Community
The Woodlands' 50th Anniversary
BY VANESSA HOLT
Editor's note: This story is part of a monthly series that Community Impact will run through the 50th anniversary of The Woodlands in October 2024 highlighting the community.
A dening characteristic of The Woodlands com- munity is its trees, which were a central compo- nent of founder George Mitchell’s concept for the forested community, said Kelly Dietrich, director of planning and development for The Woodlands’ developer Howard Hughes. Maintaining the canopy is full-time work for The Woodlands Township, but Mitchell’s envi- ronmentally sustainable vision can also be seen in the development of local nonprots, such as The Woodlands Green, which oers educational programs and lectures, and the founding of the Houston Advanced Research Center in The Woodlands in 1982 to pursue scientic research pertaining to sustainability. A closer look Chris Nunes, The Woodlands’ chief operating ocer, said The Woodlands has a complex tapestry of plant life which also serves to help hide infrastructure. In recent years, challenges to maintaining plant life include droughts and oods as well as high temperatures, which is why The Woodlands Township increased the reforestation budget to $1 million in 2024, Nunes said. “One of my favorite sayings is [that] we have 35,000 homes in a park,” Nunes said. The inspiration Dietrich said the continued focus on maintain- ing tree cover in The Woodlands reects Mitchell’s original concept for the community. The vision included elements that have resulted in: • A connected greenbelt • Open space preserves • 220 miles of pathway • 151 parks Over 35% of The Woodlands has been preserved for open space and forest, Dietrich said. Maintaining tree canopy, sustainability for 50 years in The Woodlands
The Woodlands Township conducts community tree planting each year.
Under the canopy Some of the plants that are native or in The Woodlands ecosystem are:
Canopy: pine (loblolly/slash), oak (red and water)
Midstory: magnolia, dogwood, crepe myrtle
Understory: wax myrtle, yaupon
Tree planting is a part of Arbor Day in January of each year in The Woodlands.
SOURCE: CHRIS NUNESCOMMUNITY IMPACT
One more thing The development of HARC within The Wood- lands is also an outgrowth of sustainability eorts. Stephanie Glenn, vice president of water research at HARC, said the facility reects that continued vision for innovation and sustainability. HARC now focuses on energy and water sustainability, particularly with an emphasis on disadvantaged communities both locally and in the world. Another group outside of The Woodlands’ governing body is local nonprot group The Woodlands Green, which provides information and community involvement on topics such as invasive plants, rain barrels, community garden- ing, pollinators and native plants.
Howard Hughes and Waste Management sponsor the annual Arbor Day seedling giveaway.
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION
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