HOUSTON, Texas (July 24, 2024) – Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) has begun construction on trail links that are essential to realizing its vision of a connected network along Houston’s historic waterway. Following the 2022 announcement of a monumental public-private partnership anchored by a catalyst $100 million gift from the Kinder Foundation, BBP set out to work on implementation of the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan. The plan will bring parks, trails, bridges, affordable housing, and unique cultural spaces to the Greater East End and Fifth Ward neighborhoods, yielding new public green spaces and enhanced connectivity for all of Houston.

Buffalo Bayou’s banks east of downtown are lined with a patchwork of existing hike and bike trails, separated by stretches of inaccessible, unimproved, or non-existent segments. With a vision for creating a network that allows for ease of movement along the waterway and into adjacent neighborhoods, BBP has engaged in decades of acquiring land, securing property easements, and collaborating on innovative design work. Now, the results of these efforts are coming to fruition.

The Downtown Gateway Trail is a new link that will span from east of US 59 to Jensen Drive on the north bank, connecting to the segment from Jensen Drive to Meadows Street which was recently completed by Midway and the City of Houston. Another trail project will be on the south bank stretching from Jensen Drive to Tony Marron Park. These new trail segments demonstrate the design, safety, and accessibility standards that will be followed throughout the entire area: 13- to 15-foot-wide multi-use trails, benches, wayfinding signage, and BBP’s signature Lunar Cycle Lighting. The Wortham Foundation, one of BBP’s long-standing donors, provided a generous $5 million grant in support of these critical trail links that will become the backbone of the entire Buffalo Bayou East area.

In the coming months, BBP will begin construction on several additional trail segments, some of which will necessitate closures of existing segments (see illustration). Additionally, construction of two pedestrian bayou-crossing bridges will commence within the next few years, further linking neighborhoods to each other and to the waterfront. The first bridge will connect Tony Marron Park on the south bank with Japhet Creek Park on the north, and the second will be located near Gregg Street on the north bank and Velasco Street on the south. Several major destinations from the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan are under construction as well.

“We are excited to break ground on this transformational trail and bridge network,” said Anne Olson, President of Buffalo Bayou Partnership. “Each segment BBP addresses is part of a larger picture: one of greater connectivity and accessibility along Houston’s natural waterway for all to enjoy. We look forward to these banks becoming amenities for East End and Fifth Ward residents, as well as those seeking recreation and increased access to nature.”

More details about these and other projects will be provided at “Branching Out: Buffalo Bayou East Community Update,” an event focused on current and future activities related to the unfolding master plan. The Community Update will take place on the evening of Wednesday, August 28 at BakerRipley in the East End. More information will be posted at buffalobayou.org in late July.

About Buffalo Bayou Partnership

Established in 1986, Buffalo Bayou Partnership is the non-profit organization creating and stewarding welcoming parks, trails, and unique spaces, connecting Houstonians with the city’s most significant natural waterway. The organization’s geographic focus is the 10-square mile stretch of the bayou that flows from Shepherd Drive, through the heart of downtown into the East End, and on to the Port of Houston Turning Basin. In addition to spearheading award-winning green spaces such as Buffalo Bayou Park, BBP also removes trash from the waterway and activates the bayou through unique programs, public art, volunteer events, and recreational opportunities that enrich the quality of life in Houston.

About the Buffalo Bayou East 10-Year Plan

By 2032, Buffalo Bayou Partnership and its partners will realize the Buffalo Bayou East 10-Year Plan, bringing parks, trails, bayou-crossing bridges, affordable housing, cultural destinations, and infrastructure improvements to the Greater East End and Fifth Ward. This visionary plan is made possible by a $100 million catalyst gift from the Kinder Foundation to Buffalo Bayou Partnership, which leveraged $24.3 million from Harris County, $83.5 million from the City of Houston including funds from Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ) #23 and #18, and $19.1 million in federal housing tax credits. Buffalo Bayou Partnership continues to raise the remaining funds needed to complete the plan.