Precinct4Update | Fall/Winter 2021 by Harris County Precinct 4

4UPDATE PRECINCT 4 LEGENDS & LORE Tales of the eerie, the weary, and the weird abound in Precinct 4. Page 14

THE SMALL TOWN AESTHETIC

Page 4

THE SPRING CREEK GREENWAY: CONNECTING COMMUNITIES

Page 22

FALL/WINTER ISSUE 2021

Harris County Precinct 4

Commissioner R. Jack Cagle

FEATURES

REVITALIZING COMMUNITIES 2

PRECINCT 4 LEGENDS AND LORE

Mercer Reveals Master Plan

4 The Small Town Aesthetic 8

Who's Behind the Name

MUDs: More than Water and Sewer

The Spring Creek Greenway: Connecting Communities

The Technology of Harris County Flood Control

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021 Precinct4Update is a biannual magazine available to residents free of charge featuring Harris County Precinct 4’s various events and activities, volunteer opportunities, project updates, news, and much more.

Contact www.hcp4.net 713-274-4050 14444 Holderrieth Road Tomball 77377 Editing Joe Stinebaker Cover photo illustration by Grace Diaz

Writing Joan Gould Crystal Simmons Taelor Smith Design Grace Diaz

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AT THE HUMBLE CIVIC CENTER Page 24

+ NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY Page 5 + CIVIC ADVENTURE DAY Page 12 + FRIDAY CART CRUISE Page 22

Harris County Precinct 4

Commissioner R. Jack Cagle

www.hcp4.net/ subscribe SUMMER ISSUE 2021

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@hcprecinct4

A message from

COMMISSIONER R. JACK CAGLE

any of us enjoy learning about the struggles, triumphs, and tragedies of those who came before us through articles, books, movies, and documentaries. But we should occasionally look beyond the history books to the legends and lore passed down through the generations. Although we can't verify these stories, we should treasure them almost as much as the tales documented in the history books. As we head into spooky season, our cover story, "Precinct 4 Legends and Lore," highlights some of Precinct 4's ghost towns, haunted parks, and hidden burial grounds. Read about buried treasure, a missing mistress, a haunted café, and other macabre tales in this roundup of Precinct 4's most enduring legends. Many parks bear the names of beloved philanthropists, public servants, and historical figures. If you enjoy bite-sized histories with a local spin, I encourage you to read "Who's Behind the Name?" You’ll discover Jesse Jones, Art Storey, Dennis Johnston, and more in these fascinating histories that add another layer of interest to the parks and roads named after popular Harris County residents. Do you notice abandoned shopping centers and malls in your area? This issue also explores how the digital age and the COVID-19 pandemic affected our shopping habits and led to widespread closures in some areas. "Small Town Aesthetic" spotlights a family of developers reshaping Tomball for the new age. We continue this theme in "Revitalizing Communities," which explores the changing retail landscape and what shoppers may expect in the future. I'm immensely proud of our accomplishments along the Spring Creek Greenway. Harris County Judge Jon Lindsay began preserving land along Spring and Cypress creeks more than 40 years ago. Today, your Precinct 4 crews connect these greenspaces by building parks and trails. We spotlight this history and the greenway’s future in "Connecting Communities." Learn about the improvements, extensions, and connections planned along the greenway and how to explore our existing trails. Mercer Botanic Gardens remains one of Precinct 4's most important treasures. Opened in the 1970s, this community jewel features botanical treasures and serene gardens surrounded by pine forests along Cypress Creek. As the only free botanic garden in Harris County, Mercer retains a loyal following of visitors who support and strive to improve it.

Read about our plans to expand the gardens and make them more flood resilient. We include information about Mercer's new master plan and what amenities you can expect in the future. This issue also contains information about your community. Read about some of the outstanding accomplishments of your local municipal utility districts and the technology of Harris County Flood Control District. As always, my team would love to hear from you. Submit article ideas, important community projects, and other newsworthy events and issues to our editor and communications director, Joe Stinebaker, at jstinebaker@hcp4.net. With your help, we hope to tailor Precinct4Update to reflect your needs and interests because it truly is "for you."

R. Jack Cagle

Mercer’s Master Plan Serves as a Blueprint for Growth story by Crystal Simmons

eset by drought, hurricanes, and floods, Mercer Botanic Gardens has experienced more than its fair share of unpredictability over the past few years. Luckily, Mercer employees and volunteers now have a blueprint for growth. Mercer's recently revealed master plan calls for new amenities on undeveloped land south of the gardens, including a grand entryway, boardwalks, and water features. Plans include reopening Baldwin Boettcher Library within the next two years as Mercer's new entrance. The renovated library will feature flood-resilient materials that will speed recovery after a flood. Mercer will also move its greenhouses from the flood zone to higher ground and add a wet-bottom detention basin.

ABOUT MERCER:

Mercer is a 393-acre facility spanning the east and west sides of Aldine Westfield Road. Of that amount, approximately 196 acres are open to the public. The East Side Gardens features more than 59 acres, including several themed gardens. The West Side Arboretum features 137 acres that include a Hickory Bog, Cypress Swamp, and connection to the Cypress Creek Hike & Bike Trail.

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021

WHAT'S NEW:

• Storey Lake and the Creekside Ramble reopened in April 2021, adding 30 acres to the gardens. • Mercer now hosts Storey Lake Live, featuring concerts and other live entertainment from Storey Lake. Stay tuned for details.

WHAT'S COMING THIS YEAR:

• A lawn area will replace the greenhouses in the Central Garden, providing space for movie nights and events. • Three new greenhouses and a maintenance and operations center will open on newly acquired land to the south of the East Side Gardens. • New restrooms will open on Mercer's West Side Arboretum in late fall.

THIS PAGE (FIRST ROW) Commissioner Cagle opens the rebuilt Creekside Ramble. Aerial view of Cypress Creek beside Mercer. Fresh spring flowers in the Renaissance Garden. (SECOND ROW) Color garden in the summer. Park benches in the Healing Garden. PHOTOS BY Grace Diaz, Jake Turner, Crystal Simmons, and Samantha Velasquez.

EAST SIDE GARDENS AND WEST SIDE ARBORETUM DEVELOPMENT

Most development will occur on a 47-acre plot adjacent to Mercer's East Side Gardens. Here are some amenities that may open over the next decade:

Mercer East (59.53 Acres)

Mercer Northeast (30.65 Acres)

Addition 1 (76.4 Acres)

Addition 2 (47.44 Acres)

Addition 3 (41.63 Acres)

AD IELD RO

Mercer's West Side Arboretum, which features natural scenery, may also see a few improvements and new amenities over the years. Here's what to expect: • Reflective Garden • Tree Village • Maple Mall • Connection to the Cypress Creek Greenway

Mercer West (137.12 Acres)

(NOT TO SCALE)

WESTF

Mercer Conservatory for rare plants Baldwin Boettcher Library Mercer Botanical Information Center Water wall Amphitheater Boardwalk over a new pond Japanese Garden Ziggurat, a tall earthen tower resembling the structure at McGovern Centennial Gardens • Seven Sisters Conservatory for tender plants • Crossover bridge spanning Aldine Westfield Road • Connection to the Cypress Creek Greenway

ALDINE

• • • • • • • •

MERCER BOTANIC GARDENS | ACREAGE MAP

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021

The Small Town Aesthetic: Are Mom-and-Pops Making a Comeback? story and photos by Crystal Simmons

odney Hutson has always been picky about his tenants. He had a waitlist full of applicants wanting to rent his property near the Tomball Depot, but he couldn’t settle on any. For years, he'd leased the space to an ice cream parlor that had provided sweet treats for families attending summer movie nights at the depot. But after the shop closed last year, Rodney worried the tradition would end. He decided to intervene. When Nicole and John Rich, who ran the popular Every-Bellies restaurant next door, pitched their plan to open a gourmet hot dog restaurant, he asked if they'd consider serving ice cream. They agreed, and soon Skeeters Dogs & Desserts was born. At a time when many developers are simply looking to fill vacancies, Rodney's approach may seem counterintuitive at first. But his children, Bryan Hutson and Teresa Latsis, are quick to point out that it works. After joining the family business as adults, they adopted the same methods. "Most landlords look at a place and say we want this place leased, and we want to make money," says Bryan. "We look at a building and say, 'Hmm, that would be a good bakery. Let's find us a bakery.' Then we wait until a bakery comes along.” That's how Bryan brought Tomball's first wine bar to the area a few years ago. He'd seen their popularity in other downtown areas and decided Tomball needed one. The Empty Glass is now a hip downtown destination for couples and friends to grab drinks and enjoy a charcuterie board.

A shopping center built by The Hutson Group features reclaimed materials.

THIS PAGE (TOP TO BOTTOM) Tejas Chocolate & Barbecue regularly has people lining up outside the door in Old Town Tomball. The Turquoise Door in Old Town Tomball.

"I put up a banner that said, 'Wine bar preferred,'" he says. "There's never been a wine bar in Tomball. It took a month before we found someone, but it was worth the wait."

"Tejas Barbecue and Chocolate is so well known that we will not have another tenant that sells barbecue," says Teresa.

CHANGING SHOPPING HABITS BUILDING COMMUNITIES Unlike most developers, the Hutsons do not lease The Hutsons have been active in Tomball for decades. to chains, preferring independent businesses that Rodney, a career physician, started buying Old Town will invest in the community. Most of their tenants are Tomball properties in 1986. Bryan, an attorney, joined mom-and-pop shops and first-time business owners the family business in 2007, and his sister, Teresa, who who started at the Tomball Farmers Market. After worked in finance, followed in 2017. The trio now runs building a solid customer base at the local market, the Hutson Group, a development company specialmany small business owners contact the Hutson Group izing in restoring and leasing historical properties in when they're ready to expand. downtown Tomball. "It's tough to get in one of our buildings because we As a new developer, Bryan focused on attracting have a waiting list," says Bryan. "But once you're in, we diverse businesses to historic Tomball, an do everything possible to keep you in." area with few restaurants and dominated by With financial analysts having predicted antique stores. the end of mom-and-pops and small busi"To get the most people coming in, you "WE LOOK AT THE nesses for decades, it's a curious business want to anchor the block on the corner BIG PICTURE. WE plan. with food service – a restaurant or a bakery Over the past century, the rise of superDESIGN BY THE or an organic kitchen," he says. "And then, centers and chain groceries put many indein the middle, you can throw in something BLOCK AND NOT BY pendent shops out of business by enticing service-oriented — like the yoga place next customers with low prices, longer hours, THE BUILDING..." door and things like that. That's what we convenient locations, and wide selections. really try to do. We look at the big picture. We Towns and cities began to look alike, with design by the block and not by the building, the same stores, strip centers, and restau- BRYAN HUTSON which is what most people do." rants. Shoppers flocked to these supercenThe Hutsons now own about 90 ters easily identified along roadways by properties in historic Tomball, housing everything their branded colors, logos, oversized parking lots, and from restaurants and wineries to yoga studios and sprawling warehouses. boutiques. They’ve found success by shaping historic That may be changing. With the rise in online Tomball into an area in which independent businesses shopping, malls and big-box stores are closing in can thrive. record numbers. UBS, a finance and research firm Although the Hutsons have based in Switzerland, predicts experienced the effects of the that roughly 80,000 retail COVID-19 pandemic, they say it stores, making up 9% of the hasn’t hit them nearly as hard retail market, will close in the as many others in the commerUnited States by 2026. That's cial real estate business. While in addition to the 12,200 stores the rest of the nation struggles that closed in 2020 and the to fill empty office buildings 10,000 that shuttered in 2019, and strip centers, the Hutsons commercial real estate firm say they are turning applicants CoStar Group reported. Approxaway. imately one-third of those were "We're 99% leased across 88 department stores, clothing addresses," Bryan says. "We're chains, or other chains associsort of at a critical mass now. ated with malls, according to We don't really have to worry about filling vacancies. It's CoStar. In contrast, e-commerce is expected to make up what we think would be the best fit for the community 27% of total retail sales in 2026, up from 18% today, and the block." UBS predicts. Some of those tenants are famous. One of Old Town's most popular eateries, Tejas Barbecue and Chocolate serves award-winning barbecue that regularly has THIS PAGE Teresa Latsis, Rodney Hutson, and Bryan Hutson of people lining up out the door. It’s been featured in the Hutson Group stand in front of a craftsman home slated to The New York Times, the Houston Press, the Houston become a bakery. Chronicle, and Texas Monthly multiple times. 6

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021

SMALL TOWN AESTHETIC Although the outlook for retail seems bleak, some retailers are fighting back by distinguishing themselves from big-box stores and chain restaurants. Developers like the Hutsons cater to these independent businesses. They specialize in designing unique spaces for craft breweries, wineries, boutiques, and restaurants in hip downtown areas. Most of their buildings include restored craftsman houses, rustic barns, and vintage brick plazas using reclaimed building materials. "We try to preserve the look and feel of each building," says Bryan. "That one started as a craftsman, so we tried to preserve it as we expanded it to a larger, commercial building," he says, pointing to a property under construction across the street. Part of Old Town's appeal is aesthetic. Developers have long known the power of beautification in selling a community. The Woodlands and City Place in Spring, which boast miles of tree-lined, landscaped trails, colorful lights, and water features, have some of the highest rental prices outside of downtown Houston. But while these locations embrace clean lines, modernism, and trendy, high-priced chains, Tomball embraces history. Its customers tend to be older millennials who want new and exciting flavors and spaces that promise an experience – buildings steeped in culture, cobblestone streets, Victorian lights, and weathered architecture. And that's what the Hutsons aim to deliver. "We harvested all the siding you see on the north side – almost every stick of it," says Teresa. "We harvested it from another building because you can't run out and get that stuff. It's important to us to make our buildings look like they have always been there – with maybe just a little zhuzh. "We sourced the brick from five different brickyards to find the vintage brick that would match as closely as possible and then had the bricklayer come and build it

ABOVE (LEFT TO RIGHT) Bryan Hutson, Salvador Madrano, and Teresa Latsis work on a new bakery.

as closely as possible to the ones in the front. It was a labor of love. It takes extra time, but, man, is it worth it." Historical buildings abound in Downtown Tomball, giving the Hutsons ample inventory. The property that now houses the Empty Wine Glass started as a barn. "The barns were a challenge," says Bryan. "They were built in 1941 by the Brautigam family and weren’t in the best shape. We wanted to keep the barns, so we built inside them and kept the outside completely authentic." Walkability has also boosted Old Town's appeal. As more businesses moved in, the City of Tomball installed parking lots around Old Town's periphery, allowing visitors to park and stroll the business district. City planners also work with developers like the Hutson Group and other partners to install sidewalks through a grant program. Craig T. Meyers, the City of Tomball’s Community Development director, says the city plans to add stamped brick to three alleys in historic Tomball to resemble the alleys of Telgte, Germany. A new parking lot is also a possibility. When complete, visitors can traverse three city blocks to and from some of historic Tomball’s most popular establishments, including the Tomball Farmer’s Market. The improvements could boost the area’s appeal as a tourist destination, especially during the popular Tomball German Heritage Festival. As younger families move to Tomball, the Hutsons believe demand for unique shopping and dining experiences will continue to grow. Despite the rise in online shopping, they believe brick-and-mortar is here to stay – at least for the businesses that know how to adapt. "The younger generations want something more personal and authentic," says Teresa. "Whatever business or service they are spending time and money on, they just want it to be meaningful – and that's what we try to build."

WHO’S BEHIND THE NAME?

story by Taelor Smith

here is always a story behind the names on the many markers and street signs throughout our communities, but those stories tend to get lost over time. Precinct 4 has a rich history going back generations and that history can sometimes be revealed with just a peek at the people behind the names on our parks, buildings, and streets. Many of these now-common names were chosen by county commissioners, who have the authority to name streets, parks, and community centers in the precincts they represent. They often name these amenities and locations after those who have shown dedication and service to the precinct. Below are a few of the stories behind the names we come across daily without having the slightest inkling as to how they got there. DENNIS JOHNSTON PARK

This expansive space along the Spring Creek Greenway took years to develop but was worth the wait. Dennis Johnston was hired as an assistant caretaker at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center in 1983, after serving as a volunteer since the park's opening four months prior. From there, he worked his way up the ranks. After being promoted to Harris County Precinct 4 parks director under Commissioner Jerry Eversole in 2004, Johnston began negotiating property acquisitions to expand the Spring and Cypress Creek greenways. Most recently, he secured the pond and land behind the D. Bradley McWilliams YMCA to incorporate into the Cypress Creek Greenway. During a meeting with Johnston in 2009, Eversole expressed his intention to name a park after Johnston. Years later, after Eversole's departure, Commissioner R. Jack Cagle met with Johnston at the future park and said, "Dennis, I'm going to name this park after you." "I was amazed, honored, and humbled by it," Johnston says. Dennis Johnston Park opened in 2013 and has been an escape to nature for the growing Spring community ever since. With 38 years under his belt at Precinct 4, Johnston still serves as parks director and shows no signs of stopping. 8

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021

DENNIS JOHNSTON PARK

JESSE H. JONES PARK & NATURE CENTER

Jesse H. Jones was a powerful and respected entrepreneur, politician and philanthropist in the early 1900s. Beyond his lumberyard, real estate, and banking businesses, he helped build the Houston Ship Channel and worked for the Reconstruction Finance Corporation under presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt to help rebuild the economy during the Great Depression. As his wealth grew, he created the nonprofit Houston Endowment in 1937, which supported several causes across Harris County. He also served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce during World War II. When Precinct 4 began developing plans for a new park in the early 1980s, the Jones family donated $250,000 toward the park’s development through the Houston Endowment. Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center opened in October 1982 and is now one of the region’s most popular parks, with many visitors exploring the trails and enjoying the wildlife each day.

JESSE H. JONES PARK & NATURE CENTER

STOREY LAKE

STOREY LAKE – Art Storey is a longtime public servant and community leader who inspired the names of a Precinct 4 lake and a Precinct 3 park. From the 1990s to his retirement in 2015, Storey helped improve Harris County's infrastructure, focusing on flood prevention and road maintenance. He was the first executive director of the Harris County Public Infrastructure Department and served as executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District. He firmly believed in dual-use parks and detention basins and led the effort to open Flood Control land for recreational use. Eversole recognized Storey by naming a large lake at Mercer Botanic Gardens after Storey and his wife, Jo. Storey’s legacy lives on there and at Art Storey Park in Precinct 3.

HOLDERRIETH ROAD – The late 1800s brought many German migrants to Texas and, more importantly, the rural areas of north Houston. In 1883, the Holderrieth family made their way to the Rose Hill community, now Tomball, where the family patriarch, Christoph Holderrieth, bought 50 acres and a small house. Christoph and Christine raised nine children, most of whom would go on to make their mark on the developing town of Tomball. One of their sons, Will Holderrieth, an entrepreneur and developer, served as mayor of Tomball once the city was incorporated and organized the first volunteer fire department. Holderrieth's descendants still live in the Tomball area today.

THIS PAGE (TOP) The quiet and serene Storey Lake

honoring Art Storey and his wife is located inside Mercer Botanic Gardens. Photo by Grace Diaz. Photos of Holderrieth Road and Hufsmith-Kohrville Road by Crystal Simmons. OPPOSITE PAGE Jesse H. Jones photo by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce.

HUFSMITH-KOHRVILLE ROAD – Frank Hufsmith first settled in Missouri when his family migrated from Germany to the United States when he was a young boy. He began working with International-Great Northern Railroad in Arkansas and by 1887 had become a general superintendent stationed in Palestine, Texas. The railroad built a line between Spring and Navasota in the early 1900s under Hufsmith's direction. A depot and small town were eventually named in his honor. Hufsmith died in 1927 and, although there is no documented evidence of his family remaining in the area, his legacy and contributions to north Harris County live on. In present-day northwest Harris County, Kohrville was a small community created by freed slaves from Alabama in the 1870s. It was named for German immigrant Paul Kohrmann who was the first postmaster of the community. The town was a very close-knit community with schools, businesses, and churches, and is remembered by descendants who still live in the area today.

Timber Lane Utility District

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021

Terranova West MUD

Mandolin Gardens

MUDs: More Than Water and Sewer story and photos by Crystal Simmons

ABOVE A babbling brook runs through Mandolin Gardens. BELOW Herman Little Park features a rustic playground hidden in the trees.

A 12-mile long hike and bike trail. A dreamy garden on the water. Fruit trees, wildflowers, and butterfly gardens. These aren't your typical municipal utility district (MUD) amenities. Originally established by the state to provide water and sewer infrastructure, MUDs now pay for everything from recreational amenities and parks to trash pickup and security. They pay for these services using the tax revenue from residents within their district. They typically serve residents of unincorporated areas who do not receive city services. MUDs started to expand their offerings in 2004, when Texas passed a law allowing them to sell park bonds. A flurry of development ensued, giving rise to more neighborhood parks and trails across the state. Many MUDs now partner with government agencies like Harris County Precinct 4 and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) to pay for such large-scale public projects as connected trail systems, bridges, and community centers. Although Harris County Precinct 4 features many active MUDs, the ones below stand out for their large-scale public projects, greenspace conservation, and sustainable practices.

Timber Lane Utility District

Like many developments in the 1970s, the original sections of the Timber Lane subdivisions opened with limited amenities. As the area grew and lost greenspace, members of the Timber Lane Utility District board saw a need to preserve the surrounding forests. To pay for the district's first park, Alfred "Bud" Gessel, the Timber Lane Utility District's director and general manager, won a TPWD grant to build the 12.4-acre Timber Lane Park in 1994. The area served the community for nearly a decade before population growth and a need for more greenspace spurred the board to consider adding its next park. Faced with limited revenue, Gessel used donated materials and enlisted 900 volunteers to build the Spring Community Playground at Liberty Park over five days in 2003. (Cont'd on page 12.) 11

Timber Lane Utility District

(Cont'd from page 11.) Things got easier the next year, with the state's decision to allow the sale of park bonds by MUDs. "Developers were buying up all the property, so we knew we had to act fast," Gessel says. "We started planning our trail and park master plan in 2004-2005." Over the next decade, the extra bond revenue provided a means for board members to turn their master plan into a reality. Using a combination of savings, donations, bond money, and grants, they built new trails and opened three new parks in rapid succession, including Sandpiper Park in 2010, Herman Little Park in 2012, and Cypress Creek Park at Timber Lane in 2013. The Timber Lane development now spans 325 acres, with five parks, six lakes, restrooms, parking, a community center, and a bridge across Cypress Creek connecting the community to the 400-acre Mercer Botanic Gardens. Together, the area includes 6 miles of paved trails across nine trailheads and roughly 12 miles of mountain bike trails through dense pine forests. The district is now working with Harris County Precinct 4 to connect trails on the east side of the Hardy Toll Road to Herman Little Park on the west side. When complete, visitors can travel from Mercer Botanic Gardens and Timber Lane Park to Herman Little Park. The trail segments are part of the Cypress Creek Hike & Bike Trail and will one day be part of the Cypress Creek Greenway, a planned 40-mile trail system from west of U.S. 290 to Spring Creek. "One of the bigger projects we did was a transportation improvement project with the Texas Department of Transportation and Harris County Precinct 4 to build a bridge," says Gessel. "It connects into multiple subdivisions. Some are in the district, and some aren't." The bridge cost $5 million and took nine years to fund, design, and complete. The Timber Lane Community Center, another largescale project, opened in 2020. It seats 210 and features public and private programs, including birding lessons and volunteer training hosted by Mercer Botanic Gardens staff. 12

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021

Mandolin Gardens

Mandolin Gardens, an 11-acre, award-winning park in bustling northwest Harris County, features landscaped upper and lower trails surrounded by water. It was designed by Talley Landscape Architects in 2010 and opened in 2011, with roses, native grasses, natural areas, and mature trees lining the park's walkways, and a decorative crosswalk greeting visitors. Fountains, rock-lined babbling brooks, and art make the site popular with photographers and a scenic escape close to home. Merrie Talley of Talley Landscape Architects says the park's appeal stems from its serene landscape, lush vegetation, and abundant water features. Unlike traditionally maintained landscapes, Mandolin Gardens does not release harmful runoff into Harris County's creeks and water systems. The park is entirely organic, meaning landscapers do not use glyphosate, synthetic or chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. Based on several studies of the park's vegetation, Talley believes these organic gardening practices may have boosted plant growth and contributed to healthier conditions for people and pets. "The Texas Forest Service began measuring and comparing the tree growth of this organic garden to that in a number of traditional landscapes," says Talley. "Several years in, they predicted that in 10 years, these trees would reach mature sizes

equivalent to 20 years of a traditional, chemically maintained park." Before becoming Mandolin Gardens, the area was a weedy lot used for stormwater detention. Talley says MUD 230 board members approached her firm in 2007 about transforming a string of detention basins into community parks connected by trails. "They were one of the first districts to use park bond funds," says Talley. Since 2011, MUD 230 has developed four dual-use parks around detention ditches and basins, with almost 4 miles of trails. Improvements at Mandolin Gardens Park also boosted the basin's stormwater capacity by approximately 13%, giving the area additional flood protection during hurricanes and rainstorms. Plans include creating a loop connecting MUD 230 parks and trails with Precinct 4's Matzke Park and the 100 Acre Woods Preserve, which will give residents and visitors access to the future 40-mile Cypress Creek Greenway. The board also plans to add a new parking lot near Mandolin Gardens. TOP ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT) A natural surface trail connects communities in Spring to Herman Little Park. Mandolin Gardens features trails, waterways, and natural areas. Terranova West features a wildflower garden as an environmentally friendly alternative to a landscaped area.

Decorative text adds whimsy to Mandolin Gardens.

Terranova West MUD

The communities of the Terranova West MUD feature eye-catching tree-lined streets, wildflower gardens, and landscaped areas. The district also maintains an 8-acre park, three detention ponds with trails, and several greenspaces with fruit trees and natural areas. "When Terranova West and other surrounding communities were built, developers gave little thought to green spaces," says Tom Lovell, the district's board president. "The original Terranova West developer provided a clubhouse, pool, and a small attached park, with tennis and basketball courts and a few playground equipment pieces." To protect the area from commercial development, the board purchased 8 acres along Cypresswood Drive and built a park featuring a crushed granite trail, a ball field, a volleyball court, a soccer field, and 13 exercise stations. "The (Terranova West) park opened in 2008 and was never viewed by the board as finished," says Lovell. "It has always been a work in progress." Since then, the board has added trees, shrubs, trail lighting, upgraded exercise stations, and park benches. Scouts also built a veterans monument, and Harris County Precinct 4 donated a sapling grown from a historical tree featured in the Texas AgriLife Extension Service's Famous Trees of Texas. As the community grew, the board added trails to three detention basins and planted vegetation. Like the park, the detention basins are a work in progress, with new trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and amenities added each year. For the past several years, the Terranova West community has grown wildflowers in several areas to reduce landscaping costs, attract pollinators, and provide wildlife habitat. Board members also carefully select trees and vegetation to plant throughout the district to maximize diversity and provide food sources for wildlife. They are now working to build a reclaimed water line to reduce irrigation costs and conserve water. "As a smaller district, creative ways are employed to do our annual landscape and amenity enhancements," says Lovell. "The planning and tree selection is done by board members instead of hiring a landscape architect to save costs and because board members are more attuned to what our residents want." 13

Precinct 4 Legends and Lore story by Joan Gould

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021

"After all, I believe that legends and myths are largely made of ‘truth,’ . . . and long ago, certain truths and modes of this kind were discovered and must always reappear." - J.R.R. Tolkien

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021

Precinct 4 Legends and Lore What Lies Beneath Streetlights cast eerie shadows on the empty sidewalks of Old Town Spring, and the mist from a recent rain hovers over dark buildings. Intrigued ghost seekers follow a costumed Penny Dreadful through the streets of this former railroad town whose secrets and stories, best told under cover of night, lurk behind every corner and underfoot. “These were all poor railroad workers,” says Ms. Dreadful – Karen Miller by day – a tour guide with Old ANYWHERE Town Spring Ghost Walks. “They couldn’t afford a big YOU’RE WALKING fancy funeral, so they would bury their dead in the front TONIGHT IN OLD or back yard. We had tombstones all over this town.” TOWN SPRING Dreadful explains to her enthusiasts that an COULD LITERALLY ordinance in Texas allows the removal of grave markers HAVE BODIES after 100 years. UNDERNEATH.” “In 1989 and 1990, they came through this town to tidy it up,” she says. “They exercised their 100-year right - Penny Dreadful and came and took down all traces of any tombstone. Anywhere you’re walking tonight in Old Town Spring could literally have bodies underneath.” On her tours, Dreadful tells ghostly tales of soldiers reappearing during Civil War reenactments and of visits from the missing mistress of Mr. James Holzworth and the well-known ghost of Charlie Wunsche, the founder of Wunsche Bros. Café, who frequents the second story of his former restaurant. Tour guests stop at the hanging tree, where proven – and unproven – criminals were hanged, a bank haunted by victims of an armed robbery rumored to have been committed by Bonnie and Clyde, and a makeshift morgue where saloon owners and funeral homes fought over the ice that was so scarce in those days. Mysterious fires have plagued the shops and homes of Old Town Spring since its early days, including Wunsche Bros., which recently reopened after a fire destroyed a large portion of the restaurant in 2015. Some blame the blazes on a 300-year-old curse placed on the land by the Akokisas, a Native American tribe that disappeared from the area not long after white settlers arrived in the 1800s. “That could be why it’s the sixth-most haunted town in all of America,” Dreadful says. “You have the Indian curse, the tombstones that were all over this town. They removed any trace of them.” All that’s left of the old burial grounds is a tiny plot along the Interstate 45 North feeder, just outside Old Town Spring. The Wunsche Family Cemetery contains the graves of 12 family members, including legendary inhabitants Carl Wunsche, the family patriarch, and Olena Wunsche, who, along with her fiancé Edward, was murdered in 1929. While the murders remain unsolved, ghost hunters claim to have contacted Olena in Old Town Spring’s Thyme Square, where she and Edward were last seen alive.

Emma Wunsche’s headstone in the Wunsche Family Cemetery in Spring.

PREVIOUS PAGE Photo illustration by Grace Diaz. OPPOSITE PAGE (SECOND ROW) The ghost of Charlie Wunsche frequents his former saloon. Wooden sign welcomes visitors to Wunsche family cemetery. Gravestones haunt the side of Interstate 45. OPPOSITE PAGE (THIRD ROW) A judge's apparition is said to appear in the windows of his former home. James Holzwarth's mistress' body was found in a well after townspeople fell sick from drinking its water. A local saloon's ice house doubled as a morgue and has caught fire repeatedly through its history. 17 PHOTOS BY Joan Gould and Crystal Simmons.

Dead Men Tell No Tales Near the west fork of the San Jacinto River, about a half-mile north of the Bevil Jarrell Memorial Bridge, sits an eerily quiet, mostly abandoned community surrounded by trees. Burdened by repeated flooding, the space is now an area of interest for the Harris County Flood Control buyout program. Beyond the trees and empty houses, just off the aptly named Treasure Lane, is Dead Man’s Lake. In the early 1800s, Native Americans ambushed a caravan of Mexican miners believed to be heading east to a smelting mill with 150 Mexican gold bars, worth the equivalent of about $4 million today. Some sources say they were headed to Nacogdoches; others say to New Orleans or THE TREASURE Florida. According to legend, the miners anticipated the attack and buried the gold under a cypress HUNT REIGNITED tree near the lake. IN 1930, WHEN A The sole survivor of the attack drew a map leading to the treasure and gave it to his doctor SPANISH DAGGER before dying from his injuries. The doctor kept the map and eventually passed it on to his family. MATCHING THE Although his descendants looked for the gold, none was ever found. ONE DRAWN ON The treasure hunt reignited in 1930, when a Spanish dagger matching the one drawn on the THE MAP WAS map was found in Dead Man’s Lake. FOUND IN DEAD “A company from California arrived in town and tried unsuccessfully to pump the spring-fed MAN’S LAKE. lake dry to find the gold,” says Precinct 4’s unofficial historian, Monte Parks. “They did, however, unearth musket balls and other metal artifacts, giving some credibility to the story. One day they up and left with no explanation.” Several other accounts exist of Mexican gold buried along Cypress Creek under similar circumstances, though none has ever been found. “A Google Maps aerial view of the property in Humble shows an excavator near the lake,” Parks says, spurring questions that the search for gold may not be over. “I don’t know why else you’d need an excavator down at the lake.” THIS PAGE Dead Man's Lake in Humble. PHOTO BY Jake Turner.

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021

Hippie Hollow Hauntings In what is now Spring Creek Park in Tomball, a Confederate powder mill exploded during the Civil War in 1863, killing three workers and leaving a crater that fills with water seasonally. “During the ‘70s, kids flocked to Spring Creek to enjoy the cool summer nights,” says Nicholas Daily with Beyond Paranormal, a local group who investigates supernatural occurrences. “They also swam in the crater, testing rumors of ghosts pulling you down to join them in the afterlife.” Precinct 4 put a fence around the crater after acquiring the property in the late '70s. However, a new trail is scheduled to open early 2022 that will run from Lone Star College-Tomball to the back of Spring Creek Park, restoring access to the crater. “In the 20-plus years I’ve been involved in the paranormal, one thing for sure always remains,” says Daily. “Where there is tragic loss of life, it leaves a mark on the plane we exist on – like a scar.” Daily and his team visited Spring Creek Park in 2018 to investigate possible paranormal activity as part of an ongoing video series called “HitList Series,” highlighting locations known to have historical lore. THIS PAGE Civil War battle reenactments at Spring Creek Park in Tomball. PHOTOS BY Grace Diaz.

“Spiritual energy is very much indeed around us all, and where that kind of energy resides is most likely where you will capture some good paranormal evidence,” Daily says. “Or it will tell an amazing story.” Like all good legends, the stories likely hold some truth, but just how much is unknown because so many details have been lost to time. But the myths and legends of Precinct 4 live on, and they remain powerful magnets to the curious and to those drawn to the offbeat.

REVITALIZING COMMUNITIES story and photos by Crystal Simmons

hopping is more convenient than ever. With the click of a button, customers can order food, groceries, clothing, specialty items, and furniture from their phone or computer. But that convenience comes at a price. As the need for traditional brick-and-mortar shops declines, retail centers, restaurants, and malls continue to close, even as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides and consumer spending reaches pre-pandemic levels. When these buildings remain vacant, communities can suffer. Bobby Lieb, the president of the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce, says the closures have left many wondering what's next for retail hotspots like the Cypress Creek community. "People who live around here, who remember the good old days, intuitively want it to go back to that," says Lieb. "It's never going to go back to the way it was. What we're looking for is an economically viable area. It could become something completely different. And what that something is remains to be seen." Lieb says the area's high visibility along the heavily trafficked FM 1960 corridor traditionally attracted retailers, making it a top retail destination in the 1970s and 1980s. But blight, vacant buildings, competition from surrounding communities, aging infrastructure, and online shopping have driven customers away since its heyday. "We have 60,000-70,000 cars up and down this corridor every day," he says. "That's a good number if you're in the retail business." But those vehicles are now passing boarded up buildings, graffiti, and empty parking lots. To attract businesses to the area, Lieb wants to create

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021

a management district directed by a board of directors, which would have the power to regulate commercial properties and apartments along the corridor, eliminate nuisance buildings, clean up litter, pay for public art, and add security. His goal is to encourage business along the corridor, not shape it. The process would require Lieb to receive permission from enough property owners along the corridor to equal at least 51% of the assessed property value and then apply to the state. If approved, the management district could fund improvements through assessments on its properties. "They're like a MUD (municipal utility district), but instead of streets, water, and sewer, it's economic development," he says. "They do things like nuisance abatement, litter removal, safety, and security. It's essentially cleaning up the area." Lieb says the process could take years because many property owners aren't local. "I can't walk into Starbucks at Champions and FM 1960 and say, 'Hey, do you guys support a management district?' because they'll just say, ‘I don't know, you're going to have to ask my landlord,’" he says. "It's the property owners directly who have to sign on to it." In the meantime, Lieb says the chamber works closely with law enforcement, the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office, Harris County Public Health, Harris County Precinct 4, and the Harris County Attorney's Office to address vacant buildings that have fallen into disrepair or attract criminal activity. In most cases, Lieb says, the owner will clean and secure the property. But in others, the building may need to be demolished. The chamber and many concerned residents spent years appealing to InvestCorp Partners, the owners of the Mill Creek office building at 4702 FM 1960 West, to clean up the old office building. But it sat vacant for at least a decade before the Harris County Attorney's Office ordered its demolition. By that time, the building had become a homeless encampment littered with trash and debris, with broken windows and graffiti-covered walls. Break-ins were common, and pieces of the facility had been removed and used for kindling. Peter Merwin, the principal design director at Gensler and subject-matter expert on retail-centric, mixed-use environments, and walkable urbanism, explains why landlords sometimes let buildings sit empty.

"When big-boxes go dark, they are loath to sell to businesses that would cannibalize their share," he says. "Often, these big-box stores will just board up, and nothing happens. It's basically an insurance policy to keep others from cannibalizing their business." Adam McAlpine, a commercial broker and owner of the real estate company McAlpine Interests, which has a property management division, says it's common for developers and landlords to restrict certain businesses from operating on their property. "A lot of these landlords don't want to cannibalize their own tenants," says McAlpine. "It does no one any good if you're putting your own tenants out of business. If you have a doughnut shop or nail salon in the center, more than likely a landlord is not going to put another one in there." Savvy tenants will put restrictions on their lease as well, preventing landlords from leasing to competing businesses, he explains. Most large grocery stores won't share a building with a church or a school because of parking issues and will limit the number of restaurants that can operate on a property. "Restaurants take up more parking," says McAlpine. "So a grocery store may say you can only have four restaurants or six. Whatever it may be, they want to make sure there's enough parking."

WHAT'S NEXT? With retail opportunities drying up, many industry experts are predicting what's next. "Medical, mental health, distribution companies have done well, and there is high demand for these uses," says McAlpine. "There has been a big boost in delivery services, cleaning services, grocery stores, fitness equipment companies, gardening suppliers, home improvement, furniture stores, just to name a few. "However, businesses like movie theaters, restaurants, gyms, hotels, airlines, bars, and event venues failed in large numbers last year during the worst of the pandemic. Retail was hit particularly hard, with more than a dozen big-box stores like Lane Bryant, Pier 1, and J.C. Penney filing for bankruptcy in 2020.

Although plenty of economic winners and losers emerged last year, it's tough to tell if those trends will continue. Looking at long-term trends may be a better indicator of growth. Over the years, Humble and the master-planned Kingwood community have experienced a slew of redevelopment. McAlpine says a former Kelsey Seybold clinic became a Stacey's Dance Studio, a library became a community center, and a large furniture store was converted into a medical facility. "People are taking buildings used for a market that isn't as hot right now and using them for something that is," says McAlpine. He believes the trend will continue, with old buildings and malls becoming distribution centers, medical complexes, community colleges, or something in the service industry. "For a lot of these big-box stores, specifically malls, there's been a lot of discussion about converting them into distribution centers for some of the larger online stores," says McAlpine. He says most malls sit near highways and major roads perfectly positioned for shipping and receiving goods quickly. "One of the trends for a while was turning old grocery stores into trampoline parks," he says. "There's a ton of medical groups whose buildings have been converted into gymnasiums or dance studios. That's been happening since (Hurricane) Harvey." Even before the pandemic-induced shutdowns, McAlpine says Hurricane Harvey reshaped the commercial landscape in Kingwood and Humble. "You had these businesses and developments that were struggling, and Harvey ultimately put a number of them out of business," he says. "A lot of money has been put into updating these old buildings, which has revitalized these communities." Whatever the future brings, McAlpine says, there's always going to be innovative landlords and developers looking ahead. "There's been talk of converting office buildings and skyscrapers into condos or multifamily housing," he says. "You are starting to see people think outside the box."

LEFT, RIGHT, AND ABOVE Abandoned buildings on FM 1960 in Precinct 4.

The Spring Creek Greenway:

Connecting Communities story by Crystal Simmons

n a sunny day in May, families stroll among towering pines along the Spring Creek Greenway. A lone bicyclist hurtles down an asphalt path, sending a family of deer back into the brush. A few yards away, an osprey hunts for fish in the creek, unaware of a troop of birdwatchers snapping photos. The sounds of birds, frogs, and rustling leaves compete with the distant patter of greenway travelers. With twelve times more land than New York's Central Park, the Spring Creek Greenway is a 10,000-acre forest in one of the region's most populated areas, connecting dozens of neighborhoods and eight parks. Visitors can travel as many as 17.5 miles of paved paths and hundreds of miles of natural surface trails through preserved pinewood forests, wetlands, and prairies from Humble to just west of I-45. "You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars traveling to see bald eagles, ospreys, beavers, and river otters," says Dennis Johnston, Harris County Precinct 4's parks director. "They are here in our backyard and can be best viewed along our creeks in a canoe or kayak."

A section of the Spring Creek Greenway Trail near Humble. PHOTO BY Crystal Simmons.

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021

1979

Judge Jon Lindsay

The Spring Creek Greenway began as the Cypress Creek Parks Project in 1979, when Harris County Judge Jon Lindsay led the effort to buy land along Spring and Cypress creeks. Some of those parcels eventually became parks, including Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center, Meyer Park, Mercer Botanic Gardens, and Burroughs Park.

2005 Seeing the greenway’s potential, former Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole expanded the project, envisioning a 7.5-mile linear park system from Jones Park in Humble to Pundt Park in Spring. He dubbed it the Spring Creek Greenway. As the project grew, Eversole approached then-Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner Ed Chance about preserving land on the north side of the creek, in Montgomery County. Work began in 2005, after the project received a $1 million grant from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for land acquisition and trail development.

2005

Commissioner Jerry Eversole

2011 "In 2005, we launched the Spring Creek Greenway expansion with Commissioner Eversole," says Johnston. "Commissioner Cagle was a new commissioner when we cut the ribbon on the final connection between Jones and Pundt parks." After taking office in 2011, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner R. Jack Cagle continued the project, opening the 7.5-mile segment connecting Jones Park, Harris County's Cypresswood Golf Course, Stahl Preserve, and Pundt Park in March 2012. Under Cagle, the greenway has grown to 17.5 miles in length. It is now one of the longest connected urban greenways in the nation, and it grows longer each year. When complete, it will span 40 miles from Humble to Tomball.

2011

Commissioner R. Jack Cagle

CONNECTING ANCHOR PARKS Over the summer, Precinct 4 added a 3-mile greenway segment from City Place in Spring to Precinct 4’s Rothwood Park, paving the way for future connections west of Interstate 45. The trail provides access to City Place’s 150-acre nature preserve, which includes a forest habitat, wetlands, and ponds. Precinct 4 is still negotiating for land to complete a quarter-mile section to link trails to the east and west of I-45. When that section is installed, the greenway will extend nearly 21 miles. From Rothwood Park, Precinct 4 will add a half-mile segment with a bridge over Willow Creek. The $2.2 million project is expected to go out for bid in the fourth quarter of 2021. In the meantime, crews will begin work on the first phase of a nearly 7-mile segment from Burroughs Park to Willow Creek. Phase 1 started this summer and will run nearly a mile from the Creekside West Trailhead at Dr. Ann Snyder Drive in Tomball to Burroughs Park. Johnston has not set a timeline for the other two phases. "Connecting the trail through The Woodlands from Ann Snyder to Kuykendahl Road and then on to Gosling Road will likely make the final connection through The Woodlands Creekside area," says Johnston. To the east, Precinct 4 is working on completing Edgewater Park, a 90-acre space near Kingwood at Interstate 69 and the San Jacinto River. The $3 million development will include a boat launch, restrooms, concession area, fish cleaning station, parking lot, roads, and utilities. It will serve as the ending anchor park of the Spring Creek Greenway Trail. The trail section at Edgewater Park will provide residents with access to the Bevil Jarrell Memorial Bridge. After crossing the bridge, pedestrians and bicyclists can hop onto the greenway on the south side of the San Jacinto River. The park will eventually connect visitors to hundreds of miles of trails in Kingwood to the east. Construction on the Houston Parks Board's San Jacinto Greenway Project started in January near River Grove Park in Kingwood and will head west toward Edgewater Park. The project is part of the Houston Parks Board's Bayou Greenways 2020 initiative, which will 24

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021

include 150 miles of connected trails throughout the City of Houston. Plans include building a 2.5-mile trail from Woodland Hills Drive at River Grove Park to Burning Tree Court near the Forest Cove community. The path will end near Edgewater Park in Kingwood. A segment joining the Townsen Park and Ride in Humble to the greenway will provide another transportation option near Edgewater Park.

"We create wildlife corridors stretching for miles, where wetlands and water is abundant, the food chain thrives, and we provide shelter and space for our native animals. And it gives people opportunities to see the wildlife." Johnston says residents are already experiencing the benefits of a connected greenway system. "The properties we buy are 95% in the floodplains," he says. "Setting aside elbow room for our creeks and rivers gives the water someplace to go, while another flooded subdivision is prevented. Harris County Flood Control has been a critical partner with their efforts to buy land along the floodway corridors, and that foresight results in multiple benefits when done ahead of development. "We create wildlife corridors stretching for miles, where wetlands and water is abundant, the food chain thrives, and we provide shelter and space for our native animals. And it gives people opportunities to see the wildlife." The entire Spring Creek Greenway project could be complete in 10 to 12 years, but will likely take longer, as many projects remain unfunded, says Johnston. BEYOND SPRING CREEK The Spring Creek Greenway will eventually connect to other trail systems, including the Cypress Creek

Greenway Trail, another 40-mile greenway project under development. Together, the greenways will form an 80-mile paved path connecting to hundreds of miles of trails branching into neighborhoods, parks, and gullies across the region. So far, Precinct 4 has made only one trail connection between Spring and Cypress creeks — a .75-mile path extending into the Foxwood subdivision in Humble — but many more are planned. "Every subdivision along both Spring and Cypress will link to their respective greenways directly, or they can build connectivity down to the creek along their gullies or drainage facilities," says Johnston. Johnston will prioritize connections among Precinct 4's anchor parks, including Matzke Park, 100 Acre Woods Preserve, Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve (KMP), Champion Forest Park, Meyer Park, Collins Park, and Mercer Botanic Gardens. Construction on a path connecting KMP on the east side of Texas 249 to the D. Bradly McWilliams YMCA and 100 Acre Woods Preserve on the west side has also kicked off. The nearly one-mile connector trail is expected to be complete by mid-2022. That segment will complete a significant section of the Cypress Creek Greenway, creating a 3.3-mile path connecting Matzke Park, the 100 Acre Woods Preserve, and KMP. From there, crews would need to connect KMP to Champion Forest Park and then Champion Forest Park to Collins and Meyer parks. However, those segments are on hold until Precinct 4 secures the money necessary to build the trail. Johnston says the BNSF railroad track divides the two parks, and Precinct 4 does not yet have the money to create a railroad crossing. "The BNSF railroad crossing is going to be an expensive development," he says. "Funds we just don't have at this time could be dependent on future parks bond funding." Precinct 4 is also working with the Timber Lane Utility District to connect a segment on the east side of the Hardy Toll Road to Herman Little Park on the west.

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THE TECHNOLOGY OF HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT story by Taelor Smith

fter enduring the 2015 Memorial Day flood, the 2016 Tax Day flood, Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and other catastrophic storms in recent years, Harris County residents know all too well the unpredictability of the weather here. Sun can turn to drenching rain, and storms can linger indefinitely, bringing a year's worth of rain in a few days. To prepare for future sudden rain events, the Harris County Flood Control District has implemented innovative technologies and systems to reduce flooding through a series of projects meant to protect communities from severe damage. The 2018 Flood Bond Program approved by Harris County voters allotted $2.5 billion for stormwater detention basins, floodplain land acquisition, improvements to the flood warning system, and other necessary updates to the county’s flood control infrastructure. Several of the current countywide projects fall under HCFCD’s budget for Emerging Technologies and are paid for through a $25 million allocation of bond money. Four of these projects, worth an estimated $1.5 million, are under way in Precinct 4.

Precinct4Update Fall/Winter 2021

DRAINAGE REUSE INITIATIVE (DRI) FEASIBILITY STUDY The ongoing Drainage Reuse Initiative (DRI) Feasibility Study will evaluate the effectiveness of using underground aquifers for rainwater storage and flood mitigation. Although the technology hasn’t been used in Harris County before, researchers are hopeful it will one day help prevent flooding across the county. "Other cities, like San Antonio and Austin, capture [stormwater]

into aquifers for the use of drinking water," shares Rob Lazaro, a communications specialist for the Harris County Flood Control District. "This is one of the first initiatives to do that [in the Houston area], and the pilot study is in Tomball." The study will determine the best of three ways to inject groundwater into Harris County's existing detention basins. The test areas within the basin will measure groundwater captured through natural drainage, enhancing drainage using dry wells, and mechanically driving water into the ground. Researchers will also consider the cost-effectiveness of each method, with natural drainage as the least expensive method and mechanically driven drainage as the most expensive. Study results are expected this summer. RAIN GARDEN DEMONSTRATION PROJECT Green infrastructure is another way the district fights flooding. The Rain Garden Demonstration Project is widespread throughout the county, but even more so in Precinct 4. It includes educating homeowners, homeowners associations, and municipal utility districts about the importance of incorporating green infrastructure into their landscapes to capture and slow rainwater. "These rain gardens use native plants as a natural filtration system," says Lazaro. "It slows down the water, like our detention basins would do, so that it all doesn't rush into the channel system." THIS PAGE The Drainage Reuse Initiative (DRI) Feasibility Study uses instruments to measure water levels in basins and aquifers that will help prepare for flood events. Photo by Crystal Simmons.

Runoff from paved surfaces flows into these gardens layered with sand, topsoil, and compost to improve drainage. Not only do these gardens serve a meaningful purpose, they also create gorgeous landscapes. "It cleans the water, and it also adds a beautification aspect to many communities," Lazaro says. HCFCD also partners with local entities to preserve natural landscapes. In Precincts 1 and 4, Houston Wilderness and HCFCD work together to plant hardy native grasses to combat invasive species as part of the Native Grass Demonstration project. Native plants are essential to prevent erosion and channel damage. When they become established, the roots of native trees, plants, and grasses hold the soil together, stabilizing the banks. Public spaces such as parks, ponds, or trails along waterways are great places to see this concept in action.

DRONES AND HIGH-DEFINITION IMAGES For the past five years, HCFCD’s infrastructure division has used drones for data collection, including channel inspections and assessments, and to capture before-andafter photos of construction projects. Shane Hrobar, HCFCD's vegetation management coordinator, shares how this technology helps the county manage floods. "If we do a de-silt in a channel or basin, channel repairs, and things like that, we'll capture before-andafter photos from the air, in addition to what our team is doing on the ground as part of the infrastructure division’s contractor management," says Hrobar. "It's an enhancement to

the work that we're already doing. As interests increase in the program’s capabilities, we will support our other divisions." Two licensed pilots operate the drones, and a separate team works on developing the technology used by engineers across the county. Hrobar says the technology is cost-effective and helps the team update data and prepare for future maintenance projects.

thousands of high-definition images that are later stitched together to create aerial photos. To put that into perspective, a 30-acre basin could net up to 1,200 images. These aerial photos are then used as resources for various projects, including tree and wildflower plantings. "We can return to that area over the years and take those same sets of photos to see how that site has established and grown in," Hrobar says. "This also helps to capture any repair issues." As HCFCD continues to use this technology, there’s hope that the use of detailed imaging will include more realistic and three-dimensional images within the next two years, giving a more accurate view of waterways and floodplains.

As Harris County grows, HCFCD continues to add new ways to protect residents from floods, shaping Precinct 4's future and redefining how we use nature to our advantage. Those exploring their community should take time to admire the waterways, landscapes, and even the sky above that help protect homes and communities from disaster. "In the past, we'd have to hire someone to capture aerial imagery," he says. " Having an in-house alternative gives us another benefit and can often be quicker. It has its benefits, but it also has limitations. The two major limiting factors in drone technology today are battery endurance and line-of-sight requirements." The team’s successful use of drones has prompted them to generate flight patterns allowing the drones to capture hundreds or even

THIS PAGE (LEFT TO RIGHT) Photo of native prairie grasses in detention basins create natural habitats that control flooding and beautify communities by Kaci Woodrome. Overhead drone views, like this shot of Cypress Creek, help document effects of flooding. Photo by Jake Turner. Cypress Creek rose to unprecedented levels during Hurricane Harvey. Photo by Crystal Simmons.

Harris County Precinct 4

Commissioner R. Jack Cagle

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID N. HOUSTON TX PERMIT NO 257

Harris County Precinct 4 and Shakespeare in the Shade presents

Friday, Nov. 5 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7 2 p.m. Burroughs Park 9738 Hufsmith Rd. Tomball 77375 28

Precinct4Update | Fall/Winter 2021

Articles inside

A message from Commissioner R. Jack Cagle

Revitalizing Communities

The Spring Creek Greenway: Connecting Communities

Precinct 4 Legends and Lore

MUDs: More than Water and Sewer

The Technology of Harris County Flood Control

Mercer Reveals Master Plan

The Small Town Aesthetic

Who's Behind the Name