Houston Chronicle Sunday

Katy’s offerings make it suburban standout

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With a bustling community life, abundant amenities and schools, Katy offers families the ultimate suburban experience outside of Houston. With acclaimed schools, an event-packed social calendar, Friday night football, master-planned communitie­s, and endless shopping opportunit­ies, Katy is an attractive option accessible to downtown Houston.

Katy has hundreds of restaurant, entertainm­ent and retail options, including LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch, Katy Mills mall and the Typhoon Texas Water Park. Choices will be expanding with the new Katy Boardwalk District, currently under constructi­on, for a mixed-use project that will ultimately include high-end apartments, a hotel and conference center, and restaurant, retail, and office space.

The University of Houston has moved in, too, with the UH-Katy campus. The 80,000 square-foot academic building is set on 46 acres near the intersecti­on of I-10 and Grand Parkway. The university has also asked for an additional $75 million from the Texas Legislatur­e to build another facility in Katy.

You can’t talk about Katy without mentioning Cinco Ranch, a masterplan­ned community that now has about 15,000 homes. Other top communitie­s abound including Cane Island, The Reserve at Katy, Cross Creek Ranch, Kelliwood, Woodcreek Reserve, Tamarron, Firethorne, Avalon at Seven Meadows, Elyson, Grand Lakes and several others. Price points vary, to meet a range of needs and lifestyles.

Mary Jo Peckham Park is a popular place for families seeking outdoor activities and recreation.

The MKT Railroad Museum and Johnny Nelson Katy Heritage Museum offer alternativ­e excursion options as well. A more recent developmen­t, Cane Island, boasts amenities such as an aquatic center, trails, lakes and treehouses.

 ?? Courtesy of Cane Island ?? Many Katy-area communitie­s feature large amenity centers for residents to enjoy. Cane Island’s Cane Quarter is no exception, with a lap pool, main pool, splash park, cabanas, and The Oaks Kitchen & Bar.
Courtesy of Cane Island Many Katy-area communitie­s feature large amenity centers for residents to enjoy. Cane Island’s Cane Quarter is no exception, with a lap pool, main pool, splash park, cabanas, and The Oaks Kitchen & Bar.

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