HOUSTON | Parks/Civic Spaces & Recreation Thread

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https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opi...k-18625994.php

Briones wants Gulfton to get a 'signature' park like Hermann. And why not? (Editorial)
By The Editorial Board
Jan 25, 2024

What distinguishes a “signature park” from its more humble cousins — neighborhood parks, community parks, pocket parks? The answer is subjective, of course, but certain characteristics seem common to green spaces that enjoy this unofficial moniker. Size matters — Memorial Park (1,500 acres), Hermann Park (445 acres) and Buffalo Bayou Park (160 acres) — obviously qualify. Smaller parks with an abundance of programs and activities, such as downtown’s Discovery Green (a mere 12 acres), and Levy Park in the Upper Kirby area (six acres) — also claim the distinction.

Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones wants to add Burnett Bayland Park to the “signature” category. It’s the only significant green space in the dense, diverse, low-income Gulfton neighborhood. A master planning process underway now offers a possible model for giving residents of underserved neighborhoods a park with the same benefits — recreational, healthful, educational and (dare we say) spiritual — as those in more prosperous areas.

Briones, a Democrat who took office in January 2023 after defeating Republican incumbent Jack Cagle, recalls visiting Burnett Bayland Park before she was elected and noticing a lot of broken glass on the ground. She picked it up herself. “None of our children deserves to play in an area that is unsafe and unkempt,” the former public school teacher says.

Briones and her staff are reluctant to talk about details of the planned improvements because these decisions will be shaped by an intensive community engagement process that involves three workshops and two online surveys. Maria Hernandez, the founder of the nonprofit advocacy group Madres del Parque, points to some obvious needs: better lighting to enhance safety; better drainage so that the playgrounds and sports fields won’t become useless after it rains; more cultural and educational programs.

Another problem is apparent to anyone who uses Google Maps to find Burnett Bayland: A seemingly endless chain-link fence lines the park along Chimney Rock, and it takes a bit of searching to find the main entrance on Gulfton. The master plan will include steps to make the park more accessible, Briones’ aides told us. And Briones wants to expand the park’s footprint from 32 to 70 acres by using county-owned property to its south. A big chunk of new green space might help to ameliorate the “heat island” effect in Gulfton, where a recent study found that the average temperature is 17 degrees higher than in Houston’s coolest neighborhoods.

Briones says she can’t estimate the final cost of the project — again, this will depend on what the community says it wants — except to say it will be in the millions. The county is paying $700,000 to the primary master plan consulting firm, WSP.

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https://communityimpact.com/houston/...memorial-site/

Master plan approved for downtown Houston park to become lynching memorial site

By Melissa Enaje | 12:00 AM Mar 8, 2024 CST
Updated 11:35 AM Mar 8, 2024 CST

Harris County commissioners approved the master plan for an area in downtown Houston that will be redeveloped into Remembrance Park—a dedicated space where residents and visitors can commemorate the actions and struggles of those who fought for social justice.

One of the park's main focal points in the master plan, according to officials, will be four markers recognizing four individuals who were lynched in Harris County between 1890-1928, according to Precinct 1's website.
-John Walton
-Bert Smith
-John White
-Robert Powell

The big picture

Quebedeaux Park and the surrounding area in downtown Houston will be redeveloped into Remembrance Park. The original park is named after Walter A. Quebedeaux, a lawyer who served 22 years as Harris County’s director of air and water pollution control. According to the Precinct 1 website, Quebedeaux was remembered as a pioneer in environmental protection.

The details

According to agenda documents from the Feb. 27 commissioners court meeting, the green space will be comprised of three blocks downtown that will also serve as a space for restaurants, shops and community gathering. From Congress Street to Buffalo Bayou, the park will emphasize space for artistic expression in efforts to bring tourism to Houston and the downtown area. The master plan also includes dedicated space for:

-A reflection pool
-Performance space
-An art pavilion
-An exhibit pavilion
-An amphitheater
-A Canopy Walk
-A Community Welcome Center

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https://communityimpact.com/houston/...e-walkability/

Sugar Land to implement $19M city trails project to improve walkability

By Aubrey Vogel | 3:56 PM Mar 13, 2024 CDT
Updated 3:56 PM Mar 13, 2024 CDT

Sugar Land residents will better be able to navigate town on foot after the construction of three trails connecting the city.

How it happened

Working toward making Sugar Land a more walkable and bikeable place, the city of Sugar Land received a $19.36 million grant from the Houston-Galveston Area Council in December, which will provide funds to create three 10-foot-wide concrete trails throughout the city, said Melanie Beaman, Sugar Land transportation and mobility manager.

The details

The three trails will connect the city both north and south and east and west, Beaman said. The city does not anticipate starting any construction until July.

The trails funded by the grant include:

1. Sugar Land Trail Phase 1
Status: design phase
Location: along the west side of Ditch H from the Telfair neighborhood, traveling under Hwy. 59 and connecting to Phase 2 near the Smart Financial Centre
Cost: $9.09 million

2. Sugar Land Trail Phase 2
Status: not started
Location: along the north side of Lexington Boulevard between the Smart Financial Centre and Austin Parkway
Cost: $6.45 million

3. Gannoway Lake Trails
Status: not started
Location: connecting Cullinan Park to Gannoway Lake off Burney Road by creating a pedestrian path under Hwy. 6
Cost: $3.82 million

The trails will also provide much-needed pedestrian underpasses along Hwy. 6 and Hwy. 59, Beaman said.

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https://communityimpact.com/houston/...-samuel-karff/

New Meyerland pedestrian bridge named after the late Rabbi Samuel Karff

By Melissa Enaje | 3:19 PM Apr 9, 2024 CDT
Updated 5:24 PM Apr 9, 2024 CDT

State, county and local officials gathered in Meyerland on April 9 to announce the new pedestrian and bike bridge over Brays Bayou Greenway that will be named after the late Rabbi Samuel Karff.

Karff served as the senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel from 1975 to 1999. He also advocated for civil rights, social justice and equality, according to a news release.

What residents should know

The Rabbi Samuel Karff Bridge is anticipated to open to the public in the fall, according to Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis. Total cost for the project was $3 million.

“The late Rabbi Samuel Egal Karff dedicated his life to fostering understanding, unity and justice while faithfully serving Congregation Beth Israel—the oldest Jewish congregation in Houston. It is our profound honor to dedicate this pedestrian bridge in his memory—a bridge that symbolizes the connections he tirelessly worked to build across communities," Ellis said in a news release.

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https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lif...k-19386111.php

First look: The Commons in Hermann Park opens April 13 with 26-acres of green space near Medical Center

The project is the final component of the $55-million "Play Your Park" capital campaign, which also included the McWilliams Dog Park.

By Amber Elliott,
Staff writer
April 5, 2024

When the Commons opens to the public on Saturday, the 26-acre corner bordered by Cambridge, Fannin and Main, connecting Houston Zoo and the Texas Medical Center, will match the splendor of Hermann Park. Construction over the past two years has transformed an under-utilized chunk of land into a natural entry point.

The Commons is the final component of the $55 million "Play Your Park" capital campaign, which also included the McWilliams Dog Park. The latter opened in October.

"There are now 2,400 spots in the Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza available for reserve," says Hermann Park Conservancy President and CEO Doreen Stoller. "To make that walk from Memorial Hermann to the zoo more pleasant, visitors pass now pass through 'Alligator Cove.'"

The hope is that medical workers and family members of patients will take a five-minute break in the Commons. A stretch of perennials near the southwest entrance serve as the welcome committee. It's also the new home of the George Hermann statue, the park's namesake who donated most of his estate to establish the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Hermann Park and what is now the Memorial Hermann Health System.

The Commons, designed by architect Marlon Blackwell and landscape architects Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, ticks a lot of boxes. There are not one but two semipermanent public art spaces, a revitalized pavilion, the return of the famous Hermann Park rocket ship, several family-friendly play areas, thoughtful homes for wildlife and, if Stoller gets her way, wine and beer options for what she calls "big kid fun."

Alyson Shotz fans may recognize her latest work, "Scattering Surface," glittering behind trees across the water. Her line of reflective pickets in "Mirror Fence" is something of a destination piece at Storm King Art Center in New York. She first visited Houston last fall to scout the perfect spot for the Commons installation, which was funded as part of the conservancy's 20-year master plan. The best time to enjoy "Shattering Surface" is 7 p.m., Shotz says.

A second installation, also part of the public art program, by University of Houston professor and Project Row House studio artist Anthony Suber, is slated for completion near the Japanese Garden in June.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/...rial-park.html

Montrose's Vibrant cafe opens second location in Memorial Park (PHOTOS)


By Jeff Jeffrey – Senior reporter, Houston Business Journal
Apr 16, 2024

A new restaurant opened in Memorial Park this week, offering a second permanent dining option for those visiting the massive park.

Vibrant, a Houston café focused on healthy and sustainable fare, chose Memorial Park’s Running Complex for its second location. The original Vibrant opened at 1931 Fairview in Montrose in 2018.

Memorial Park Conservancy, the organization charged with operating and maintaining the park, said Vibrant’s health-focused food will complement the existing Becks Prime location at the Memorial Park golf course, as well we the rotating selection of food trucks at Live Oak Court.

“Vibrant introduces a new gathering space at Memorial Park, offering the community a place to enjoy nourishing, sustainable food amidst the park's natural beauty,” Memorial Park Conservancy President and CEO Shellye Arnold said in a news release. “The café's opening and the broader expansion of dining and recreational options in the park reflect our ongoing commitment to meet the diverse needs of all Houstonians.”

The new 2,200-square-foot Vibrant location at 7575 N. Picnic Lane offers a similar menu as the Montrose location, with all items made in house from scratch.

Patrons can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings complemented by a full-service organic coffee program, freshly made pastries and bread, natural wines and specialty retail products. All menu items are completely free from gluten, dairy, refined sugars, peanuts, GMOs and gums, according to Vibrant.

A portion of the café’s revenue goes toward the conservancy's efforts to maintain and preserve the park.

The space was designed by Houston-based Schaum Architects to reflect the natural aesthetic of the park. Pin Oak Interests and Tellepsen, which are both based in Houston, oversaw the build-out. No brokers were involved in the lease. However, a spokesperson said the conservancy and Vibrant worked with their respective legal counsels. The conservancy also engaged Houston-based A la Carte Food and Beverage Consultants, which has worked on other park projects, to craft the lease agreement.

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https://realtynewsreport.com/hermann...vamp-launches/

Hermann Park Revamp Launches
by Realty News Report
April 23, 2024

HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Following a massive two-year makeover and re-imagining of public space, The Commons at Hermann Park has opened on 26 much improved acres within the city’s 445-acre park near Texas Medical Center, Rice University and the Museum District.

As both a destination geared to all ages and a gateway into Hermann Park on its southwest corner, the new venue brings a plethora of playscapes, playful diversions – plus ample stroller parking, hangout space and a six-acre Welcome Garden of peaceful respite geared to nearby patients and healthcare workers.

In addition to creating imaginative play landscapes, the project also transformed the park’s nearby natural habitat, adding 200,000 new plants and trees plus a section for crop rotation that will restore the soil.

A cafe will join reboot’s amenities later this summer.

The Commons is part of Hermann Park Conservancy’s 20-year master plan by Marlon Blackwell Architects with landscape architects Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.

Formerly the Site was what project materials described the original site as “under-utilized and virtually ignored by the public, creating congestion and over-utilization in other parts of the park.”

That was before the recently completed revitalization.

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https://cw39.com/news/local/houston-...-gem-for-dogs/

Houston park voted a ‘hidden gem’ for dogs
by: Julianna Russ

Posted: Apr 10, 2024 / 10:44 AM CDT
Updated: Apr 11, 2024 / 12:56 PM CDT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Houston, Austin and Dallas have new bragging rights in the Lone Star State following a survey searching for hidden gem dog parks in the United States.

Technobark, a company that writes about pet technology and gadgets, surveyed 3,000 dog owners across the country and released a list of the top 120 Hidden Gem Dog Parks. On that list were three Texas dog parks that were voted the best “hidden gems” in the state.

“Each park to make our ranking is a paw-printed pathway to delight and discovery,” said Gary Nealon of Technobark.com. “The best treasures are often found off the beaten path, so we hope our study helps dog owners to sniff out new adventures and create unforgettable memories with their furry friends.”

In Texas, coming in at No. 26 was Eisenhower Park in Houston. The park offers an off-leash area that provides dogs with plenty of space to romp and socialize with grassy fields and shade trees, according to the survey.

“Eisenhower Park also features walking trails and scenic views, providing a serene setting for dogs and their owners to enjoy outdoor recreation,” Technobark said.

The Austin and Dallas parks came in at #35 & #49 respectively.

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https://www.houstonchronicle.com/new...s-19403837.php

Catfish released in the Houston-area, other Texas cities lakes for residents to catch

By Octavia Johnson,
Staff writer
April 17, 2024

Thousands of catfish will be restocked biweekly in 18 Texas lakes, including four in the Houston area, to encourage fishing in urban and suburban places, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Through the Neighborhood Fishin' program, channel catfish were restocked in four Houston area neighborhoods, five Dallas-Fort Worth area neighborhoods, two in Austin and San Antonio, and one in Amarillo, College Station, San Angelo, Waco and Wichita Falls, a department news release said.

Houstonians can fish for catfish in lakes at Mary Jo Peckham Park in Katy, Herman Little Park in Spring, Burke Crenshaw Park in Pasadena and Community Park Lake in Missouri City.