HOUSTON, Texas – You don’t have to look far in Westbury to find signs of progress.
Once a neighborhood in decline, Westbury is now writing a new chapter... one driven by its residents and their deep-rooted commitment to community.
And chances are, if something positive is happening, longtime resident Rebecca Edmondson is right in the middle of it.
“We’re still a viable neighborhood,” Edmondson said.
For more than 25 years, Edmondson has been at the heart of civic life in Westbury. As the president of the Westbury Super Neighborhood, she has worked with local agencies, elected officials, and grassroots organizations to shape the community’s future.
“The people,” she says, when asked what keeps her committed after decades of service. “I’ve met so many incredible people and made so many friends.”
Westbury’s revitalization journey began in earnest in 1998, when the community came together to create a neighborhood-driven plan to address years of economic downturn and disinvestment, including the decline of one of its crown jewels: Westbury Square.
Once a charming European-style shopping center built in the mid-1960s, Westbury Square featured restaurants, boutiques, and a beautiful central fountain. Today, it sits largely abandoned and in disrepair, its land currently up for sale.
“In a perfect world,” Edmondson says, “it would become a mixed-use space, some shops, restaurants, something we really just don’t have out here.”
While Westbury Square awaits a new purpose, the neighborhood hasn’t stood still.
Thanks to a mix of funding sources and determined local leadership, Westbury has added vital new community spaces. Among the most notable is the Willow Waterhole Greenway, a multi-purpose outdoor space with lakes, walking trails, and flood-control features.
Nearby is another local gem: the Westbury Community Garden.
“It’s been incredible,” Edmondson says. “We have over 100 people gardening, classes on healthy eating, and a kids’ program every fall.”
Westbury also recently welcomed a new $15 million public library, now a modern-day hub for learning and connection.
“When I look at the library,” Edmondson reflects, “it represents the future.”
The next big project on the horizon aims to transform the cultural landscape of the community: Levitt Pavilion Houston.
Scheduled to open in 2028, the outdoor venue will be located at the Willow Waterhole and will host free concerts, creating a new social space for residents and visitors alike.
In the meantime, events like MusicFest, happening next month, offer a glimpse of what’s to come.
“I’m very anxious to get that new social space going,” Edmondson says. “We’ll be building community through music.”