Two older men clearing out underbrush on Kingwood drive at Woodl

Wiseowl : Yes, I often wonder about the trees in the back yards that lean over Kingwood Dr. just waiting to fall. Homeowners should be responsible for them as well.

I am one of the "old" men working on the KW Drive median just east of Woodland Hills intersection. The work being done is part of a Neighborhood Matching Grant program sponsored by Councilman Fred Flickinger and the City Department of neighborhoods. The Bear Branch Trail Association is providing the matching funds to the City grant. We are not removing any trees but are clearing vines and other invasive species of brush. Once the vines and brush are cleared, this section of median will be landscaped to make it presentable. There are many trunks from trees that previously died in this section of median. When Friendswood Development built Kingwood, they made each of the Community Associations and Trail Associations responsible for maintaining the medians of major streets adjoining Association boundaries. In the early years, the Associations did this and Kingwood remained a Livable Forest. When Kingwood was annexed, there was a lot of bad feelings. The City took responsibility for maintaining the medians and the Associations for the most part abandoned the responsibilities included in their Charters. The wet east Texas forest ecosystem of Kingwood changed with the introduction of roads and drainage systems. Increased sunlight and drainage contributed to proliferation of vines and scrub brush along major streets. It will not be possible to return Kingwood to the original east Texas ecosystem. A new sustainable urban forest ecosystem must be generated. The Bear Branch Trail and Trees for Kingwood organization organization have made a commitment to do this. Several other Community Associations have joined in this effort. The City Matching Grant program is one resource to assist in this effort. I have lived in Kingwood since 1975. In its early years, Kingwood had a volunteer fire department and many residents reguarly volunteered to keep Kingwood a Livable Forest. Unfortunately today more people complain more than they volunteer. If you want Kingwood to return to the status of a Livable Forest, volunteer or contribute. Trees for Kingwood has a website and Facebook page. It is part of the Kingwood Services Association Parks Foundation which is a 501c3 charity. Trees for Kingwood has a volunteer program this coming weekend to tend to newly planted trees in Kingwood. Trees for Kingwood also co-sponsors Councilman Flickinger's Median Madness events. Clearing medians is only a first step in a longterm program to plant trees and establish a sustainable Liveable Forest Ecosystem.