Township establishes new amenities program

Gordy Bunch, member of the township board of directors, said he brought the idea to the township board last year, believing residents should receive discounts to all amenities in the community.

"The concept that I had was residents subsidize the amenities that are shared with the broader community, and they should receive some kind of discount and incentive for using all the things that The Woodlands has to offer," Bunch said.

The punch cards went on sale March 1 and include all amenities on the same pass, Bunch said. Similar to the pool pass, proof of residency or property ownership must be provided, said John Powers, assistant general manager of community services. Powers said the pass, which expires Feb. 28, 2014, provides a significant discount to residents.

A residential pool pass alone would cost $40, while kayak rentals are $15 for single rentals and $20 for tandem rentals. The pass can be used for both single or tandem kayak rentals, Powers said.

Waterway Cruiser tickets are $5 per person and $2.50 for seniors over 65 and children 12 and under. Similar to a regular ticket, the admission provides transportation on the boats for the whole day.

Ice rink admission is $9.50 for a two-hour session during the weekdays and $10.50 during the weekends for a two-hour session. Ice skate rentals will be included with the Voyager Pass.

An adult could save from $53.50 to $71.50 on a $75 amenity pass, or from $87.50 to $117.50 on a $100 pass, while a child's pass would save slightly less. Each pass counts for one resident regardless of age, Powers said, but discounts will be provided for families who purchase five or more.

Bunch said he hopes the first year of the trial program will be successful so it can expand in future years to include other amenities, such as the trolley service. He said he wanted to provide an unlimited Waterway Cruisers pass for residents, but the issue needs to be discussed with Brazos Transit District to determine its feasibility. However, it may be an option for the future of the program.

"The most underutilized amenity is the water taxis," he said. "I don't think our local residents use them more because they cost too much per day, and that the real cost of operating those water taxis is not that high. And since the residents are here throughout the year, we should create an incentive for them to use them more often."

Bunch said revenue from the passes sold will be proportionally split among the four amenities based on the savings the pass provides for those amenities.