning and design process.

According to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation project registration filed September 15, 2026, the new building will be a single-story facility with associated parking, drainage, utilities and site improvements. STOA Architects is identified as the project's design firm.

Using land already associated with the existing park is expected to reduce the need for additional property acquisition while allowing Harris County to expand recreation and community services in the area.

When Will the New Mathews Community Center Open in Tomball?

Harris County Precinct 3 has announced a summer 2028 opening for the new Tomball community center. The county's approved project schedule establishes several milestones leading up to that anticipated opening.

Construction bidding was scheduled to begin in October 2026, followed by an anticipated construction contract award and start of construction in April 2027. County planning documents project substantial completion in April 2028, with construction expected to be finished in May 2028.

A separate state construction registration also identifies May 2028 as the expected completion period, although its preliminary construction start date differs from the county's investment memo. Those dates remain project targets, and an exact public opening date has not yet been announced.

The project is also identified in a Harris County construction solicitation published in October 2026, with proposals due November 23, 2026.

While residents can look forward to new indoor recreational and educational opportunities, details such as the center's operating hours, registration procedures, individual classes and facility reservation policies will be announced closer to opening.

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What the New Mathews Community Center Means for Tomball's Growing Community

Tomball has long been a community where public parks, youth activities, neighborhood organizations and local events help bring people together.

The addition of a larger community center next to Samuel Mathews Park will give residents another place to maintain those connections, whether through an exercise class, an educational workshop, a civic meeting or a family-oriented event.

It also represents a shift in how the existing Mathews Park property can serve the surrounding community.

Rather than relying primarily on a small, limited-use building, Harris County plans to establish a facility capable of hosting multiple activities and groups, with indoor and outdoor recreation available in the same area.

For local families, the value may be found in convenient activities close to home. For older residents, it may be the opportunity to participate in regular classes and social programs. For neighborhood groups and community organizations, the added meeting and gathering space could create new possibilities for local involvement.

As Harris County moves toward construction, residents can expect additional information about the facility's progress, programming and anticipated opening.

For now, the county's approved investment and announced summer 2028 opening give Tomball residents a clearer picture of what is coming to the Samuel Mathews Park area.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for further coverage of the Mathews Community Center's construction, opening plans and future community programs.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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