Our Work
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
ULI Houston Development of Distinction Moonshot Award for Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan
Hosted Rachel Rossin Haha Real installation in the Cistern
Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Awards in Program Performance for Buffalo Bayou Partnership Clean & Green Program
Announced public-private partnership anchored by $100 million gift from the Kinder Foundation to realize Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan
Groundbreaking for Lockwood on Buffalo Bayou (Phase I)
Hosted Anri Sala Time No Longer installation in the Cistern
Completed downtown trail link
Received more than $17 million in grant funding to accelerate implementation of the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan
Launched the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan
Second site-specific art installation opened in the Cistern
Published the commemorative book, From Rendering to Reality: The Story of Buffalo Bayou Park
Joined the High Line Network as a founding member organization
Selected Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan consultant team and continued planning effort
Began large-scale clean up after Hurricane Harvey
Restoration of historic Sunset Coffee Building completed
TIGER trail completed
Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern opened to the public in May, and BBP launched the inaugural art installation in the space in December
Completed Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park
Completed and assumed full-scale maintenance and operation of Buffalo Bayou Park
Began Phase II of Buffalo Bend Nature Park
Co-sponsored Livable Centers study in the Fifth and Second Wards
Assumed maintenance and operation of Buffalo Bayou Park Phase I
Began Sunset Coffee Building restoration at Allen’s Landing
Began TIGER Trail construction (Franklin to Milam Streets)
Awarded Houston-Galveston Area Council Livable Centers Study Grant in partnership with Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation and Greater East End Management District
Completed construction of Buffalo Bayou Park Phase I
Launched Buffalo Bayou mobile application
Set attendance and fundraising records at Buffalo Bayou Ball, Buffalo Bayou Regatta and Bayou Bash
Began Buffalo Bayou Park construction
Additional Commerce Street land purchased for future flood management project
Buffalo Bayou Park Master Plan completed
Tri-Party agreement for Buffalo Bayou Park approved by Houston City Council and Harris County Commissioners Court
Second Commerce Street land purchased for future flood management project
Sandy Reed Memorial Trail reconstruction begins
Kinder Foundation awarded catalyst $30 million gift for Buffalo Bayou Park—Shepherd to Sabine
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department grant awarded for Buffalo Bend Nature Park Phase II
Allen’s Landing trail extension to Milam Street completed
Tapley Tributary enhancements completed
First Commerce Street land purchased for future flood management project
Buffalo Bend Nature Park Phase I completed
Clean & Green bayou cleanup program began
Sabine Promenade completed
Began Adopt-a-Spot program
Hosted the first Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou
Began Pontoon tour boat operation
Launched “Best of Buffalo Bayou” tour series (bat tours, history tours, birding and kayak tours)
First Buffalo Bayou Ball held
Land for Buffalo Bend Nature Park acquired
Began East End trail construction
Bayou Buddies young professionals group founded
Buffalo Bayou and Beyond Master Plan completed
Allen’s Landing Sunset Coffee Building acquired
Skimmer Boat clean-up program begins
Land acquisition program begins
Allen’s Landing Phase II completed
Downtown Sesquicentennial Park to UH-Downtown trail completed
Sesquicentennial Park Phase II completed
Allen’s Landing Phase I completed
First BBP Executive Director hired
Sesquicentennial Park Phase I completed
Buffalo Bayou Partnership founded under Central Houston
Development of Distinction: Moonshot Award for Buffalo Bayou East
Program Performance for Buffalo Bayou Partnership Clean & Green Program
2019 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence Silver Medalist (Buffalo Bayou Park)
Landscape Architecture/Large Scale Landscape Projects (Buffalo Bayou Park),
Mayor’s Proud Partner Award (Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park),
Development of Distinction – Urban Open Space (Buffalo Bayou Park)
CODA Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)
2017 Grand Excalibur Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)
2017 Global Award for Excellence (Buffalo Bayou Park)
2017 Design Award
Design Award – Renovation/Restoration (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)
Landmark of Distinction in the Historic Renovation category (Sunset Coffee Building)
Honor Award in Design Realized (Buffalo Bayou Park)
On-the-Ground Project Over $500,000 (Buffalo Bayou Park)
Excellence on the Waterfront (Buffalo Bayou Park)
Design Award – Urban Design and Architecture Under 50,000 Square Feet (Buffalo Bayou Park)
Mayor’s Proud Partner Award (Buffalo Bayou Park)
4th Annual Best of Design Award – Civic Institution Category (Buffalo Bayou Park)
Arbor Award (Buffalo Bayou Park)
Landmark Award, “Community Impact” (Buffalo Bayou Park)
Venues and Parks – Marketer of the Year (Buffalo Bayou Partnership)
Sanctioned Event of the Year (Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta)
Mayor’s Proud Partner Award (TIGER Trail – Smith to Milam streets)
Silver Excalibur Award for Newsletters
Community Pillar Award
Wild Partners Award: Get Out Here Steering Committee
Award of Excellence in Planning and Analysis (Buffalo Bayou Park)
Houston Epic Award – Public Green Space Award (Buffalo Bayou Park)
Excalibur Award (Buffalo Bayou Partnership)
Design Award – Renovation/Restoration (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)
Rehab and Remodeling Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)
Chapter Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)
Interiors Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)
4th Annual Best of Design Award – Adaptive Reuse Category (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)
Good Brick Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)
Best of Year Award (Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern)
Proud Partners Award: Planting on the Parkway
Catalyst Award Finalist
Historic Preservation Recognition Award
Best of Houston: Best Place to Canoe
Great Places in America: Public Spaces
Civic Vision Award
Zone Civic Improvements Commendation
Parks and Natural Areas Award
Proud Partners Award: Buffalo Bend Nature Park
Award in Excellence in General Design
Founders’ Award
Development of Distinction Award
Scenic Star Award
Proud Partners Award: KBR Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou
Proud Partners Award: Clean & Green Program
Award for Excellence: The America’s Finalist
Award of Excellence
Landmark Award—Best Community Impact
Landmark Award—Public/Private Partnership Project
Synergy Award
Synergy Award
Best Practice Award
Proud Partners Award: Adopt-a-Spot Program
Excellence on the Waterfront Honor Award
The Allen Award for Civic Enhancement
Quality of Life Bayou Beautification Award
Honor Award—Regional Best Practices for Parks and Natural Areas
Proud Partners Award: Sabine Promenade
Proud Partners Award: Tapley Tributary Restoration
Gulf Guardian Award
Proud Partners Award: Mighty Tidy
Analysis & Planning Merit Award
Citation of Honor
Citation of Honor
Synergy Award
Heart of the City Award
Excellence on the Waterfront Honor Award
Landmark Award—Quality of Life
Excellence on the Waterfront Honor Award
Highest Honor for Enhancing Public Spaces
Proud Partners Award: Sesquicentennial Park Phase II
Preservation Planning Award
Urban Design and Planning Honor Award
Urban Design Award
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
Thompson Design Group-Boston
Ongoing Programs
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.
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.
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.
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.