Our Work

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OUR WORK

Getting people outside is important work, and the spaces that we shape go on to shape us.

We believe that in Buffalo Bayou, we should see an authentic reflection of the people and potential along its banks. Our commitment is to create places we can take pleasure and pride in, feel welcome and safe, and embody the ideas and interests of all those they serve. Our work aims to affect positive social, economic, and environmental change.

WE Believe public spaces are essential to the vitality and resiliency of cities.

WE Believe Buffalo Bayou and its surrounding landscapes, which are ecologically important and vulnerable, should be protected and maintained.

WE Believe all people should have equitable access to vibrant, safe, and inclusive spaces.

WE Believe people’s lives are enriched when they have individual and shared experiences outdoors.

Accomplishments

TIMELINE
AWARDS
2024

Development of Distinction: Moonshot Award for Buffalo Bayou East

ULI Houston
2023

Program Performance for Buffalo Bayou Partnership Clean & Green Program

Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Awards
2019

2019 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence Silver Medalist (Buffalo Bayou Park)

BRUNER FOUNDATION
2017

Landscape Architecture/Large Scale Landscape Projects (Buffalo Bayou Park),

THE AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE PRIZE

Mayor’s Proud Partner Award (Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park),

KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL

Development of Distinction – Urban Open Space (Buffalo Bayou Park)

URBAN LAND INSTITUTE

CODA Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)

CODAWORX

2017 Grand Excalibur Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)

PRSA HOUSTON

2017 Global Award for Excellence (Buffalo Bayou Park)

URBAN LAND INSTITUTE

2017 Design Award

TEXAS SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS

Design Award – Renovation/Restoration (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)

AIA AUSTIN

Landmark of Distinction in the Historic Renovation category (Sunset Coffee Building)

HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL

Honor Award in Design Realized (Buffalo Bayou Park)

ASLA TEXAS CHAPTER

On-the-Ground Project Over $500,000 (Buffalo Bayou Park)

HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL PARKS AND NATURAL AREA
2016

Excellence on the Waterfront (Buffalo Bayou Park)

WATERFRONT CENTER

Design Award – Urban Design and Architecture Under 50,000 Square Feet (Buffalo Bayou Park)

AIA HOUSTON

Mayor’s Proud Partner Award (Buffalo Bayou Park)

KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL

4th Annual Best of Design Award – Civic Institution Category (Buffalo Bayou Park)

ARCHITECT’S NEWSPAPER

Arbor Award (Buffalo Bayou Park)

TREES FOR HOUSTON

Landmark Award, “Community Impact” (Buffalo Bayou Park)

HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL

Venues and Parks – Marketer of the Year (Buffalo Bayou Partnership)

AMERICAN MARKETING ASSOCIATION

Sanctioned Event of the Year (Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta)

AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION

Mayor’s Proud Partner Award (TIGER Trail – Smith to Milam streets)

KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL
2015

Silver Excalibur Award for Newsletters

PRSA HOUSTON

Community Pillar Award

PRESERVATION HOUSTON

Wild Partners Award: Get Out Here Steering Committee

HOUSTON WILDERNESS

Award of Excellence in Planning and Analysis (Buffalo Bayou Park)

ASLA TEXAS CHAPTER

Houston Epic Award – Public Green Space Award (Buffalo Bayou Park)

PAPERCITY

Excalibur Award (Buffalo Bayou Partnership)

PUBLIC RELATIONS SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Design Award – Renovation/Restoration (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)

AIA HOUSTON

Rehab and Remodeling Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)

SOCIETY OF AMERICAN REGISTERED ARCHITECTS (SARA)

Chapter Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)

INTERNATIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN ASSOCIATION TX/OK CHAPTER

Interiors Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)

CONTRACT MAGAZINE

4th Annual Best of Design Award – Adaptive Reuse Category (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)

ARCHITECT’S NEWSPAPER

Good Brick Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)

PRESERVATION HOUSTON

Best of Year Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)

INTERIOR DESIGN MAGAZINE
2014

Proud Partners Award: Planting on the Parkway

KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL

Catalyst Award Finalist

HOUSTON TOMORROW
2013

Historic Preservation Recognition Award

THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Best of Houston: Best Place to Canoe

HOUSTON PRESS
2012

Great Places in America: Public Spaces

AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION

Civic Vision Award

AIA HOUSTON
2011

Zone Civic Improvements Commendation

THE GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA ZONE IX

Parks and Natural Areas Award

HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL
2010

Proud Partners Award: Buffalo Bend Nature Park

KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL
2009

Award in Excellence in General Design

ASLA

Founders’ Award

CITIZENS’ ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION
2008

Development of Distinction Award

URBAN LAND INSTITUTE HOUSTON

Scenic Star Award

SCENIC HOUSTON

Proud Partners Award: KBR Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou

KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL

Proud Partners Award: Clean & Green Program

KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL
2007

Award for Excellence: The America’s Finalist

URBAN LAND INSTITUTE

Award of Excellence

ASLA

Landmark Award—Best Community Impact

HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL

Landmark Award—Public/Private Partnership Project

HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL

Synergy Award

CITIZENS’ ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION

Synergy Award

THE PARK PEOPLE

Best Practice Award

HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL

Proud Partners Award: Adopt-a-Spot Program

KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL
2006

Excellence on the Waterfront Honor Award

THE WATERFRONT CENTER

The Allen Award for Civic Enhancement

CENTRAL HOUSTON, INC.

Quality of Life Bayou Beautification Award

GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP

Honor Award—Regional Best Practices for Parks and Natural Areas

HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL

Proud Partners Award: Sabine Promenade

KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL
2005

Proud Partners Award: Tapley Tributary Restoration

Keep Houston Beautiful
2004

Gulf Guardian Award

EPA’S GULF OF MEXICO PROGRAM

Proud Partners Award: Mighty Tidy

KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL
2003

Analysis & Planning Merit Award

ASLA

Citation of Honor

TEXAS SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS/AIA

Citation of Honor

AIA HOUSTON

Synergy Award

CITIZENS’ ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION

Heart of the City Award

DOWNTOWN HOUSTON ASSOCIATION
2002

Excellence on the Waterfront Honor Award

THE WATERFRONT CENTER

Landmark Award—Quality of Life

HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL AND STEWART TITLE
1999

Excellence on the Waterfront Honor Award

THE WATERFRONT CENTER
1998

Highest Honor for Enhancing Public Spaces

AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION, HOUSTON

Proud Partners Award: Sesquicentennial Park Phase II

KEEP HOUSTON BEAUTIFUL
1994

Preservation Planning Award

GREATER HOUSTON PRESERVATION ALLIANCE
1993

Urban Design and Planning Honor Award

AIA HOUTSTON
1989

Urban Design Award

AIA HOUSTON

For more than 30 years, Buffalo Bayou Partnership has been leading the transformation, activation, and ongoing stewardship of Buffalo Bayou.

Buffalo Bayou and Beyond, the organization’s visionary master plan issued in 2002, has been our guide in creating and stewarding projects that serve multiple purposes — recreation, flood management, and ecosystem restoration. With our most recent planning effort, the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan, we will continue delivering spaces that are not just used but informed by the public.

View 2019 Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan

Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates

View 2002 Master Plan

Thompson Design Group-Boston

Ongoing Programs

Waterway Cleanup
Waterway Cleanup
Waterway Cleanup

BBP’s Clean & Green Program is critical to protecting Buffalo Bayou and its surrounding landscapes, which are ecologically important and vulnerable. Each year, our team removes thousands of cubic yards of trash and debris from the waterway.

Learn more

Conservation & Maintenance
Conservation & Maintenance
Conservation & Maintenance

Providing exceptional care of the parks and trails developed by our organization, including Buffalo Bayou Park, is one of BBP’s most important responsibilities. Our conservation work is focused on maintaining native landscaping and healthy habitats for the wildlife that calls Buffalo Bayou home.

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Public Art
Public Art
Public Art

Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s public art program includes iconic, permanent works as well as temporary, site-specific projects that respond to the bayou’s unique features. Many of these are part of the City of Houston’s Civic Art Collection and others are special commissions made possible by BBP and collaborators. All of these artworks aim to highlight Houston’s history and culture, celebrate nature, and engage our many communities. Each work has a story and is an integral part of life along the bayou. 

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Community Engagement
Community Engagement
Community Engagement

Our organization is committed to working together with the communities we serve. From the multiple years of meetings to receive input on the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan to the ongoing programs that reflect and engage diverse populations along the bayou, community is at the heart of what we do. Our full-time Community Engagement Manager demonstrates daily our organization’s dedication to listening, learning, and applying our lessons to the spaces we shape.

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