Tri-Sports History
January 1970
HISD leases to WULL “the land designated as the playground at the premises known as West University Elementary School for use as a Little League Field on the portion designated by the Owner.”
1974
- HISD leases to West U the six acres of playing fields surrounding WUE, net of the WULL lease acreage, citing the City’s “desire to improve said tract… for public park purposes” and commitment to “maintain the above described tract.”
- West U Department of Recreation offers girls softball for first time as an organized youth sports program.
1977
WUSA is formed and takes over administration of girls softball program from City.
1978
West U Soccer Club is formed.
1981
- Field conditions at WUE under City management deteriorate to the point that residents on south side of 3700 block of Rice find them intolerable and complain loudly. A later letter to City Council describes them as “dust, gravel, and clump grass.”
- City seeks help from WULL, WUSA, and WUSC to undertake joint project to grade and seed the WUE fields.
1982
At City’s request and urging, Tri-Sports is formed and takes over all maintenance of WUE fields. Budget of $10,000 funded $5,000 by HISD, $3,500 by WU, $1,500 by SSP. Tri-Sports reports 860 kids in the three leagues (480 WULL, 200 WUSA, 180 WUSC).
1982-83
New irrigation systems installed by Tri-Sports on five WUE fields.
August 1983
Tri-Sports letter to City Council states that “The coaches and players on the various baseball, softball, and soccer teams which use the West University fields agree that the playing surface is greatly improved since Tri-Sports started coordinating the field maintenance efforts a year ago. There is better grass and more of it.”
September 1984
Tri-Sports letter to Parks Board says 700 West U children participate in the three Tri-Sports leagues that play on the WUE fields, which also hosts an active adult softball program, and “In addition, this park is the site of choice for all the impromptu Frisbee-tossing, kite-flying, etc. for the citizens of West University Place.”
November 1984
Tri-Sports letter to Mayor Pro Tem states that “to continue to fund [the] maintenance of the playing fields surrounding West University Elementary School would in no way constitute a government grant. Actually, the commitment to maintain those six acres was made ten years ago, when the City originally leased that area from the Houston Independent School District... By funding the Tri-Sports Association, ... the City of West University Place is merely delegating a necessary job to a more cost-effective independent contractor and getting almost three times as much maintenance work for its money.”
December 1985
Tri-Sports spends $9,000 to put lights on Field 5 (area that is now Bullard Field) for use as practice field by all three leagues.
June 1987
Tri-Sports fundraising begins for $200,000 Pershing Sports Complex. Fundraising letter says, “Each organization has grown rapidly and become an important activity in the lives of many of the children that live in our neighborhood... We need this Sports Complex—and we need it now.”
July 1987
West University Tri-Sports Association incorporated as non-profit Texas charitable organization.
August 1987
HISD enters license agreement with Tri-Sports for the improvement and use of the playing fields at Pershing.
October 1987
HISD cancels all matching funding programs, eliminating further potential HISD financial support for Tri-Sports.
March 1988
Pershing fields completed and dedicated at total cost of $225,000, consisting of three fields suitable for older children’s sports, to be shared with the middle school.
December 1993
Tri-Sports letter reports “our combined membership represents the families of over 2,200 children.”
October 1994
Tri-Sports field reconfiguration agreement for WUE, whereby baseball accepts fields 1 and 2 (areas that are now Threet and Peewee) in spring and softball accepts field 3 (the first Ahrens field) with soccer to use all three fields in the fall.
1994
HISD lease agreement with West U provides that City agrees to pay electricity and to maintain the fields “in conjunction with the Tri-Sports Association.”
1995
Tri-Sports installs lights on all fields at WUE not previously lighted.
2000-01
Tri-Sports instrumental in working with Stella Link Redevelopment Authority on planning and development of new private youth sports field complexes that will eventually become McGovern Park (7.5 acres) and South Campus (55 acres).
September 2001
West U buys old YMCA site on Bellaire Blvd. for new West U Rec Center (made possible by the redevelopment of the McGovern Campus, which provided new location for Weekley Family YMCA).
2005
- Softball practice field installed on south side of field at Rec Center, with soccer field to the north.
- Rotary Club funds a portion of the construction of new $125,000 Dugout Fieldhouse at Wallin Field. WUE funds construction of upgraded backstop and dugouts.
October 2005
Construction at Longfellow Elementary knocks out Braes Little League fields. League folds (after 51 years) and merges into WULL.
2005-07
Construction at WUE knocks out use of Bullard Field and Ahrens Field.
2005-09
Construction at Pershing knocks out use of all Pershing fields.
2007
HISD lease agreement for WUE fields is with West U, “in conjunction with West University Tri-Sports Association.” City leasehold interest is limited to Scout House fields.
2008
New Bullard field constructed. Smaller Ahrens Field reopens. New Musco lights installed at all WUE fields. Total cost to Tri-Sports is over $350,000.
2009
- New Pershing fields constructed jointly by HISD and Tri-Sports.
- West U Rec Center construction knocks out use of Rec Center fields.
2010
New field construction at Rec Center (soccer only), funded by Tri-Sports, at cost of over $80,000.
2011
Bellaire Girls Softball folds, and players move to WUSA.
2012
Musco lights installed at Pershing fields. Also, field improvements to Pershing softball and soccer fields. Total cost to Tri-Sports is $450,000.
2013
New baseball field construction at Rec Center, funded by Tri-Sports, at cost of $50,000.
2015
- New Scout House softball field construction at WUE, executed and paid for jointly by Tri-Sports and WUSA, at cost of $50,000.
- At insistence of City, Tri-Sports upgrades backstops and dugouts at Rec Center south field to match stone color and aesthetic of Rec Center building, at cost to Tri-Sports of $25,000.
2016
Same upgrades to Rec Center north field, at cost of additional $25,000.
2019
Tri-Sports installs safety netting at north and south ends of Rec Center fields at cost of $40,000, which is completed two weeks before City notifies Tri-Sports that it has cut all funding to Tri-Sports from City’s 2020 budget.