Consultants present concept plans for Northshore Park

Work could begin by early 2016 on renovations to Northshore Park.

The Woodlands Township board of directors allocated $1.2 million in the 2016 budget to renovate the 30-year-old park and was presented with three concept options during the Oct. 28 board of directors meeting.

Burditt Consultants surveyed 350 park users and hosted five meetings to gain feedback while developing the concept options, which range in cost between $1.2 million and $1.6 million.

The majority of the board was in favor of the concept option that stays in budget at $1.2 million and includes additional parking and updates to the restrooms. However, several directors had questions or concerns regarding issues, such as construction costs for the restrooms and possible disruptions to a nearby neighborhood caused by noise and lights at the park if the pavilion were rotated.

One concept calls for rotating the amphitheater 11 degrees to the north, which would project sound to a tree line on the north side of the parking lot. If the amphitheater is repositioned toward the southwest corner of the park, there is a three-tiered sound approach that could be implemented by putting in a wall covered in ivy and a 12-foot wall.

The project is planned to be completed in two phases so as not to interrupt services at the park, according to Burditt Consultants. The board of directors requested Burditt attend the November meeting as well.