Happy Tuesday, Katy 🤠
Some weeks I look around and can hardly believe how fast Katy has grown. New homes, new roads, new spots to eat — and somehow, we still know our neighbors by name. That's the magic of this place.
This week's edition leans right into that story: what's being built, what's being widened, and what's being cooked up with love.
Now, in today's edition:
A 56-acre park is rising near Katy Hockley Road
The soul food cafe passed down through three generations
The $157M Grand Parkway widening that's still on track
30+ events & more
— Grant Hamilton
Community News
A brand new 56-acre park is coming to north Katy
A huge new park just broke ground near Katy Hockley Road, and it's shaping up to be one of the most exciting green-space projects Katy has seen in years. The clever part? The same trails, playground, and floating boardwalk you'll be enjoying with your family are also protecting the neighborhood from flooding.
Here's what to know:
56 acres total, with 4.5 miles of trails winding through wetlands, wildflower meadows, and native grasses
125 new trees plus cypress groves, shaded seating, and a nature-based playground with sculpted berms, tunnels, and climbing features
A floating boardwalk and dock built right over the retention basin — so families can actually walk out over the water
Substantial completion is targeted for summer 2027, and it'll anchor a new Legacy Trail system connecting to nearby schools and parks
Legacy Park sits directly across from The Green at Katy Park (that 46-acre mixed-use spot taking shape) and right next to Katy Park, the 100-acre youth sports complex that already draws over 800,000 visitors a year. Put it all together and you've got a walkable corridor of green space, shops, and fields in a part of Katy that's been growing faster than infrastructure could keep up.
As Parkside Capital's Lauren Ferrante put it: "Legacy Prairie is designed to echo what this land once was."
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City Updates
$157M Grand Parkway widening still on track between I-10 and 290
If you drive the northern stretch of Grand Parkway, here's the project you'll want to keep an eye on. TxDOT's $157 million widening between I-10 and US 290 is still on track to start this year — the fix a lot of drivers have been waiting for on a corridor where evening speeds routinely drop from 65 mph to about 30 (or let’s be honest, even less).
Here are the main details:
The road grows from 2 lanes each way to 3, all within existing right-of-way — so no homes or businesses have to move
The project is fully funded by Grand Parkway toll revenue, and TxDOT says tolls will not go up
Sound barriers are planned near the Waterstone subdivision and San Paseo Apartments, plus drainage upgrades along the corridor
Construction is expected to run roughly 3½ to 4½ years once it kicks off, wrapping up by around 2030
TxDOT spokesperson Leo Flores summed up the funding question this way: "The tolls are not going to increase as a part of this project. The funds have already been allocated." So – more pain before the payoff, but the payoff looks real.
Local Restaurant Spotlight 🍽️
The soul food cafe where every guest gets called "family"
When Kevin Muccular decided to open a restaurant in Katy, he brought something more valuable than any single recipe: his grandmother's kitchen.
His grandmother was Willie Mae Reed — "Aunt Bill" to everyone who loved her. She was a wife, mother of eight, and a grandmother whose Alabama-born, California-raised cooking held a whole family together. Before Katy, she and her husband ran a barbecue joint in Richmond, California. Now her recipes run the kitchen at Aunt Bill's Soul Food Cafe on Morton Ranch Road, with her grandson at the helm.
Here's what makes it so special:
Every guest gets the same greeting: "Hey Family!" — and the whole place is built around treating you like one
Everything is made from scratch, from the smothered oxtails to the peach cobbler you'll be thinking about all week
The signature spread: BBQ ribs, crispy fried chicken with Belgian waffles, creamy mac & cheese, collard greens, and (yes) vegan soul food options too
Free live jazz every 1st and 3rd Thursday, live music every night, BYOB with happy hour mocktail specials — a whole vibe, not just a meal
Kevin's cousin Montreece Allen, who runs the family's sister location in Fairfield, California, put it best: "I didn't know my grandmother didn't have a life, because she always fed her children and her grandchildren — and it was good."
That's what's on the plate at 22603 Morton Ranch Rd. Come hungry. And if you're going Saturday or Sunday, call ahead — those are the busy nights, and reservations are strongly encouraged.
Events coming up this week:
This section includes only the major events happening soon. For a complete list of all events, you'll have to wait for future editions!
🐣 Family Fun
Frosty Fridays | 10:00–11:30 AM, Fridays, July 24 & July 31 | (Free) Details
Location: Rotating City of Katy parks - July 24th - Katy Dog Park
Description: Free frozen treats, Parks & Rec swag, and a new themed activity each week — the summer beat-the-heat tradition.
Friends of Maud Marks Library Book Sale | 10 AM – 4 PM, Saturday, July 25 | Details
Location: Maud Smith Marks Library, Katy
Description: Members get first dibs on the book presale on Friday the 24th. Pro tip: $10 at the door gets you a membership and early access to the good stuff. On Saturday, big public sale of books and more. Come early for the best selection. This month there is a large selection of children’s books, see details for more info.
Fort Bend County Libraries Multicultural Festival | 10:00 AM–3:00 PM, Saturday, July 25 | (Free) Details
Location: George Memorial Library, 1001 Golfview Dr., Richmond
Description: About 25 minutes from Katy but absolutely worth the drive. A family-friendly celebration of Fort Bend's cultures with performances, workshops, a "Food Hall" of local vendors, and a replica of artist Betirri's 2026 FIFA World Cup mural (with an artist talk at 1:00 PM). The Houston Brass Quintet plays "Around the World" at 2:00 PM.
Movie Night on the Green: Lilo & Stitch (Live Action) | 8:00–9:30 PM, Saturday, July 25 | (Free) Details
Location: Central Green at LaCenterra
Description: Grab a blanket and settle onto Central Green's freshly installed turf for a free family movie under the stars. Ohana means nobody stays home.
Back to School Bash (13th Annual) | 7:30 PM, Saturday, August 1 | (Free) Details
Location: Central Green at LaCenterra
Description: Central Green's biggest send-off to summer. Kids meet future classmates, families donate school supplies, and everyone enjoys live music from RPM & The Bandits, performances by Intempo Dance, a scavenger hunt, and giveaways. A Katy tradition worth putting on the calendar.
🍺 Food & Drink
Mild to Wild Spice Fest | 3:00–8:00 PM, Saturday, July 25 | Tickets
Location: MKT Distillery
Description: An afternoon and evening of heat, flavor, live music, food, drinks, and local vendors from Be Someone Markets – complete with spicy competitions, judges, and prizes. Bring your water bottle. And maybe a fire extinguisher. Know someone who loves all things spice? Send this to them!
The Peach Truck Tour — Katy Mills | 4:30–6:00 PM, Sunday, August 2 | Tickets
Location: Katy Mills Mall parking lot
Description: Preorder online and swing by the Katy Mills lot to grab boxes of hand-picked Georgia peaches and 10-oz bags of buttery pecans. Owners Stephen and Jessica Rose bring the truck through every summer — it's become a genuine Katy ritual, and yes, you can order 50 pounds (or more!) if the mood strikes you.
🎸 Live Music & Entertainment
NightBird — Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks Tribute | 7:30–9:00 PM, Friday, July 24 | (Free) Details
Location: Central Green at LaCenterra
Description: Houston's own NightBird brings the magic of Stevie Nicks to Cinco Ranch. Pack a blanket, your best flowy shawl, and prepare to sing along to every word of "Landslide."
Kolby Cooper | Doors 7:30 PM, Show 9:30 PM, Friday, July 24 | Tickets
Location: Mo's Place
Description: Texas country's rising heavy-hitter Kolby Cooper takes over Mo's Place for a big Friday night. Boots strongly recommended.
Texas Eagles (Eagles Tribute Band) | 7:30–9:00 PM, Friday, July 31 | (Free) Details
Location: Central Green at LaCenterra
Description: A free outdoor tribute to the Eagles' greatest hits under the stars. Bring lawn chairs, a blanket, and a picnic — no glass, alcohol, or pets in the park.
Casey Donahew | 8:00 PM, Friday, July 31 | Tickets
Location: Mo's Place, Katy
Description: The Texas red-dirt country favorite brings his high-energy show to Katy's honky-tonk. Heads up: Mo's Place is a 21+ venue, so this one's date-night territory.
Bun B and Friends Presents "Been Ridin' Dirty" | 8:00 PM (doors 7:00 PM), Saturday, August 1 | Tickets
Location: Smart Financial Centre, Sugar Land
Description: Houston legend Bun B celebrates the 30th anniversary of UGK's landmark 1996 album Ridin' Dirty with a tribute to the late Pimp C and a stacked lineup of special guests. A big night for Houston hip-hop history.
🏃 Sports & Fitness
Sugar Land Space Cowboys vs. Nashville Sounds | First pitch 7:05 PM (6:35 PM Sunday), Tuesday, July 21 – Sunday, July 26 | Tickets
Location: Constellation Field, Sugar Land
Description: The Astros' Triple-A club hosts Nashville for the franchise's first-ever home interleague series — and the theme nights do not disappoint. See the details link for specifics.
Sugar Land Space Cowboys vs. Salt Lake Bees | Tuesday, July 28 – Sunday, August 2 | Tickets
Location: Constellation Field, Sugar Land
Description: The Astros' Triple-A affiliate has another series to look forward to. Packed full of more great theme days, take a look at the link for more details.
🔮 Looking Ahead
Ella Mai — "Do You Still Love Me? World Tour" | 8:00 PM (doors 7:00 PM), Wednesday, August 5 | Tickets
Location: Smart Financial Centre, Sugar Land
Description: The Grammy-winning R&B star behind "Boo'd Up" and "Trip" brings her world tour to Sugar Land, backing her new album (executive produced by Mustard). Grab tickets before floor seats climb higher.
Katy Area Homeschool Resource Expo | 1:00–4:00 PM, Friday, August 7 | (Free) Details
Location: Memorial Lutheran Church, 5810 3rd St., Katy
Description: Hosted by the Katy Association of Christian Homeschoolers. Curriculum swap, exhibitor booths from local co-ops and homeschool resources, plus KACH kids selling goods. Free and open to the public — membership not required.
🔁 Recurring Weekly Events
Story Time with Ms. Najia | 10:00–11:00 AM, Third Monday Each Month, Next is Aug 17 | Details
No Label Brewing Co. | Daily Food Trucks, Monday - Thursday | Details
No Label Run Club | 5:30–6:30 PM, Monday | Details
Walking Group at Mary Jo Peckham Park | Tuesdays, 8 AM | Details
Fleet Feet Tuesday Run | Tuesdays, 6 PM | Details
Yoga on the Green | Wednesdays & Fridays, ~8 AM | Details
No Label Ruck Club | Wednesdays, 5:00 PM | Details
Bird Walk | Thursdays, 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Details
Totally Toddler Time | Thursdays, 10:15 AM - 10:45 AM and 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM | Details
Adult Watercolor Art Club | Every Other Thursday, Next is July 23 | Details
Story Time with Ms. Maria | First Thursday of Each Month, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM, Next is August 6th | Details
Adult Coloring Hour | Thursdays, 6 PM | Details
Katy Garden Club | Second Thursday of Each Month, Next is August 13 | Details
Farmers Market on Grand Parkway | Saturdays, 8 AM - 12 PM | Details
Farmers Market at The Dryer | Saturdays, 9 AM – 1 PM | Details
Fulshear Farmers Market | Saturdays, 9 AM – 1 PM | Details
George Ranch Historical Park | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, Saturdays | Tickets
Knotty and Nice Knitting Club | Every Wednesday 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Details
That's it for today!
Thanks for reading The Katy Dispatch this week! See you next Tuesday!
P.S. Want to get your business in front of thousands of Katy locals? Email us at [email protected].