Koi Garden on The Woodlands Waterway® Now Open to the Public

Koi Garden, an Asian-inspired garden and koi pond located on the south side of The Woodlands Waterway®, is now open to the public from dawn until dusk daily. The garden was created on and around two “tear-drop” shaped islands in The Waterway that are linked to the banks of The Waterway by pedestrian bridges. The garden was designed to be a place for quiet contemplation and meditation, where visitors can reconnect with nature, according to Alex Sutton, president of The Woodlands Development Company.

The koi pond is one of the largest of its kind outside of public arboreta or gardens. A variety of distinctive materials and exotic plantings enhance Koi Garden, along with a 60,000-gallon koi pond that is separated from The Waterway by dams. Designed by SLA Studio Land and constructed by Millis Construction, the Koi Garden is secluded from a pedestrian walkway along The Waterway by walls, fences and timber bamboo, native to Asia. The koi pond was designed in collaboration with Laguna Koi Ponds of Laguna Beach, California, using bio-filtration methods for fish health and water clarity.

A two-sided galvanized steel arbor marks the entry to Koi Garden off Waterway Court. Two ancient proverbs are carved into the arbor – “Enough Pails of Water….A River” on the south side, and “The Journey is the Reward”on the north side.

The koi in the pond are Japanese imports selectively bred for their brilliant colors and appealing patterns. There are 33 adult koi and about a dozen baby koi in seven different varieties currently living in the pond. The koi pond is maintained by Brett Rowley of Brett’s Fish Farm, fisheries biologist. For more information, visitwww.thewoodlands.net.

In the bottom photograph, officials from The Woodlands and residents of The Waterway Lofts feed the koi in a ceremonial opening of the Koi Garden.