HTX-WDL: Impact 10/29/2025

The Woodlands Township board of directors is still considering the possibility of building a new performing arts center, but due to rising costs, it may seek to pursue a private partnership to move it forward, township officials said.

What is happening: A large part of the process has been finding a location for a building, officials said. While no location has been identified, the board has talked about three potential locations, board member Cindy Heiser said.

The background: The original memorandum of understanding between the township and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in 2019 proposed a 1,500-seat venue that was estimated to cost $71 million, according to official documents.

Since then, the estimated cost has grown to about $200 million, and the board is now looking at the potential for a smaller facility, Heiser told Community Impact.

Families can check out a free photo backdrop at Market Street, and kids can visit The Woodlands Children's Museum, among other activities in The Woodlands area this weekend. This list is not comprehensive and events are subject to change.

Rock the Row
The concert series features local and regional bands on Thursday evenings at the band shell at Hughes Landing in The Woodlands. Yelba performs on Oct. 30. Coolers, picnic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs are allowed, but glass is prohibited.

• Oct. 30, 7 p.m.
• Free
• 1950 Hughes Landing Blvd., The Woodlands

• Oct. 31, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• $9 (adults), $12 (children), $6 (children under one)
• The Woodlands Children’s Museum, 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, Ste. 280, The Woodlands

TDECU—Houston’s largest credit union—and Smart Financial Credit Union—one of the city’s oldest—announced plans to merge, according to an Oct. 22 news release, combining their legacies under a shared mission to strengthen communities and expand member opportunities.

Marking a milestone: Pending regulatory approval and a member vote by Smart Financial, the merger is expected to be finalized in early 2026. The combined credit union will hold nearly $6 billion in assets and serve more than 460,000 members across Texas through a network of 48 branches, per the release.

TDECU President and CEO Isaac Johnson will lead the merged organization, while Smart Financial CEO LeAnn Kaczynski will serve as chief integration officer for one year to oversee the transition.

Also of note: TDECU’s ties with the University of Houston, Houston Texans and Buc-ee’s will join Smart Financial’s work with Smart Financial Centre and local charities through the Smart Financial Foundation.

Members of both institutions will see no immediate changes to accounts or services during the transition, according to the release.

YES Prep Public Schools has launched a new four-year, $80 million campaign dubbed “The Power of YES," officials announced in an Oct. 23 news release.

The gist: The campaign will allow the Houston charter school system to invest in technology and facilities while working toward becoming an "A"-rated district. Per the release, the initiative will:

• Add 5,000 new school seats
• Complete YES Prep’s full pre-K-12 feeder pattern
• Fund the construction of six new schools
• Rebuild three of YES Prep’s oldest campuses
• Invest in innovative programs, bilingual education and tools that prepare students for college, careers and leadership