The Woodlands Township board of directors voted to update the Waterway Square Fountains on March 19.
In 2025, $3.5 million was allocated for renovations and repairs to the fountain, but now the township is re-evaluating the best way to maintain the water system through a new proposal for the system. The proposal includes new features, modifications to installations and a redesign to the fountains, which are part of The Woodlands Waterway.
In case you missed it
The fountains at Waterway Square were installed in 2008, and are owned and operated by the township. The fountain includes a park, stage, elevator, pedestrian bridge, plaza, dancing water features and a sound system.
Looking back
Back in 2018, the board received a report on issues with the fountains including leaking and freeze damage to the water lines. By December 2018, the board approved replacements of:
- The ellipse floor with a structural lab
- Existing equipment with new robotic features
- Nonproprietary control system
The fountains were back running by July 2020. However, the music and programming stopped working in 2023 while the water movement and light features continued.
According to the board agenda, in 2024, the township reached out to Halff Associates Inc. for a task order for assistance with renovations to the fountains.
“We have partnered with a fountain consultant that has visited the site [the fountains] several times. ... What we have done is a proposal to prepare design drawings that we can put out to the market and bid with qualified fountain contractors,” said Kristin LeBlanc, associate vice president of Halff Associates Inc.
What’s new
LeBlanc said a task force was created to help with the design of the project, including:
- Structural modifications
- Waterproofing coordination
- Materials testing to replace damaged materials
- Cleanup
- Fixing electrical and programming issues
The fountain now works with base water movement and limited lighting, but the music, moving and lighting changes to music don’t work, Parks and Recreation Director John McGowan said.
Township documents show the work is estimated to cost $384,942.50. The fountains also have leaks, such as one in the main pit, and no features in the upper basin section, according to the agenda.
Several goals are in mind for fountain improvements, including:
- Modifications to the installation for the operation and maintenance of system
- Redesign the water effects in the ellipse pool
- New underwater lighting feature
- Background music
- Renovations to the water feature with new jets and lighting to help reduce maintenance time
- Redesign controls for the fountains and motor control center
- Cleaning the facade of the fountain
Looking ahead
The board approved the updates for the Waterway Square Fountains and interactive water feature. The construction timeline should take eight to 10 months. LeBlanc said that the township should get bids back by late 2026.
“The ultimate goal is a functioning fountain that draws people out into the public spaces that The Woodlands Township can maintain long term,” LeBlanc said.
What else?
Board members also discussed the fiscal year 2027 budget calendar and 2026 tax rate, and voted to approve holding the meeting Aug. 17-21.
Holding the meeting Aug. 17-21 includes the caveat that setting a tax rate above the voter approval rate wouldn't be an option, township staff said. The second option was Aug. 3-7 and would have been the best option if the board believed the township would set a tax rate above voter approval and voted on by the public in the election in November.
