The Woodlands board chair on decision to cancel park restrooms project: 'I think we can all agree that our parks are an amenity to enjoy'

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors unanimously rescinded a recent decision at its meeting on Thursday to build restrooms at a neighborhood park, Houston-based media outlets reported. 

The development comes after the seven-member body fielded public input, which was simply in opposition to the project that was slated to commence at Capstone Park.

“The Woodlands Township board of directors will reallocate funding approved for the restrooms at Capstone Park to other improvement projects in the 2022 Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment,” a statement from the special-purpose district and census-designated place approximately 30 miles north of Houston obtained by Houston NBC affiliate KPRC read.

Per KPRC, those who expressed their disapproval of the project to the board feared restrooms at Capstone would attract unsavory elements.

“I think there’s some unintended outcomes that’s a possibility here that would be really hurtful to us,” one resident said, the station reported.

Ann Perry, who spearheaded the effort to prevent the construction of restrooms, was grateful for the reversal, according to KPRC.

“Unbelievable, I can’t believe that they listened to us,” Perry said in the report. “We got together, we organized, we had a petition. I think over 650 signatures. I’m just thankful.”

Community Impact reported that the board initially voted for the proposed freestanding bathrooms at Sundance and Capstone Parks in February.

Since then, residents made their feelings known, with Perry suggesting the directors change Capstone’s designation from an area park to a neighborhood one, the publication reported.

“I think we can all agree that our parks are an amenity to enjoy,” Dr. Ann Snyder, the board’s chair, said, per Community Impact.

It’s unlikely officials will consider future proposals for park restrooms, the publication reported.

Instead, the board asked the township’s chief operations officer (COO), Chris Nunes, to develop a new park classification system.