Construction on the new 11-mile Spring Creek Nature Trail began May 6 as 22 volunteers gathered on Kuykendahl Road to help with the project.

Suzanne Simpson, land stewardship director of the Bayou Land Conservancy, said volunteers constructed half a mile of pathway for the trail, which will begin in Harris County, cross into Montgomery County, and end on the west side of I-45. The groundbreaking for the trail occurred in early March.

"We hope to have volunteers do a good chunk of the trail and then the bridge crossings will be done by contractors," Simpson said. "Anyone can volunteer but the work is strenuous. The best thing about this is that we're connecting people with nature in their backyards. We're getting people to experience nature first hand."

Simpson said the trail is expected to be completed next summer and is funded by a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The execution and administration of the grant was transferred to The Bayou Land Conservancy, which has also partnered with The Woodlands Township, Harris County Precinct 4 and Montgomery County Precinct 3 to construct the trail.

There will be more trail construction events this summer; the next event is June 10. Simpson said the Bayou Land Conservancy will send out a link in the organization's newsletter and website so volunteers can register for the next construction event.