Bike trails, bayous, and biodiversity – a few themes Houston park planners are concentrating on as the city tackles its "concrete jungle" reputation head-on. Houston already boasts a top spot in parks per capita, (ahem, we have 380 developed parks and 170 open spaces), but local planners know the region must collectively do more and are adopting a new “gray to green” mantra en masse.
From small trail upgrades and interconnected waterways to full-blown landmark projects for visitors to marvel at, here's a roundup of the green spaces on Houston's horizon.
The Houston Arboretum & Nature center just announced its Ravine and Savannah Trails re-opening to the public after a three-year renovation. A rare piece of steep topography in Houston now has two steel-enforced bridges and bike trails for the outdoor enthusiast.
Memorial Park is more halfway through its 10-year master plan, nearing completion on critical components. Phase one, the recreation area surrounding the new Eastern Glades Lake is complete. This paves the way to begin phase two, which includes excavation of a 5.5-acre lake. The new lake will improve water retention and flood prevention in the area and will be ready for the public to view by 2022.
According to the Uptown District Authority, the excavation process began in January of this year. To enhance sustainability, the dirt dug up to create the Lake will be used for the most exciting portion of the project, the central connector, also known as the land bridge. Construction of this element is slated to begin this October in 2019 with an anticipated timeline of 30 months.
What exactly is the central connector land bridge?
It is a sizeable human-made hill with tunnels cars can drive through. The land bridge will be walkable, with high vantage points of the downtown Houston skyline, to the south, or the Uptown Skyline to the south.
Bayou Greenways 2020 dusted off old plan by architect Arthur Comey that will take individual trails of six different bayous, and strategically connect them to create 150 miles nonstop hike and trails.
Comey first presented his plan of connected bayous back in 1913. And while the plan was forgotten and shelved, parks were naturally placed alongside bayous and creeks. The Parks Board has identified gaps and has spent the last several years working to construct the final points of connection.
The Houston Botanical Gardens is now under construction at the former Glenbrook Golf Course in East Houston. The $35-million first phase of the project covers about 15 acres and includes a Children’s Discovery Garden, an edible garden and entrance from Park Place Blvd. with wetlands and an oak collection. Phase one is about 80 percent complete.
Just announced last week, the Downtown Houston Redevelopment authority is working towards a new L-shaped park off of 1500 Fannin St. The park is a small but mighty acre that is referred to as the Southern Downtown Park Project to date. Placing amenities within the smaller space is a priority for the park planners, including ample shade, bikes, food service, and dog play areas. Expected completion: Summer 2021
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