MUDs: More Than Water and Sewer story and photos by Crystal Simmons
ABOVE A babbling brook runs through Mandolin Gardens. BELOW Herman Little Park features a rustic playground hidden in the trees.
A 12-mile long hike and bike trail. A dreamy garden on the water. Fruit trees, wildflowers, and butterfly gardens. These aren't your typical municipal utility district (MUD) amenities. Originally established by the state to provide water and sewer infrastructure, MUDs now pay for everything from recreational amenities and parks to trash pickup and security. They pay for these services using the tax revenue from residents within their district. They typically serve residents of unincorporated areas who do not receive city services. MUDs started to expand their offerings in 2004, when Texas passed a law allowing them to sell park bonds. A flurry of development ensued, giving rise to more neighborhood parks and trails across the state. Many MUDs now partner with government agencies like Harris County Precinct 4 and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) to pay for such large-scale public projects as connected trail systems, bridges, and community centers. Although Harris County Precinct 4 features many active MUDs, the ones below stand out for their large-scale public projects, greenspace conservation, and sustainable practices.
Timber Lane Utility District
Like many developments in the 1970s, the original sections of the Timber Lane subdivisions opened with limited amenities. As the area grew and lost greenspace, members of the Timber Lane Utility District board saw a need to preserve the surrounding forests. To pay for the district's first park, Alfred "Bud" Gessel, the Timber Lane Utility District's director and general manager, won a TPWD grant to build the 12.4-acre Timber Lane Park in 1994. The area served the community for nearly a decade before population growth and a need for more greenspace spurred the board to consider adding its next park. Faced with limited revenue, Gessel used donated materials and enlisted 900 volunteers to build the Spring Community Playground at Liberty Park over five days in 2003. (Cont'd on page 12.) 11
