Land Protected for Spring Creek Greenway (TX)

Harris County, TX, 3/23/2007: An acquisition of 115 acres along Spring Creek by The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a nonprofit land conservation organization, completes the 7.5-mile portion of the Spring Creek Greenway linking Harris County Precinct 4’s Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center and Pundt Park along the south side of Spring Creek to create a more than 2,300-acre linear park.

Conservation of this property preserves an undisturbed ecological gem, providing opportunities for floodplain storage, ecotourism, education, and outdoor recreation. TPL conveyed the 115-acre property to the Harris County Flood Control District late last week. The district will own and manage the land as part of the public greenway.

“Acquiring this property will preserve part of the floodplain of Spring Creek and allow for the natural storage of storm water,” said Mike Talbott, director of the Flood Control District. “Spring Creek is one of only two creeks in Harris County that has not been altered. Not only is it a great place to hike, canoe, and fish, natural waterways like Spring Creek are critical to slowing flood waters and filtering pollutants. It will continue to benefit our community in so many ways”Commissioner Jerry Eversole offers, “I am extremely appreciative of TPL’s support in helping to secure the last remaining tract of land needed to connect Pundt Park to Jones Park.”

“This acquisition allows us to move forward with identifying and securing funding, and finalizing plans for the future development along the 7.5 miles section,” concludes Eversole.The Harris County Flood Control District, along with Harris County Precinct 4, requested TPL’s assistance to complete this critical acquisition.

“This effort was possible because the landowners, Ellen and Bill Carter, were committed to the conservation of this beautiful place,” says Laura Sykes, TPL project manager. “Avid outdoors people themselves, the Carters are thrilled their property will become a part of the Spring Creek Greenway. We owe the Carter family our sincere gratitude. The Spring Creek Greenway will be a tremendous recreational opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Houstonians and Harris County residents who live nearby.”

The Spring Creek Greenway is a collaborative effort between Harris County Precinct 4 and Montgomery County Precinct 3. Originally initiated in 1982 as the “Cypress Creek Parks Project” by former County Judge Jon Lindsay, Harris County purchased much of the existing land along Spring Creek. After Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole realized only a few tracts of land along the floodplain were needed to connect the creek-side property from Pundt Park to Highway 59, he sought out partners to accomplish this worthwhile goal that will benefit generations to come. It was also at this time that the project scope was widened to the current plan and renamed the “Spring Creek Greenway.” In 2004, Eversole approached Montgomery County’s Precinct 3 Commissioner Ed Chance to work together to complete the greenway. The collaboration has grown from there. Both Montgomery and Harris County plan to preserve – through donations, purchases or conservation easements – 33 linear miles of forest along Spring Creek.

About Harris County Flood Control District

In response to severe floods in 1929 and 1935 that threatened to wipe the city of Houston off the map, the Harris County Flood Control District was created by the Texas Legislature as a special purpose district. Since its 1937 inception, the District has carried out the mighty task of building projects to control, store and distribute storm water, which ultimately drains into nearly 2,500 miles of bayous, streams and creeks throughout Harris County.

Over the decades, the District has reduced flooding risks for residents and business owners by widening and deepening bayous and their tributaries; excavating massive detention basins capable of storing billions of gallons of storm water; implementing voluntary buyout programs to help people move to higher ground; preserving natural floodplain storage; and maintaining and repairing its thousands of miles of drainage infrastructure, which moves water to Galveston Bay.

About Harris County Precinct 4

Commissioner Jerry Eversole represents the interests of more than 837,000 residents and manages an operating budget of $80.9 million. Responsible for the largest Harris County commissioner’s precinct, Commissioner Eversole oversees the maintenance and construction of over 2,700 miles of roads, which is approximately 45 percent of the total Harris County road miles, 11 miles of bridges, and 24 parks that encompass over 3,000 acres. For more information on Precinct 4 Parks, please visit www.hcp4.net/Parks/index.htm, or call the Parks Department at (281) 353-8100.

About The Trust for Public Land

Since its founding in 1972, The Trust for Public Land has helped protect more than 2.2 million acres of land in 46 states. In Texas, TPL has protected more than 30,000 acres for communities, including areas in and around Arlington, Austin, Dallas, Denton, Houston, and San Antonio. In the Houston area, TPL’s conservation efforts include Buffalo Bayou, Spring Gully, and the San Bernard Wildlife Refuge. The Trust for Public Land depends on the support and generosity of individuals, foundations, and businesses to achieve its land for people mission. For more information please visit TPL on the Web at www.tpl.org