Have you ever wondered why the street you live on has such a unique and memorable name? If you live in The Woodlands Hills, the naming of streets and neighborhoods is purposeful. You may find the significance behind some of the names as interesting as the names themselves.
The Woodlands Hills seamlessly integrates its natural surroundings into every aspect of community planning, including the thoughtful naming of streets throughout the development. Inspired by the forest and natural environment that defines The Woodlands Hills, street names reflect ecological diversity.
Neighborhoods feature thematic naming conventions that celebrate wildlife, native trees, and natural landmarks. Neighborhood names and streets have themes – some are easy to figure out – such as the streets within Mallards Rim named for different species of ducks, while names within Harbour Hills may be a bit more difficult to figure out.
Did you know the Harbour Hills section is a tribute to Calvin Ladner, the civil engineer and former president, CEO and chairman of the board of directors of LJA Engineering, Inc. who worked with planning within Howard Hughes’ three Houston communities? He passed away in 2020 around the time the naming of this neighborhood was taking place. An avid fisherman, streets within Harbour Hills are named with a fishing theme along with Ladner Court, acknowledging his contributions to the community.
Lorrie Parise, Director, Public Relations & Community Relations, Houston region for Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. has the distinct pleasure of choosing the names for the neighborhoods and streets within The Woodlands Hills.
“I thoroughly enjoy this part of my job,” offered Parise. “I am inspired by flora and fauna. Many area Realtors have shared how residents have a sense of pride when they talk about where they live. It’s very rewarding to hear that residents appreciate the effort put into naming neighborhoods, streets and parks. Residents might find the meaning behind the names as fascinating as the names themselves.”
The neighborhood of Prelude Woods exemplifies the thoughtful naming approach in the community. Prelude, meaning “before,” is also a short piece of music played at the beginning of a symphony that introduces the larger score. Names in this neighborhood incorporate terms with a musical application. Its location is also strategically positioned just before Founders Park, creating a meaningful geographical connection to its musical namesake.
Two neighborhoods that are connected in more than one way are Nocturne Ridge and Skyline Ridge. Their names give clues to the theme or connected concept of night and day. The two neighborhoods are interconnected by a street, you could say, at the end of the night and beginning of another day!
Maybella Forest is another enclave that may not be obvious to decipher. Maybella Forest means ‘the natural beauty of the forest,’ and street names in this section incorporate names of trees, reflecting the community’s commitment to celebrating its natural surroundings. Maybel is also the name of Parise’s dog.
PARK NAMES
Community parks also have significant meanings to their names. Several of the parks in The Woodlands Hills have raised nearly $25,000 for nonprofit organizations through auctioning the naming rights from donations by Howard Hughes.
- Lucy and Gus Dauzat Dog Park (located in Founders Park) is named in memory of two cherished dogs of Rick and Roz Dauzat. The one-acre park offers dogs – both large and small – space to romp and play.
- Sue Luce Daisy Park was named in memory the community leader, Sue Luce, by her daughter Nelda Luce Blair, and for the daisy, her favorite flower.
- Rick and Roz Dauzat Peace Park is a 2.5-acre park that offers a passive tranquil connection between neighborhoods where residents can observe native plants in a serene environment.
- Coach Less Peacock Park is named in memory for the beloved Willis ISD coach who passed away from cancer. Just as a peacock displays its colorful feathers, the park was designed as a colorful space collaborating well with the coach’s last name, honoring his 13 years of service to the district.
- Lastly, the naming rights for Dr. Tim Harkrider Park were won in a naming auction by Pogue Construction Inc. who choose to name the park in honor of former Willis ISD Superintendent Tim Harkrider.
The names of streets, neighborhoods, and parks in The Woodlands Hills reflect the area’s natural beauty and community spirit. Once complete, The Woodlands Hills will offer 25% of green space including 20 parks, miles of trails and green spaces, top amenities, great schools, and opportunities to connect with neighbors, making it one of the best places to live in Conroe and Willis.
