Texas couple donated 50 Acres of their land for a public park. 25 Years later, a $9.2 million expansion is taking shape

For Walter and Virginia Duhacsek, the nearly 50 acres they gave to Sugar Land, Texas, were once their home. Today, a quarter of a century after the land was donated, the property is set for a major transformation into a larger recreational destination featuring cricket fields, dog parks, trails and disc golf. Fort Bend County is preparing a $9.2 million expansion of Duhacsek Park, with construction expected to begin in early 2027. The project could eventually turn the relatively quiet park into one of the area's more diverse recreation spaces.

From family homestead to public park

The Duhacseks donated their property to the City of Sugar Land in 2001, with the land intended for public use. The couple had moved to the property in 1956, when the surrounding area was far less developed. The park officially opened in 2009 after the city added basic recreational facilities, including a pavilion, restrooms, parking, a pond and sports facilities. The family's former home was also retained on the property.

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At the time of the park's opening, Sugar Land's parks director Jim Browne described the site as a place where organisations, clubs and families could gather. He said its “natural beauty and peacefulness” made it suitable for occasions ranging from picnics to weddings. The donation has now become the foundation for a much larger public amenity.

What the $9.2 million project will add

The first phase of the expansion is planned to include cricket fields, a multipurpose field, separate large and small dog parks, trails and a nine-hole disc golf course. Cricket is expected to be an important part of the redevelopment. According to project officials, it was among the strongest requests received during community engagement.

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Later phases could add pickleball and tennis courts, a playground and a community garden, although those elements do not yet have a confirmed construction timeline. Fort Bend County's investment comes from a voter-approved parks bond. County documents show that $9.2 million of the parks funding was specifically allocated to Duhacsek Park.

Mature trees and historic home to stay

The expansion is not expected to turn the entire property into a developed sports complex. Planners are concentrating the first phase on the northern portion of the park while retaining much of its existing greenery. Mature pecan trees, which are a defining feature of the property, are being incorporated into the design.

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The historic Duhacsek home, along with the existing pavilion and restrooms, is also expected to remain largely untouched during the first phase. A Sugar Land parks planning document describes Duhacsek Park as a 54.1-acre regional park with a historic 1950s house and large areas of open space. The document also notes that youth cricket leagues already use the property.

County takes over development

A new partnership is helping move the project forward. Fort Bend County formally took responsibility for operating, maintaining and developing the city-owned park under an agreement approved in December 2025. Sugar Land continues to own the property. The arrangement is intended to provide the investment needed to develop the land while keeping it as a public recreational space.

Sugar Land Parks and Recreation Director Kimberly Terrell said the original donation had always been intended to become a regional destination combining nature and recreation. The county expects design work to take about six months, followed by contractor selection and construction. Officials now expect work to begin during the first quarter of 2027. What began as a family's decision to give its land to the community in 2001 is therefore entering another chapter.

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Duhacsek Park's story is ultimately about how donated land can outlive its original purpose. A family homestead that once stood amid a quieter, less-developed part of Sugar Land is now set to serve thousands of residents through sports, trails, open space and community facilities. And 25 years after the Duhacseks handed over their land, the $9.2 million expansion could finally bring the park closer to the larger public destination they envisioned.