Harris County Precinct 4 is continuing development of the Spring Creek Greenway, a connection of green space and trails along Spring Creek. With 17 miles of the greenway completed, Precinct 4 crews are now looking to acquire pieces of 42 parcels of land in Tomball from FM 2978 to Hwy. 249—the missing link in the precinct-wide trail system, Precinct 4 officials said. Commissioner Jack Cagle said Precinct 4 has an agreement for or ownership of the right of way to build the greenway from FM 2978 east of Tomball to Hwy. 59 at the San Jacinto River in Kingwood. Additionally, a partnership with Lone Star College-Tomball allows the project to continue from Hwy. 249 west to Spring Creek Park, Cagle said. “But there’s a gap, and the gap is through Tomball,” Cagle said in an interview. “To that extent, we’re working on trying to close that gap, and that’s why we’re calling up the members of City Council to help us with some of the funding.” When completed, the Spring Creek Greenway will allow residents to essentially walk or bike from one side of the precinct to the other. It features a 12-foot asphalt trail as well as equestrian and off-road biking trails. In addition to a recreational amenity, the greenway acts as a flood protection system when creeks rise, providing space for the water to go, Cagle said. “This trail is something that we are actively pursuing throughout the precinct and [is] tying our precinct together,” Cagle said during a Sept. 17 Tomball City Council meeting. The properties still to be acquired in the city of Tomball are valued at $7 million, Cagle said. Tomball Assistant City Manager David Esquivel said any decision to partner with Precinct 4 must be initiated by City Council. However, Esquivel said he believes it is likely council will discuss the project when planning for the 2019-20 budget year. “With our past history, I definitely see us in some way cooperating or partnering up to get the right of way,” he said. “It’s definitely a great project for this whole region, not just for the city.” With limited funding the project moves as quickly as land can be acquired, Cagle said during the meeting. Donated property frees up funds for construction of the trails, as each mile of the greenway costs about $300,000 to construct, Cagle said. According to the Harris County Flood Control District, $60 million of the $2.5 billion bond referendum approved by voters in August is earmarked for right of way acquisition, flood-plain preservation and general drainage improvements along Spring Creek in Precincts 3 and 4. The 42 miles of land now acquired tie into trails in Kingwood and The Woodlands, said Michael Howlett, Precinct 4 special projects coordinator. “It’s the longest contiguous urban greenway [in the U.S.],” he said. “With this 40-some mile of greenway, we’re connecting literally hundreds of miles of trails.” Cagle said he believes the project’s magnitude makes it attractive to developers, as neighborhoods can tap into it. “It’s going to be such a huge amenity that I think it’s definitely going to spark development that maybe otherwise would not have come,” Esquivel said. “It’s going to be an economic driver, it’s going to be a quality of life driver.”