The Woodlands Township begins plans for 50th anniversary in 2024

Planning for a yearlong celebration leading up to the official 50th anniversary of The Woodlands Township in 2024 began with a discussion at the April 26 board of directors meeting.

“It is a great, significant year for us, and we look forward as staff to help the board carry out the vision and the dreams that you see on that,” said Visit The Woodlands President Nick Wolda, who presented logo designs from The Howard Hughes Corp. and a schedule for the yearlong build up to Oct. 19, 2024.

The celebration will kick off this Oct. 19, and the goal is to have a theme each month for the township to build around. A 50-day countdown will begin Aug. 30 next year building up to a grand gala and finale weekend.

“Our intention would be to have this as a standing agenda item for the 50th anniversary on each of our agendas. Sometimes it may not be needed, and that way it will always be there, so as things come forward and we're going through the process the board will be fully engaged with that,” said Monique Sharp, president and CEO of The Woodlands Township.

The board unanimously agreed to form a standing ad hoc committee with directors Linda Nelson, Brad Bailey and Ann Snyder for coordination with staff on the planning for the celebration. However, more community partners will be brought into the planning process and needed throughout the next several months, according to Snyder.

Transportation Policy Council

Board members on April 26 also voted to send a new request to the Houston-Galveston Area Council requesting membership to the board as part of a major transportation area in the Houston region.

The decision process by H-GAC will not occur until January, according to Intergovernmental Relations Director Todd Stephens. The township has previously been denied membership on the H-GAC Transportation Policy Council due to not being an incorporated city, but it hopes to gain entry based on The Woodlands Transit's commuter services between The Woodlands and Houston.