Northshore revamp to include new boathouse
The 3,000 square feet of cargo storage containers that currently take up 14 parking spots in Northshore Park for storing boats will be replaced by a boathouse by next summer after The Woodlands Township board struck an initial agreement with two local rowing clubs.
The 3,000 square feet of cargo storage containers that currently take up 14 parking spots in Northshore Park for storing boats will be replaced by a boathouse by next summer after The Woodlands Township board struck an initial agreement with two local rowing clubs.
For 17 years, the Rowing Club of The Woodlands and Parati Competitive Rowing have used the cargo containers as a makeshift boathouse with the hopes that they would find a permanent solution. When Northshore Park, one of the most popular parks in the community, was due for a renovation, the rowing clubs jumped at the opportunity to petition the township to include a boathouse in the design plans.
After nearly a year of designing and negotiations, the Township board agreed to build the boathouse and negotiate a use agreement with the clubs in April. Some of the board members were initially hesitant about using public park space for a facility that would primarily be used by private clubs and worried that the clubs might not follow through on a commitment to pay for the entirety of the construction costs. Once Woodforest National Bank, which is headquartered in The Woodlands, offered to contribute $500,000 toward the $850,000, 7,000-squarefoot facility in exchange for displaying a sign on the building, they felt comfortable to move forward with the agreement.
According to the preliminary agreement, the two clubs will split 6,000 square feet of storage, paying their respective shares of the prescribed $122 per square foot building cost, while the township will pay for the additional 1,000 square feet at a cost of about $50,000. The township board opted to include the additional 1,000 square feet to ensure that there was some public use for the building as well as to leave room for the rowing teams to grow in the future.
“I feel, if we’re doing something with public space, we have to have public space at the facility,” said board member Gordy Bunch. “(And) as these clubs grow, that additional space might be wise … You only get to build it once.”
The board directed township staff to negotiate the funding and sponsorship agreement with the clubs and Woodforest National Bank with the condition that the clubs provide the funding upfront and the bank agrees that the sign on the facility will be displayed for 10 years, with any extension to come before the board later.
Rowing has been a part of the The Woodlands almost since Lake Woodlands, a manmade lake, was filled with water in 1985. The slender boats cutting through the water are familiar sights as the two rowing clubs, together boasting more than 100 rowers, have made the sport a daily pastime.
While the two clubs did not get off on the right foot — disputes over use of the storage facility at Northshore Park and sharing the lake escalated to the point of needing mediation from the township in 2013 — they united behind the initiative to build a formal boathouse last year.
Tony Montano with Parati spoke to the board at its April 27 meeting to thank the board for working with the teams.
“Parati is putting The Woodlands on the map,” he said, pointing to the team’s recent state championship win as well as the 11 rowers that have gone on to row in college.
“We’ve done all this out of a cramped facility made out of leaky shipping containers,” he added. “We’re very excited about the boathouse facility.”
In addition to the boathouse, the Northshore Park renovation plan will increase parking spaces — from 109 to 138 — enhance circulation and pedestrian safety in the parking lot, add new pathways, build new children’s playgrounds in a shaded area, renovate the restrooms, build a new performance stage and upgrade landscaping throughout the park.