About The Woodlands Township, Texas
The Woodlands is a master-planned community about 27 miles north of Houston. Most of it is in Montgomery County, and the Village of Creekside Park is in Harris County. George Mitchell founded it in 1974, and almost 8,000 of its 28,500 acres, about 28 percent, are still open space. More than 120,000 people live here.
What the Township does
The Woodlands isn’t a city. It’s a special-purpose district called The Woodlands Township. In 2010, The Woodlands Township was created to centralize and streamline local services. It brought together the Community Associations of The Woodlands and the Town Center Improvement District, which the Texas Legislature had set up in 1993.
The Township runs the fire department, parks and recreation, trash and environmental services, deed restrictions, and the Town Center Trolley and park and ride buses. Property, sales and hotel taxes pay for it. Seven directors elected by residents make up the board, which usually meets on the third and fourth Thursdays of the month at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. Meetings are open to the public.
Eight villages
Homes are grouped into eight villages, opened one at a time from 1974 to 2007: Grogan’s Mill, Panther Creek, Cochran’s Crossing, Indian Springs, Alden Bridge, College Park, Sterling Ridge and Creekside Park. Each has its own village association. Town Center and Research Forest are business districts, not villages. See the village guides.
The Woodlands Village Guide
Town Center
The Woodlands retail district - Woodlands Mall, Market Street, Waterway Square.
Parks, pathways and water
The Township looks after 151 parks, 220 miles of pathways, 14 pools and six spraygrounds. The George Mitchell Nature Preserve covers nearly 1,700 acres along Spring Creek. On the water, Riva Row Boat House on the Waterway rents kayaks, paddleboards and swan boats, and Lakes Edge Boat House at Hughes Landing rents kayaks and paddleboards on Lake Woodlands. More ideas are on the Things To Do page.
Public art
There are more than 90 pieces of public art in The Woodlands. The first was The Family, Charles Pebworth’s welded steel sculpture at the Woodlands Parkway entrance, unveiled the year the community opened. Otto Rigan’s Passage, five pieces of Texas limestone and mirrored glass, stands on Grogan’s Mill Road just north of Woodlands Parkway. The Art Bench Project has added 33 benches along The Waterway, Town Green Park, The Woodlands Mall and Hughes Landing.
Getting around Town Center
Free Town Center Trolleys run every day except a few holidays, on a loop of about 4.5 miles that links The Woodlands Mall, Market Street, The Waterway and Hughes Landing. Town Green Park, four acres between The Waterway and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, hosts many of the big festivals and has a hedge labyrinth with Aesop’s Fables characters. More on Town Center.
Golf
Three clubs have courses here. The Woodlands Country Club, which is private, has five courses and 99 holes, including the Palmer and Player courses. The Club at Carlton Woods, also private, has a Jack Nicklaus course and a Tom Fazio course. The Woodlands Resort has two courses of its own, Panther Trail and The Oaks.
History
For how The Woodlands grew, from George Mitchell’s first land purchase in 1964 to today, see the History pages, including the Waterway Cruisers and Hurricane Ike in 2008 at Town Center and the Pavilion.
Official links
The Woodlands Texas Activities Guide
Family Activities
For the same reasons many choose to make their home here, families find charm and appeal in spending a day, a weekend or a week in The Woodlands.
Waterway Activities
The centerpiece of Waterway Square is the 120' Waterwall and circular fountain featuring regularly scheduled light and music shows. The public venue also features restaurants, hotels, and is the nightlife area of The Woodlands Texas.
Festivals in The Woodlands
Several festivals and other outdoor events held throughout the year in Town Center. Festival events are frequently held on the Great Lawn in Town Green Park including, the Annual Crawfish festival.
Sports Activities
From the jogging loop in Grogan's Mill, you can travel along the pathways to Disc Golf courses, pickle ball courts, Bocci Ball, and various playfields.
Swimming Pools
Live Music in The Woodlands
Throughout the year, you’ll hear about concerts, performance art shows, festivals and free live music, all happening in The Woodlands.
The Woodlands Sculptures
The Woodlands is home to one of the largest collections of public art in the State of Texas. From mosaics and sculptures to a growing collection of art benches, there are many pieces to view, and enjoy. Make plans to visit the various mosaics, sculptures and a collection of art-benches, to view, enjoy, and of course, have a sit and a selfie!
The Woodlands Public Parks
Public Parks offer a wide variety of outdoor activities. A public park in The Woodlands is a short bike ride, or a nice stroll away along a nearby pathway. Wheel Friendly Parks are located in several villages, and the softer surface of Millbend Linear Loop in Grogan's Mill Village is favored by joggers.
The Woodlands Public Art Bench Project
The Woodlands Public Art Bench Project showcases local, national, and international artists who add their own flair to Town Center by contributing a custom built bench. The Woodlands Art Council oversees the benches up to installation prior to transfer to the The Woodlands Township.
