According to the March 10 meeting agenda, the retention pond will be built upon roughly 35 acres of property that is already owned by HISD, located at the corner of Will Clayton Parkway and Rustic Timbers Drive.
Upon completion, HISD Chief Communications Officer Jamie Mount said the project will protect several district facilities from potential flooding by providing additional stormwater storage capacity.
"This pond protects Turner Stadium, Humble High School, Ross Sterling Middle School, Lakeland Elementary School, Guy M. Sconzo Early College High School and the community while providing an outdoor recreational and educational amenity," Mount said in an email.
According to HISD Trustee Chris Parker, who presented the project at the Humble City Council March 10 meeting, the retention pond will double as a community park featuring trails for walking, jogging and running; legacy trees selected by Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle; and three fountains with LED lights that will light up in school colors for home games.
"We really, really want this to be a shining gem in the jewel box that is the city of Humble," Parker said during her presentation. "We really want it to be just a beautiful, beautiful place that the community can use, and we're really thrilled about it."
Mount also noted mosquitoes will not be a concern as the retention pond will create an ideal habitat for natural predators of mosquitos, such as fish, frogs and dragonflies that feed on mosquito adults and larvae.
"Without a wet pond, the property would have a large depressed area covered in grass," Mount said in an email. "The pond improves community aesthetics and addresses county, state and federal regulatory requirements."
With the approval of the joint participation agreement, the city of Humble will allocate no more than $100,000 for the project, which will come from the general fund revenue, according to Humble Chief Financial Officer Aimee Phillips. According to the meeting agenda, any construction costs incurred during the construction of the project or other work to be performed under the agreement in excess of the construction contract award amount will be funded solely by HISD.
Mount said the project is still under design, and a cost estimation will be finalized and presented once the design phase is completed. She added district officials hope to complete the project by the end of 2022.
Wesley Gardner contributed to this report.
