The Woodlands Township slates $600K for sports facility study

During a budget workshop discussion on Aug. 20, The Woodlands Township board of directors discussed the potential for a partnership with Conroe ISD on a multi-use indoor sportsplex that could be located in Bear Branch Park or another one of the township’s large parks. The board approved allocating $600,000 to research options for the facility in the fiscal year 2027 budget.

The context

Board Chair Brad Bailey said an air-conditioned, indoor practice facility could be used for soccer, football, lacrosse and other sports. The $600,000 from the township's park needs assessment fund was initially pitched for a skateboard, scooter and bike loop course, Bailey said. However, he said the funds could also be used for a study to research a potential joint project with CISD.

“I just think [a multiplex sports facility] is going to get a lot more use and with [Chief Operating Officer] Chris [Nunes] and his team able to program an indoor, artificial field, soccer, football, lacrosse, band, as a partnership with CISD, I think [that] would be a moneymaker for this board, and we like revenue," Bailey said at the meeting.

Bear Branch, which was mentioned as a possible location, has seen several other improvements in recent years. In 2024, The Woodlands Township opened a new, covered multipurpose court at Bear Branch park.

Bailey told Community Impact there could be several options for a facility. The district could allocate money for it or be a retail tenant of the township. He said it could serve sports and activities such as football, soccer, lacross and drill teams at CISD high schools and feeders within The Woodlands.

Before you go

Andrew Stewart, CISD’s executive director of communications on Aug. 21 told Community Impact no agreements are yet in place with the district.

“Conroe ISD was just made aware of The Woodlands Township’s preliminary plans for a potential indoor athletic facility," he said. "There are currently no formal agreements or financial commitments between the township and Conroe ISD.”