Advanced Planning, Grant Writing, & Technical Assistance: Parks, Trails, & Connectivity Action Institute

November 4 – 5 | Dallas, Texas

Get ready to secure your community’s spot to strengthen your local plans and related grant applications. Two advocates from your community will work as a team, engage with other rural county community practitioners and advocates, and learn from Texas A&M AgriLife and TAMU subject matter experts. Cohort members will be provided guidance through site analysis, site inventory, citizen engagement, priority setting and action planning, renderings and visualizations, and feasibility analysis. The two-day, intense in-person session will be followed by four virtual sessions via Zoom and access to office hours with subject matter experts. The goal of the 2026 Texas A&M AgriLife WOW-E Action Institute is to focus on developing practical techniques, build local planning and grant writing capacity, and tap into technical assistance to enhance local planning and related visualizations. Attendees will create the core components necessary for a good plan and strong grant application.

Check back soon for information on how to apply. Sign up for our Listserv to receive more information when it becomes available.

WOW-E eligible Counties: Angelina, Bee, Brooks, Cameron, Cherokee, Cochran, Cottle, Culberson, Dawson, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, Falls, Gonzales, Hidalgo, Houston, Hudspeth, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Jones, King, Maverick, Morris, Newton, Presidio, Reeves, San Augustine, San Patricio, Shelby, Starr, Terry, Trinity, Val Verde, Walker, Webb, Wharton, Wilbarger, Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala

The 2026 – 2027 program technical assistance program cycle for WOW-E, and we’re excited to get started! WOW-E’s technical assistance cycle is available to the forty HOP supported counties (see below) and open to all Texas counties on a first come first serve basis. Check out the 2026 – 2027 program offerings!

Current HOP supported counties: Angelina, Bee, Brooks, Cameron, Cherokee, Cochran, Cottle, Culberson, Dawson, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, Falls, Gonzales, Hidalgo, Houston, Hudspeth, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Jones, King, Maverick, Morris, Newton, Presidio, Reeves, San Augustine, San Patricio, Shelby, Starr, Terry, Trinity, Val Verde, Walker, Webb, Wharton, Wilbarger, Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala.

Learn best practices in engaging with youth in community assessment, design, and change. All participants are eligible to apply for youth community engagement kits! Applications are due by August 3, 2026.

What: WOW-E Engaging Youth in Designing Healthier Communities

Who: Extension professionals as well as community and youth program leaders

When: September 9 – 10, 2026

Where: Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas 17360 Coit Road Dallas, Texas 75252

Fee: $50

Summit participants are eligible to apply for up to $600 of support to offset travel resources. Those coming from a considerable distance may be eligible for additional funds as needed and available.

Click here for a pdf version of the application to review. All applications must be submitted via the online form found at the “Apply for the Summit” button below.

View the WOW-E 2026 Summit Information packet.

Please note you do not have to participate in the Summit to participate in WOW-E.

Apply for Advanced Planning, Grant Writing, & Technical Assistance: Parks, Trails, & Connectivity Action Institute

November 4 – 5, 2026 Dallas, Texas

Get ready to secure your community’s spot to strengthen your local plans and related grant applications. Two advocates from your community will work as a team, engage with other rural county community practitioners and advocates, and learn from Texas A&M AgriLife and TAMU subject matter experts. Cohort members will be provided guidance through site analysis, site inventory, citizen engagement, priority setting and action planning, renderings and visualizations, and feasibility analysis. The two-day, intense in-person session will be followed by four virtual sessions via Zoom and access to office hours with subject matter experts. The goal of the 2026 Texas A&M AgriLife WOW-E Action Institute is to focus on developing practical techniques, build local planning and grant writing capacity, and tap into technical assistance to enhance local planning and related visualizations. Attendees will create the core components necessary for a good plan and strong grant application.

Check back soon for information on how to apply. Sign up for our Listserv to receive more information when it becomes available.

WOW-E eligible Counties: Angelina, Bee, Brooks, Cameron, Cherokee, Cochran, Cottle, Culberson, Dawson, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, Falls, Gonzales, Hidalgo, Houston, Hudspeth, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Jones, King, Maverick, Morris, Newton, Presidio, Reeves, San Augustine, San Patricio, Shelby, Starr, Terry, Trinity, Val Verde, Walker, Webb, Wharton, Wilbarger, Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala

Write & Adopt a Healthier Food Policy – applications accepted on a rolling basis

Looking to add healthier options to your workplace food environment, local concession stand, or local businesses without taking away the unhealthy options? Request technical assistance for a AgriLife WOW-E subject matter expert to work with a local team to assess the local environment and write and adopt a healthier food policy with your organization or partners. If your community is interested, email us at urbanparks@ag.tamu.edu to start the process.

Participate in Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Urban and Municipal Parks Workshops

Schedule and locations to be announced in mid-July. This year’s workshop topics:

From Dream to Green: Best Practices in Modern Day Park Planning: Learn how to compile or update a Community Park System or Site Plan. We will review common components of plans, identify what is most meaningful for your organization, and provide time to brainstorm how to begin implementing a planning process for your park system or specific sites within your community.

Strengthening Your Prospects: Grant Writing 101 for Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces: Attendees will learn basic grant writing concepts, including how to look for grants, best practices in writing grants, and key terms such as logic models, milestones, etc. We’ll practice writing common grant proposal sections and review best practices for support materials

Enhancing Park Safety with CPTED Principles: Attendees will learn Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) basic principles, evaluate a site, review CPTED in park plans and policies, and devise feasible, local action steps.

Building from Ground up: Creating your Park Maintenance Plan: This course is designed to motivate you to start or update a maintenance/operations plan. We’ll review the value of maintenance plans, discuss key components of plans, identify what is meaningful for your organization, provide time to assess and review various maintenance plans, and allow you time to brainstorm how to get started on a plan for your organization.

Grant Writing 201 (Dallas only)

Integrating CPTED into Plans and Policies (Dallas only)

Sign up for our Listserv to receive more information when it becomes available.

The Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) website and Urban and Municipal Parks website have been moved to a new division and are in the process of being updated to be accessible. In the meantime, if you need case studies, resources, etc., please email us at urbanparks@ag.tamu.edu. We appreciate your patience as these updates are underway.

Learn best practices in engaging with youth in community assessments, design, and change! All participants are eligible to apply for youth community engagement kits! Applications are due by August 3, 2026.

What: WOW-E Best Practices in Engaging Youth in Designing Healthier Communities Summit

Who: Extension professionals as well as community and youth program leaders

When: September 9 – 10, 2026

Where: Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas (17360 Coit Road Dallas, Texas 75252)

Fee: $50

Summit participants are eligible to apply for up to $600 of support to offset travel resources. Those coming from a considerable distance may be eligible for additional funds as needed and available.

Click here for a pdf version of the application to review. All applications must be submitted via the online form found at the “Apply for the Summit” button above.

View the WOW-E 2026 Summit Information packet.

Originally posted July 23, 2025

By: Anna Stehling

A StoryWalk™ is a fun and creative way to combine literacy, physical activity, and family time by placing the pages of a children’s book along a walking route in your community. Whether you are trying to promote reading, encourage movement and physical activity, or activate public spaces, such as a park or downtown area, a well-executed StoryWalk™ can do all three. 

If you are considering bringing a StoryWalk™ to your community, there are a few essential pieces to think about that can help ensure your project is meaningful, engaging, and impactful. Here are four key ingredients for success: 

1. Partner with passionate community champions 
A strong StoryWalk™ program starts with strong partnerships. Reach out to local individuals and organizations who are excited about literacy, family time, and physical activity. You’ll want people who not only care deeply about the mission but are also involved in their community and ready to pitch in. Their insight and energy will be invaluable as you plan, promote, and maintain your StoryWalk™. 

2. Choose your location with purpose 
While all StoryWalks™ promote reading and movement, your choice in the installation location can help in various ways. For example, if you want to bring new life to an underutilized public space, your StoryWalk™ can act as a tool to encourage visitors. If your goal is solely to encourage visibility and awareness for the program, you might choose a highly trafficked space that already draws crowds. Let your goals guide your location—it makes a big difference. 

3. Use communication methods that work for your community 
Getting the word out is half the battle. The right communication method depends on your audience. In some communities, social media is a great tool to build buzz and spread the word. In other communities, some rural  for example, where internet access may be limited, simple tools like flyers at local grocery stores, churches, and schools can be more effective. The key is to test, learn, and adapt. Finding the right way to reach people often takes a few tries, but it is worth it.  

4. Involve your community at every step 
The more your community feels involved, the more successful (and supported) your StoryWalk™ will be. Collect feedback from users— this can be done using a variety of methods, such as evaluation forms, intercept surveys, or focus groups . You can also let community members get involved in decision-making, for example, letting them vote on future book selections or encourage volunteers to help with installation and upkeep. When people feel ownership, they’re more likely to engage, protect, and promote the program. 

At its core, a successful StoryWalk™ is about more than just books and signage — it’s about the experience being provided to people. Thoughtful planning, community input, and consistent communication all work together to create a program that will last. Keep these four keys in mind if you’re looking to create a StoryWalk™ program that best serves your community.