Woodring Park Improvements Project
If you’ve recently driven by Harris County MUD 71’s Woodring Park, located on the south side of Clay Road west of Lakes of Bridgewater Drive, you’ve likely noticed the major park and parking lot improvements that are nearing completion. The purpose of this project is to expand and modernize the park’s splash pad and playground facilities for kids of all ages, and to provide a new space for our community to gather with the addition of a pavilion in the center of the park.
Since construction of the project began last spring, the MUD 71 Board has received a number of questions regarding the project. In particular, residents have been curious about the funding for the project. On November 8, 2005, MUD 71 held a bond election at which the voters were asked, among other things, whether MUD 71 should be authorized to issue a maximum amount of $6,630,000 of bonds for parks and recreational facilities. The election passed with 77.8% of those who voted in the election voting in favor of the issuance of the park bonds.
Over the years, MUD 71 generally has been phasing in park improvements over time using operating funds on hand, including the construction of a trail around Lonestar Lake on the west side of Mason Road north of Calderbrook Drive, and the rehabilitation of Bundy Lake Park and Plaza at the northeast corner of Mason Road and Lakes of Bridgewater Drive. Recently, however, the MUD 71 Board has faced larger challenges with the splash pad and playground facilities at Woodring Park nearing the end of their useful life, as well as resident requests for additional trail improvements around Mirror Lake and one of the Morton Ranch detention facilities.
In order to timely and efficiently complete these projects, the MUD 71 Board has elected to issue $3,940,000 of the $6,630,000 authorized amount of park bonds to pay for these projects. MUD 71 has received approval from its oversight body, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, for the bonds and expects to issue the bonds in mid-March 2023. Based upon the financial information and projections provided by MUD 71’s financial advisor, the MUD 71 Board currently does not expect to increase the District’s total tax rate or utility bill rates as a result of issuing these bonds.
The MUD 71 Board looks forward to the completion of the Woodring Park Improvements Project. Stay tuned for more information about a grand opening event expected to occur in May!
