Fairy Trail comes true
Long-awaited children’s attraction at Stevenson Park in Friendswood opens with trolls, fairies and a line of tiny houses
Fairies, and a troll or two, have arrived in Friendswood, but they require imagination to find.
The Friendswood Fairy Trail at Stevenson Park, 1100 S. Friendswood Drive, opened to the public on Monday following a private debut on Friday. Admission is free.
Children are invited to come out and search for the mythical creatures including: Gertrude the animal fairy; ARRRia who loves to reduce, reuse and recycle; and Victor, who promotes volunteering. Kids can also seek out four trolls including Schreck the maintenance troll, who keeps close watch on the Stevenson Park Bridge.
Several city leaders, including Friendswood Mayor Mike Foreman, were on hand for the opening.
The trail, which is one year in the making, is a project of Keep Friendswood Beautiful, a cityaffiliated volunteer group. Natasha McAdoo serves as its chairwoman.
In the works since last year
She said the opening was delayed due to COVID-19 but that she was happy to see such a large turnout when KFB was finally able to welcome residents to enjoy the trail. She added the trail is a perfect way for kids to enjoy the outdoors and keep safe during the pandemic.
“It’s a great outdoor activity for kids during this time of social distancing,” she said.
Foreman said he’s always excited to see how much Friendswood has to offer its residents.
Of the trail he said, “Now we have even more.”
KFB has been planning the fairy trail since last year. The project was kicked off when the group secured a $1,500 grant from H-E-B as part of Keep Texas Beautiful’s Brown Bag Grant program. Organizers were then able to add more elements when they secured an additional $5,000 Tournament of Champions grant, also from H-E-B.
The trail is sure to enchant little ones, but KFB has other plans in mind, as well, namely education focusing on conservation and the importance of protecting the environment. The group commissioned 14 custom-made fairy and troll houses to line the trail.
Each tiny home features natural themes and promotes care for the environment. The houses aim to educate children about recycling, waste prevention, volunteerism, community, waste prevention and native plants and wildlife — all while they spend time outdoors. What’s more, each tiny home is constructed of recycled or locally discarded natural materials.
Homes for fairies and trolls
Each little house features child-sized doors that tots can easily open and close to reveal the fairy or troll inside. Each home is built into park trees or placed in other hidden places. Upon arrival, children can request a map and legend as they embark on their hunt to find their winged friends.
Before setting off on their adventure, youngsters can pass through a custom-made, 4-foothigh cedar doorway to enter the trail.
“The door is a really nice entry point, and the cedar wood keeps it very natural,” McAdoo said. “It looks like the fairy homes, and there is even a tiny little door on it for the fairies to fly through.”
The cedar doorway is accessible for those with disabilities.
For more information about the trail, its residents and to download a trail map, go to www.friendswoodfairytrail.com.