The Woodlands Township Board of Directors took decisive action at its September 17 meeting, voting 6‑0 to authorize President and CEO Monique Sharp to execute lease agreements for three new cell tower locations. The sites—Cattail Park, Tamarac Park and the Rob Fleming Park Recreation Center—were identified after a public hearing and are expected to address the township’s most pressing coverage gaps.
Why the towers are needed
IT Director William Pham explained that The Woodlands faces land‑use restrictions that limit tower placement to township‑owned property. As a result, only the three parks under township control were viable options. Pham noted that Cattail Park currently suffers the worst cellular service among the three, making it a priority for improvement.
Contractor and carrier involvement
Diamond Communications, the township’s contracted partner for the project, is represented by Katie Harms. The firm already operates four sites within The Woodlands on Lake Robbins Drive, Woodlands Parkway, and College Park Drive, and maintains a national footprint of roughly 4,000 sites. Of the major carriers—AT&T, Verizon and T‑Mobile—only one has expressed interest in the new locations at this time.
Potential timeline
Harms indicated that, once the leases are countersigned, the process to bring the towers online could take nine to ten months, with the first sites potentially operational in the third quarter of next year, depending on carrier budgets. She added that the overall rollout may span five years, with Alden Bridge Sports Fields slated as the next site if approved.
Scope of the project
Diamond Communications is evaluating ten possible locations across The Woodlands, including Windvale Park, the Fire Department Emergency Training Center, Terramont Park, Alden Bridge Sports Fields, Lakeside Park, Bear Branch Park, Shadowbend Park, and the three approved sites. Each tower is expected to extend coverage up to a mile, contingent on tower height, and will be equipped with generators to maintain service during storm‑related power outages.
Environmental review and next steps
All proposed sites must undergo an environmental review as required by township policy. The board’s unanimous vote reflects strong local support for expanding reliable wireless service, a critical component of modern family life, business operations, and emergency communications.
Community impact
Improved cellular coverage aligns with The Woodlands’ commitment to providing residents with dependable infrastructure while respecting the community’s land‑use standards. By focusing on township‑owned parks, the project avoids conflicts with private property owners and ensures that the benefits of enhanced connectivity are shared broadly across neighborhoods.
Board Secretary Linda Nelson asked about the timeline for getting the three sites operational. Harms responded that, assuming timely lease execution, the first towers could be functional within the next nine to ten months, with the full suite of towers potentially completed over a five‑year horizon.
The Woodlands Township continues to prioritize projects that strengthen the community’s technological foundation while upholding the values of responsible stewardship and family‑focused development.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Houston — read the source article.
