Millennium Mew
Written by The Woodlands Guide
Millenium Mew Park
The entry to Millennium Mew Park from Waterway Court is marked by a two-sided galvanized steel arbor. The arbor features two ancient proverbs – “The Journey is the Reward” on the north side, and “Enough Pails of Water...A River” on the south side. Leading away from The Waterway, the path along the south-side of The Waterway offers pedestrian access into park and the Koi Pond. Limited street-side parking is available along Waterway Court and Timberloch Place in addition to the (occasionally paid) parking lot on Waterway Avenue.
Since 2010, "Waterway Square, Millennium Mew Park, and the Koi Garden have literally been exploding with the Waterwall fountains, colorful fish swimming in the Koi Pond, and flowers blooming in the Garden. It is a magical place to be, and a unique testament to The Woodlands’ founding principle of designing with nature. According to David Smith, principal of SLA Studio Land, there are "common elements in the Garden’s design that represent several Asian cultures. Those elements include water, which is typically 'Yin,' or female, rock which is typically 'Yang,' or male, and plant materials expressive of the seasonal changes and the cycle of life." Common to many gardens is the inclusion of islands and bridges designed to emphasize the act of "crossing over between states of consciousness or ‘worlds’." The public amenity features three pedestrian bridges connecting the islands to the mainland, along the southern edge of The Waterway. Two additional bridges within the garden provide scenic connectors between the land and water elements.
It is the careful positioning of these elements that provides different visual emphasis from various points in The Garden. This experience is enhanced by a wide variety of hardscape materials, including granite, limestone, metal, pebbles and slate in a selection of interesting colors and textures. Flowering plants such as Formosa azaleas, camellia Japonica and Sasanqua, lotus, canna and blue, yellow and white irises add to the seasonal color within the garden. Dwarf and timber bamboo, sweet olive, needlepoint holly, ginger and other plants provide a rich greenscape. In Smith's words, "The Garden is intended to be a place of retreat for rest and contemplation; an opportunity to momentarily escape the demands of our daily lives and reconnect with nature and life’s purpose, whatever that may be to the garden visitor." Feeding the fish is not allowed however, visitors are welcome to come and watch them being fed by the caretakers most Saturdays at 1:00pm. The Waterway Koi Pond is open to the public daily from dawn until dusk.
Millennium Mew Park
5 Waterway Avenue
The Woodlands, Texas • 77382
Millenium Mew Park Statistics
Park Type: Amenity | Date Acquired 2009
Village: The Woodlands Waterway | Park Acreage: .5
Pathway Mileage: .15 +/- | Parking Spaces: 0
(parking garage at Waterway Square)
Woodlands Koi Garden
The Woodlands Koi Garden, or Koi Pond, opened November 13, 2009 adding to the growing list of attractions the community has to offer. This Asian-inspired garden on the Waterway is just across from the Waterway Marriott Hotel and in front of The Waterway Lofts. The garden area, totaling approximately ½ acre in size features a 60,000 gallon koi pond as well as a unique wall and screen design that leads through tropical gardens built on two “tear-drop” shaped islands. The Koi Pond originally featured thirty (30) varieties of Japaneese Koi, these "living works of art" were hand selected and imported from Japan to include a variety of styles which all relate back to the Japanese culture. Each Koi has a distinctive pattern from a range of gorgeous, colorful designs. Major colors are white, black, red, orange, yellow, blue, and cream, with almost limitless the permutation of pattern and colors. Koi typically have the brightest colors in the Autumn.
An array of distinctive materials and exotic plantings enhance the Koi Garden, along with the 2,400 square-foot, 60,000-gallon koi pond that is separated from The Waterway by dams. The Waterway Koi Pond is one of the largest of its kind outside of public arboreta or other water-gardens. The koi pond was designed in collaboration with Laguna Koi Ponds of Laguna Beach, California, using bio-filtration methods for maintaining fish health and water clarity. Designed by SLA Studio Land and constructed by Millis Construction, the Koi Garden is secluded from the pedestrian walkway by walls, fences and towering timber Bamboo native to Asia.
Koi (鯉?, pronounced [koꜜi]) (English: /ˈkɔɪ/), or more specifically nishikigoi (錦鯉?, [niɕi̥kiꜜɡo.i], literally "brocaded carp"), (aka Japanese Carp) are an ornamental domesticated variety of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor ponds and water gardens.
Park Facility Reservations
Permits are required to reserve a public-park-pavilion in any park facility in The Woodlands Township.Facility reservation requests can be made online. Currently, only the pavilions are available for reservations. You must pay for your reservation within 7 days of making said reservation, or it will be deleted from the system. Click here for the Woodlands Township Parks reservations online request form.
For reservations and additional information, visit
The Woodlands Township, Facilities and Rentals:
5200 Research Forest Drive • The Woodlands, Texas • 77381
281 210-3900
Please note: The public parks are maintained by The Woodlands Township
Availability is subject to change without notice and is entirely beyond the control of TheWoodlands.Guide.
Per Woodlands Parks & Recreation Dept. Rules: "Younger Play Areas" suitable for children ages 2-5.
"Older Play Areas" suitable for children ages 5-12+."
• Read details on park regulations & requirements
COVID-19 Update: Woodlands Township parks are open, however select amenities within the parks are closed due to CDC Guidelines or to ensure social distancing. Park equipment is not disinfected.
Waterway Guide
