On April 10 the Coastal Prairie Conservancy marked the opening of its new Katy Prairie Welcome Center at the Indiangrass Preserve with a private ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by a capacity crowd of over 100 people including many elected officials and local dignitaries.

Located at the Indiangrass Preserve in Waller on the historic Katy Prairie, the Welcome Center creates a new entry point for visitors to experience the prairie firsthand. More than a building, the space is intended to help people better understand the prairie’s role in supporting wildlife, conservation, and long-term regional resilience, while offering a meaningful place to gather, learn, and engage with the landscape.

The Friday grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorated the Welcome Center as a new community resource and honor the supporters, partners, landowners, and elected officials whose leadership is helping to advance the Conservancy’s mission to preserve 50,000 acres of coastal prairie.

“Opening the Katy Prairie Welcome Center marks a defining moment in our work to protect and sustain this landscape for future generations,” said Mary Anne Piacentini, President and CEO of Coastal Prairie Conservancy. “This space reflects the collective commitment of our partners, supporters, and community to safeguarding the Katy Prairie—not only as a critical habitat, but as essential natural infrastructure for the Houston region. By creating a place where people can experience, understand, and connect with the prairie, we are strengthening the foundation for long-term conservation and resilience.”

The program included formal remarks by Waller County Judge Trey Duhon, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones, Waller County Precinct 3 Commissioner Kendrick Jones, City of Katy Mayor Dusty Thiele and City of Katy Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris, who also serves on the conservancy’s board of directors. Harris County Flood Control Executive Director Tina Petersen also attended but did not speak at the event.

Although the welcome center is in Waller County in Precinct 3, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Briones, many of her staff and Petersen were on hand to acknowledge the flood mitigation partnership between Harris County and the preserve, which uses nature-based solutions, according to exhibit signage at the Welcome Center. Through a series of mitigation banks, prairie wetlands are restored to landscape scale to slow and store water.

Attendees were also treated to a guided viewing of the Welcome Center exhibits and conservation success story gallery, followed by optional preserve tours.