News

Transformational donation will unlock an additional $210M in public and private investments.  

HOUSTON, TX (Updated September 28, 2022) – Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) announced Monday the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan will become a reality thanks to a historic public-private partnership anchored by a $100 million gift from Kinder Foundation, which is leveraging another $210 million of public and private investments. This visionary plan integrates new bayou parks, trails, housing, cultural destinations, and infrastructure improvements into the Greater East End and Fifth Ward neighborhoods.

The transformational gift from the Kinder Foundation represents approximately one-third of the $310 million total investment needed to realize the first 10 years of the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan. This donation enables BBP to deliver key park, green space, and trail project components of this 10-Year Plan, as well as provide for the long-term care of these projects.

Catalyst Gift Serves as Cornerstone for Public-Private Funding of 10-Year Plan

Funding for delivery of the Buffalo Bayou East 10-Year Plan is a premiere example of public and private entities working together to provide equitable green space for all. Kinder Foundation’s $100 million gift, combined with approximately $37 million already raised by BBP, served as the catalyst to secure significant public funds from the City of Houston ($83.5 million), and Harris County ($24 million), as well as $14 million in federal housing tax credits. BBP will continue to raise the remaining private funds needed to complete the 10-Year Plan, with a goal of raising an additional $46 million by 2031. The Kinder Foundation’s $100 million gift is the largest single donation in Houston parks history.

Community-Focused Master Plan Highlights History of Buffalo Bayou East

In 2019, building on its legacy of creating award-winning urban green spaces, BBP unveiled a Master Plan for Buffalo Bayou East, which encompasses the four-mile stretch of the bayou from US 59 to the Port of Houston Turning Basin. With significant community input over a two-year period, the core principles of authenticity, inclusivity, connectivity, and resiliency emerged to guide the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan. The plan envisions parks and destinations that reflect the cultural and industrial legacies of Buffalo Bayou East, while simultaneously ensuring that these spaces welcome long-time residents, and connect neighborhoods to the waterfront.  

“Buffalo Bayou Partnership is honored that the Kinder Foundation is entrusting our organization to steward this extraordinary gift,” says Anne Olson, Buffalo Bayou Partnership President. “This plan is not only about parks and trails – it is a comprehensive community development plan for a part of town that has not seen this level of investment before. The cultural destinations, infrastructure improvements, and connectivity in Buffalo Bayou East came directly from the input we received from the East End and Fifth Ward communities. We are grateful to the Kinder Foundation as well as the City and County for joining together with us to make the communities’ vision a reality.”

Kinder Foundation Responds to Visionary Plan

The Kinder Foundation was inspired by the Master Plan’s commitment to providing accessible park space for all Houstonians. With new and improved waterfront trails, expanded and enhanced parks and open spaces, new bridges and boat landings, transformation of existing industrial relics into community event spaces, a mixed-income housing project, and infrastructure enhancements, the Master Plan reflects a vision to extend the natural beauty of Buffalo Bayou into surrounding communities. The plan will also reunite the Greater East End and Fifth Ward neighborhoods, which have long been separated from the bayou and one another, and provide connectivity to Houston’s regional trail network.

“There is a rich history and a valued culture along Buffalo Bayou east of downtown, and Buffalo Bayou Partnership is to be commended on the decades spent in the community laying the groundwork for this plan,” stated Rich Kinder, Chairman, Kinder Foundation. “The 10-Year Plan is in good hands under the direction of Buffalo Bayou Partnership.”

Kinder Foundation’s gift to Buffalo Bayou East is its second transformational gift to Buffalo Bayou Partnership. In 2010, the foundation served as the catalyst funder with a grant of $30 million for improvements to the existing 160-acre, 2.3 mile stretch of Buffalo Bayou Park from Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street.

Major Components of the Plan will be Realized Over the Next Decade

As part of the 10-Year Plan, new trail links will be built, and existing segments will receive upgrades, reconstruction, and bank stabilization. This will extend the system from the downtown area just east of US 59 to Jensen Drive on the north bank, where the trail will connect to other trails being developed as part of the East River project, and ultimately to Japhet Creek.  On the south bank, BBP’s trails will extend from just east of US 59 to Lockwood Drive.

This plan also includes expansion of the existing Tony Marron Park – a 19-acre City of Houston park on the south bank of Buffalo Bayou – to nearly 40 acres. The newly enhanced park will serve as the open space anchor for Buffalo Bayou East, providing residents and visitors with a wide range of activities, including improved sports fields, a boat launch, an expansive nature play area, wildflower meadows, bayou lawns, a barbeque plaza, and spaces for community events. The park will also be home to a central maintenance facility that will house park operations for the entire Buffalo Bayou East area, along with BBP’s waterway cleanup operation.

On the north side of Buffalo Bayou, across from Tony Marron Park, is Japhet Creek, a tributary stretching deep into the Fifth Ward. As part of the 10-Year Plan, a restored and more accessible Japhet Creek will provide Fifth Ward residents with improved trails, interpretive signage, site furnishings, and wildflower and native grass plantings. Additionally, two new pedestrian bridges will link Fifth Ward to the trail system: one unifying Tony Marron Park and Japhet Creek, and a second connecting trails and Gregg Street on the north bank to the trails and Velasco Street on the south.

Another project in the 10-Year Plan is the repurposing of a former barge terminal, on a historic oxbow known as Turkey Bend, into a waterfront recreational and cultural hub. The existing site includes an expansive wharf, large, covered warehouse, and a 50,000 square-foot building facing Navigation Boulevard which will house the City’s Hispanic History Research Center (HHRC) and Archives. The Master Plan envisions performances, public art, and boating activities at this unique destination. 

Inclusive Revitalization and Community Building

Throughout the Master Plan’s community engagement process, neighborhood residents voiced their need for affordable housing. Responding to this need, BBP is devoting 13 acres of an overall 18-acre property to develop a mixed-income housing project and green space amenities.  Located on the south bank of the bayou along Lockwood Drive, the development is slated to include multi-family apartments, townhomes, and single-family residences adjacent to over six acres of new parks and trails. Partnering with Brinshore, a Chicago-based affordable housing developer, BBP has been awarded $24 million in 9% federal tax credits and Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant financing for Phase I of the project, which consists of 80 multi-family units.  BBP hopes to announce future phases of the affordable housing development soon.

Commitment to Equity Includes Quality Maintenance

BBP will assume maintenance and operations of 10-Year Plan projects as they are completed. As a sustainable and comprehensive funding strategy for maintenance is critical, the Kinder Foundation will allocate $11 million of its grant and BBP will raise an additional $2.5 million as part of its overall fundraising efforts for a maintenance endowment. The City of Houston and Harris County are also providing ongoing annual funding for maintenance. Green spaces east of downtown will be maintained at the same level of quality as Buffalo Bayou Park which is also overseen by BBP.

“The City of Houston is grateful to the Kinder Foundation for this generous investment that will accelerate the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan. The visionary plan will enhance our community and serve as a thriving and welcoming destination for Houstonians and visitors. Public-private partnerships are critically important because there are never enough public funds to address infrastructure and quality of life issues. By working together, we can make a meaningful and enduring impact on the lives of every Houstonian,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “This gift is especially noteworthy as it touches on two of the city’s underserved communities – the Fifth Ward and East End. Providing and enhancing access from these communities to Buffalo Bayou is particularly important to the city.”

“It’s not an overstatement to say this is one of the more exciting developments in the history of the City of Houston and Harris County metro area,” said Harris County Precinct Two Commissioner Adrian Garcia. “The Buffalo Bayou East trails will revitalize and reconnect historic neighborhoods, while also allowing both residents and visitors to enjoy world-class recreational activities.  Lastly, it’s fitting that these trails provide an important connection to the new Joe Campos Torres Plaza in downtown.  Given that Buffalo Bayou was where Campos Torres’ body was unceremoniously dumped decades ago in a grave injustice, the new Buffalo Bayou East trails represent a move to a new, fairer future in Harris County.”

“Parks and quality greenspaces are essential for all communities, no matter what zip code you come from. They improve community health, build social connections, and expand environmental safeguards,” said Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis. “That’s why I’m so proud of Harris County Precinct One’s investment in the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan, a transformational project for communities of color along Buffalo Bayou who lack access to quality greenspaces. Thank you to the Buffalo Bayou Partnership and all involved for working to make this incredible vision a reality.”

Over and above the City and County funds committed to the Buffalo Bayou East project, $1.5 million in federal dollars are coming to the bayou’s east sector through the efforts of U.S. Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee and Sylvia Garcia.

“I have long supported Buffalo Bayou’s revitalization and my commitment continues,” said Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. “The $750,000 community project funding that I have successfully secured for the Buffalo Bayou East project will help restore Japhet Creek, the historic tributary that connects the bayou’s east sector up into the Fifth Ward neighborhood. Once completed, a nature trail along the creek will connect Japhet Creek Park, a green space refuge along Clinton Drive, to Tony Marron Park via a pedestrian bridge as well as the bayou trail system, thereby giving Fifth Ward residents direct access to the entire Buffalo Bayou East network of destinations.”

“Green space is the great equalizer, a place where all families can gather. The west side has Memorial, downtown has Discovery Green, and now the East End gets a world-class park of its own. I’ve strongly supported Buffalo Bayou and its parks and trails for several years. Tony Marron Park and Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park are two green space projects that I’m particularly proud to have helped develop,” said Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. “Most recently, I was successful in championing federal funding in the House-passed FY23 Appropriations Bill Package for the realignment of Navigation Boulevard. This important community project is a component of the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan. This will provide a key connection from one of the East End’s major thoroughfares to the bayou.”

Kinder Foundation’s Commitment to Houston’s Green Space

The Kinder Foundation’s transformational gift builds upon an impactful history of grants to parks and green space which includes Memorial Park, Discovery Green, Buffalo Bayou Park, Bayou Greenways, Emancipation Park, SPARK, and Willow Waterhole.  Kinder Foundation’s historic $100 million solidifies its legacy as a steward of Houston’s urban green spaces.  BBP’s development of the 10-Year Plan was also made possible by the early support of The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Cullen Foundation, Garver/Black/Hilyard Family Foundation, Houston Endowment, The Powell Foundation, The Wortham Foundation, and other generous donors.

Realizing the Plan

BBP’s implementation of the 10-Year Plan will be overseen by the Buffalo Bayou East Standards Committee comprised of representatives from BBP, the City of Houston, Harris County, and Kinder Foundation. Several members will be stakeholders from the Greater East End and Fifth Ward communities. Additionally, a neighborhood stakeholder committee will provide ongoing input to BBP and the project teams as they design and create these spaces.

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ABOUT BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP

Established in 1986, Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) creates and stewards welcoming parks, trails, and unique spaces, connecting Houstonians with the city’s most significant natural waterway. The non-profit 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. Thanks to the generous support of foundations, corporations, individuals and government agencies, BBP has implemented more than $250 million in improvements for the redevelopment and stewardship of the waterfront – spearheading award-winning projects such as Buffalo Bayou Park, protecting land for future parks and green space, constructing hike and bike trails, and operating comprehensive cleanup and maintenance programs. Buffalo Bayou Partnership also activates the waterway through pedestrian, boating and biking amenities; volunteer activities; public art; and wide-ranging tours and programs that engage tens of thousands of visitors each year. To stay up to date on project updates, visit www.buffalobayou.org and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT KINDER FOUNDATION

The Kinder Foundation, a family foundation established in 1997 by Rich and Nancy Kinder of Houston, Texas, provides transformational grants that impact urban green space, education, and quality of life. More at www.kinderfoundation.org

The Bayou-Vac is Faster and More Efficient

Houston, TX – Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP), the non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing and transforming Houston’s most significant natural waterway, will unveil its new Bayou-Vac on August 3. Years in the making, the custom-designed and fabricated boat provides a substantial boost to BBP’s bayou cleanup operation, known as the Clean & Green Program.

For more than 20 years, BBP has employed full-time staff to travel daily up and down 14 miles of the bayou cleaning up trash and debris. The work is endless, and a rain event only exacerbates the relentless flow of trash from Houston’s roads and freeways into its storm drains, and then on to the bayou, Galveston Bay, and ultimately, the Gulf of Mexico. To date, BBP’s team has used a custom boat designed and constructed by engineer and longtime BBP Board Member, Mike Garver, to vacuum trash and debris from the bayou and haul it off to a dumpster. Using the boat’s innovative technology, the Clean & Green team has been able to remove approximately 2,000 cubic yards of trash annually, the equivalent of about 167 commercial dump trucks.

The new Bayou-Vac is BBP’s second vacuum vessel. Also created by Garver, the Bayou-Vac incorporates significant improvements which will make the Clean & Green operation far more effective.

“The Bayou-Vac is a game changer for our program,” said BBP Field Operations Manager, Robby Robinson. “Once up and running, we foresee being able to gain an entire workday worth of time for every offload, making us twice as efficient at clearing trash from the bayou.”

Several improvements have been made to the second-generation Bayou-Vac. Its removable dumpsters can be swapped out, so workers no longer need to double handle trash and debris. With the old boat, floating booms were used to collect trash that would be vacuumed into a built-in, permanent container. When the boat’s container was full, workers used a land-based vacuum unit to blow material into a dumpster on shore. The new boat’s removable containers slide off and attach to a dump truck, while an additional container is loaded onto the Bayou-Vac to continue the day’s collection.

Another significant new feature of the Bayou-Vac is a moveable, hydraulic arm attached to the bow of the vessel. This arm supports the considerable weight of the 16-foot vacuum hose. In the prior Bio-Vac, the hose was supported and operated manually, requiring a high level of exertion from workers. The hydraulic arm also allows access a few feet up the banks along the bayou shoreline where trash and debris frequently collect during rain events when the water rises. This was not possible with the former boat.

“BBP deeply appreciates the ingenuity of our board member Mike Garver and the generosity of Sis and Hasty Johnson and the Kinder Foundation, the funders of the new Bayou-Vac,” said BBP President, Anne Olson. “We also thank the Harris County Flood Control District and Port Houston for their longtime support of BBP’s Clean & Green Program.”

The Bayou-Vac will be in full operation in early August 2022, enabling Houstonians to enjoy a cleaner Buffalo Bayou for years to come.

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Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) is the non-profit organization transforming and revitalizing Buffalo Bayou, Houston’s most significant natural resource. 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. BBP creates and cares for inclusive public spaces such as Buffalo Bayou Park, constructs hike and bike trails, and removes trash from the waterway. BBP also activates the bayou through unique programs, public art, volunteer events, and recreational opportunities that enrich the quality of life in Houston. www.buffalobayou.org

Facebook: @BuffaloBayou, Instagram: @BuffaloBayou, Twitter: @BuffaloBayou

BBP’s Clean & Green program has been operating for more than 20 years on Buffalo Bayou. Its function is to collect litter and debris from the waterway using a custom-built industrial strength vacuum boat that removes floatable trash from the water. The program operates five days a week and is directed by BBP’s Field Operations staff assisted by community service workers. Crews work on land, but mostly by boat, to clean storm drains, banks, and other natural collection areas. For more efficient collection, BBP utilizes collection booms that are strategically placed on Buffalo Bayou and neighboring bayous. BBP’s Clean & Green program is supported by Port Houston and Harris County Flood Control District. The new Bayou-Vac is generously supported by Sis and Hasty Johnson and the Kinder Foundation.

Houston, TX – Houston Parks Board and Buffalo Bayou Partnership, in cooperation with the Downtown Redevelopment Authority and the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department, have completed construction on a new park and 0.4-mile hike and bike trail along Buffalo Bayou from Fannin Street to Austin Street. The trail opened to the public on Monday, June 13.

Weaving under and through buildings adjacent to the waterfront just east of Allen’s Landing, this new addition represents a key connection between downtown and points east, furthering Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s goal to create connectivity all the way from Buffalo Bayou Park to the Port of Houston Turning Basin. It also aligns with Houston Parks Board’s goal to create an interconnected system of parks and trails across Houston through Bayou Greenways.

Key facts:

• The new trail extends east from Allen’s Landing Park under the Fannin Street Bridge and up the slope along Commerce Street before passing under the San Jacinto Bridge to the Wilson Building on Commerce Street.

• The trail continues through the second basement level of the Wilson Building and under the Harris County Sheriff’s Inmate Processing Center.

• From there, the trail opens to a new park on former parking lots along the bayou on either side of Austin Street. As part of the park, the Austin Street cul-de-sac was converted into a public plaza, which is now the Joe Campos Torres Memorial Plaza.

• Current trail users may now travel from Buffalo Bayou Park to Austin Street and continue at street level via the Austin Street Corridor bike path. Eventually, the waterfront trail will continue east along Buffalo Bayou.

• The total cost of the project is nearly $8.7 million. Buffalo Bayou Partnership project donors are Barbara and the late Gerald Hines, Wendy and Jeff Hines, and Sis and Hasty Johnson. Partner funding comes from the Downtown Redevelopment Authority, a public entity that facilitates positive economic development within downtown’s TIRZ #3 boundaries, and Bayou Greenways, a public-private partnership between Houston Parks Board and the City of Houston through the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, with catalyst funding from the Kinder Foundation. 

• Buffalo Bayou Partnership will maintain the park and trail under contract with the Houston Parks Board as part of the Bayou Greenways maintenance agreement with the City of Houston.

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Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) is the non-profit organization transforming and revitalizing Buffalo Bayou, Houston’s most significant natural resource. 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. BBP creates and cares for inclusive public spaces such as Buffalo Bayou Park, constructs hike and bike trails, and removes trash from the waterway. BBP also activates the bayou through unique programs, public art, volunteer events, and recreational opportunities that enrich the quality of life in Houston. www.buffalobayou.org

Facebook: @BuffaloBayou

Instagram: @BuffaloBayou

Twitter: @BuffaloBayou

Houston Parks Board creates, improves, protects, and advocates for parks for everyone. Since 1976, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization has utilized public-private partnerships and its extensive philanthropic, government, and community relationships to provide equitable access to quality parks and green space to the Greater Houston region. In addition to leading the transformational Bayou Greenways initiative, Houston Parks Board cares for more than 2,600 acres of green space and supports park projects large and small. For more information on Bayou Greenways and Beyond the Bayous, visit www.houstonparksboard.org.

Facebook: @HoustonParksBoard

Instagram: @HoustonParksBoard

Twitter: @HouParksBoard

Houston Parks and Recreation Department (H.P.A.R.D.) stewards and manages 381 parks and over 39,501 acres of parkland and greenspace for the City of Houston and develops and implements recreational programming for citizens of all abilities. For more information on the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, call (832) 395-7022 or visit www.houstonparks.org.

Facebook: @HoustonParks&Rec

Instagram: @Houston_ParksRecreation

Twitter: @HPARD

New, multimedia art activation debuts on Buffalo Bayou East trails on April 2

Houston, TX – Night Light is a uniquely Houston evening of free video art along the waterfront. On April 2, Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Aurora Picture Show will present site-specific, large-scale video projections by a diverse lineup of local artists in three unique locations on a stretch of Buffalo Bayou East trails. Attendees can experience the artwork by traveling along the trails via bikes, on foot, or by other means while enjoying music, food, and goods from neighborhood vendors.

Julia Barbosa-Landois, Marcelese Cooper, and Input/Output are the artists included in the Night Light program. These local visionaries have created abstract and experimental works in direct response to three locations along the bayou, drawing upon the themes of water and industry. The event aims to welcome adjacent communities and the general public and celebrate these interesting – but often overlooked – sites along the Buffalo Bayou waterfront. The center of Night Light is Guadalupe Plaza (behind Talento Bilengue Houston), and other featured sites are the Gravel Silos and the underside of a freeway overpass.

The locations featured in Night Light are important landmarks in in BBP’s 2019 Master Plan, which details how the waterfront will be transformed throughout the Greater East End and Fifth Ward neighborhoods, stretching to the Port of Houston Turning Basin. These locations are part of a contiguous trail that will be revitalized with added green space, reimagined industrial sites, and vibrant gathering spaces for all Houstonians.

“We are thrilled to welcome community members to this free celebration on Buffalo Bayou,” said Karen Farber, BBP’s Vice President of External Affairs. “Night Light is an example of how we plan to activate the waterfront with exciting, unique art for all to experience and enjoy.”

Night Light is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.

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ABOUT BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP
Established in 1986, Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) is the non-profit transforming and revitalizing Buffalo Bayou, Houston’s most significant natural resource. 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 onto the Port of Houston Turning Basin. BBP creates and cares for inclusive public spaces such as Buffalo Bayou Park, constructs hike and bike trails, and removes trash from the waterway. Buffalo Bayou Partnership also activates the bayou through unique programs, public art, volunteer events and recreational opportunities that enrich the quality of life in Houston.

HOUSTON, TX – Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP), the nonprofit organization revitalizing and transforming Houston’s historic Buffalo Bayou, is pleased to announce that its current film and sound installation in the Cistern, Time No Longer, has received a prestigious award from CODAworx. The ninth annual, international CODAawards celebrate exemplary collaborations between art and design. Time No Longer received a high honor, being named one of the top four projects in the competitive Public Spaces category.

Time No Longer is artist Anri Sala’s innovative film and sound installation, commissioned by BBP for the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. The installation, designed to be viewed in 360-degrees, creates an other-worldly environment within this vast, subterranean space. Its film features a weathered turntable floating in a space station. It pays homage to Houston hero, astronaut Ronald McNair. Accompanying the film is a score adapted by renowned composer Olivier Goinard from Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time.

“We are delighted that Anri Sala’s creation has received this outstanding recognition,” said Karen Farber, BBP’s Vice President of External Affairs. “The Cistern is such a singular site for public art, and Sala’s awe-inspiring creation brings it alive for us all.”

The CODAawards received nearly 400 entries from 19 different countries representing nearly $500 million in artwork commissions. The winners exemplify the best of what can happen when artists and design professionals collaborate to create artful spaces in our built environment.

“The CODAawards recognize the importance of collaboration and honor the design and art professionals whose collective imaginations create the public and private spaces that inspire us,” said Toni Sikes, CEO of CODAworx.

The collaboration between art and industry transforms common spaces into spectacular ones. This excellence is reflected in the recipients of 2021 CODAawards, which will be featured in the November 2021 online issue of Interior Design Magazine and on CODAworx.com.

Time No Longer is on view in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern until December 12, 2021.

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About Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Established in 1986, Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) is the non-profit transforming and revitalizing Buffalo Bayou, Houston’s most significant natural resource. 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 onto the Port of Houston Turning Basin. BBP creates and cares for inclusive public spaces such as Buffalo Bayou Park, constructs hike and bike trails, and removes trash from the waterway. Buffalo Bayou Partnership also activates the bayou through unique programs, public art, volunteer events and recreational opportunities that enrich the quality of life in Houston.

HOUSTON—Discovery Green Conservancy® is partnering with Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Emancipation Park Conservancy this fall to celebrate the legacy and evolution of jazz in Houston with Jazzy Sundays in the Parks, a live music series made possible by the Kinder Foundation.

The series features free, family-friendly concerts every Sunday in September at Emancipation Park, every Sunday in October at Discovery Green and every Sunday in November at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park. Legendary jazz performers, such as Conrad Johnson and Jewel Brown, will be highlighted alongside up-and-coming artists, such as The Peterson Brothers. Each concert will be preceded by a free workshop at 3 p.m. where kids can learn about music and instruments in partnership with Da Camera and Young Audiences of Houston.

A bonus Series Spectacular concert will be headlined by acclaimed American gospel and R&B singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples with an opening performance by rising star and Kinder HSPVA graduate, Marcos Varela will be held at Discovery Green on Friday, October 15. Doors are at 6:30 p.m.

Performances begin at 7:30 p.m.

The Jazzy Sundays in the Parks collaboration was initially planned for Spring 2020 and announced in February 2020. All performances, including Mavis Staples, were then postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each park will follow local guidelines concerning COVID-19 protocols.

Jazzy Sundays Event Details

WHAT:       Mavis Staples Series Spectacular at Discovery Green

Friday, October 15

Doors at 6:30 p.m. Performance at 7:30 p.m. 1500 McKinney, Houston, TX 77010

(In the event of rain, the performance will be held at Wortham Center.)

September at Emancipation Park

Music workshops led by Young Audiences of Houston at 3 p.m. followed by concerts from 4–6 p.m.

Emancipation Park, 3018 Emancipation Avenue, Houston, TX 77010

www.epconservancy.org

Conrad Johnson Orchestra, Sunday, September 5, 2021

Diunna Greenleaf / Joe Carmouche, Sunday, September 12, 2021

Lavelle White, Sunday, September 19, 2021

Chubby Carrier, Sunday, September 26, 2021

October at Discovery Green

Workshops for young musicians featuring Sam Dinkins Dinky Drum Company at 3

p.m. followed by concerts from 4–6 p.m.

Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney Street, Houston, TX 77010 www.discoverygreen.com/jazzy

Raquel Cepeda, Sunday, October 3, 2021

José-Miguel Yamal & Phase I, Sunday, October 10, 2021

Vanguard Collective, Sunday, October 17, 2021

Corey Henry and the Treme Funktet, Sunday, October 24, 2021

Da Camera Young Artists, Sunday, October 31, 2021

November at Buffalo Bayou Park

Music workshops led by Young Audiences of Houston at 3 p.m. followed by concerts from 4–6 p.m.

The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX 77007 www.buffalobayou.org

David Caceres, Sunday, November 7, 2021

Jewel Brown, Sunday, November 14, 2021

The Peterson Brothers, Sunday, November 21, 2021

Crystal Thomas, Sunday, November 28, 2021

COST:            Admission is free

IMAGES & VIDEO:    https://discoverygreen.co/3zGOgYp

MORE:           Discovery Green: www.discoverygreen.com

Facebook: @DiscoveryGreenHouston Twitter: @DiscoveryGreen Instagram: @DiscoveryGreen

Buffalo Bayou Partnership www.buffalobayou.org Facebook: @BuffaloBayou Twitter: @BuffaloBayou Instagram: @BuffaloBayou

Emancipation Park Conservancy www.epconservancy.org Facebook: @EPConservancy Twitter: @EPConservancy Instagram: @EPConservancy

Long before the public launch of the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan (link), BBP has been active in neighborhoods east of downtown, engaging with community leaders and learning about how amenities such as trails and green space can serve neighborhood residents. Now, we are delighted to announce the hiring of Juan Antonio Sorto as BBP’s new full-time Community Engagement Manager.

Named “Houstonian of the Year” by the Houston Chronicle in 2013, Juan holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and a master’s degree from Texas Southern University. Currently, he is a doctoral candidate in Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University. Juan chairs the Houston Super Neighborhood Alliance and has volunteered with Houston Independent School District and Star of Hope. Much of his career has been spent as a community supervision officer at Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department. Juan has received numerous recognitions including a Shell Hurricane Harvey Heroes Award, a George and Barbara Bush Points of Light Award, a Houston Dynamo Charities Award, and TEA Heroes for Children Award. He contributes regularly to the Rice University Kinder Institute’s “Urban Edge” and other publications. December 15, 2020 was proclaimed by the City of Houston as Juan Antonio Sorto Day. See a special profile of Juan here.

At BBP, Juan will build and maintain relationships in neighborhoods along Buffalo Bayou, represent Buffalo Bayou Partnership in the community, and ensure that area residents have a voice in Buffalo Bayou East programs and initiatives.

Grant to accelerate transformative development for Buffalo Bayou East

Houston, Texas – December 9, 2020 – Houston Endowment announced today that it has granted $10 million to Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP). The grant will provide funds towards the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan to transform the waterway’s East Sector over the next 20 years with new bayou parks and trails, dynamic recreational and cultural destinations, as well as bikeways and “green fingers” into surrounding neighborhoods. In addition to extending the western network of Buffalo Bayou parks, trails and open space, the plan connects the historic Fifth Ward and Greater East End neighborhoods to the bayou and to each other. Development of the plan comes after nearly two years of engagement with residents throughout the area based on four core principles of authenticity, inclusivity, connectivity and resiliency.

“This project will play a major role in the City of Houston’s Complete Communities initiative, which seeks to improve neighborhoods so that all of Houston’s residents and business owners can have access to quality services and amenities,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “The grant from Houston Endowment is another exciting step forward in the creation of a more equitable city for all Houstonians. We are grateful to both Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Houston Endowment not only for their inclusive vision of a better Houston, but their commitment to making it a reality.”

Houston Endowment joins other foundations, corporations, individuals and government agencies that have enabled BBP to implement more than $200 million in improvements for the redevelopment and stewardship of the waterfront over the past 30 years. The $10 million grant from Houston Endowment will enable Buffalo Bayou Partnership to deliver initial Buffalo Bayou East improvements and build a strong foundation for future projects and initiatives that offer economic, social and environmental benefits for both residents of the Fifth Ward and Greater East End neighborhoods as well as the broader Houston community, including:

“The Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan is strategically aligned with Houston Endowment’s mission to work with others toward a vibrant community where all have the opportunity to thrive,” said Houston Endowment President and CEO Ann B. Stern. “We are pleased to support this work and to help set the effort in motion.”

“The Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan will transform the East Sector and over time, touch the lives of all Houstonians,” said BBP President Anne Olson. “It will pay tribute to Houston’s industrial roots, celebrate culturally rich neighborhoods, and serve as an important symbol for the city’s continuing commitment to accessible park space for all.”

“Fifth Ward Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 18 is proud to be working with BBP on this visionary East Sector Master Plan,” said Kathy Flanagan Payton, FWRA/TRIZ 18 Board Member. “These improvements provide greater access to the waterfront for Fifth Ward residents and help to enhance the neighborhood’s cultural legacy and sense of place.”

 In addition to new and improved waterfront trails and on-street bikeways, as well as hundreds of acres of new and improved parks, the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan project will include the creation of new boat landings and bridges; the development of a Downtown Gateway that will link northeastern downtown to the East Sector by utilizing green space and detention ponds; a 20-acre expansion of the City’s Tony Marron Park to act as an open space anchor; restoration of an urban creek that will connect the bayou to the historic Fifth Ward; the rehabilitation of BBP-owned industrial sites including Turkey Bend and the Lockwood Water Treatment Works; the creation of an eastern trailhead, linking the County’s Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park to the City’s Hidalgo Park; and the development of a mixed-income housing project at Lockwood Drive and the bayou.

About Houston Endowment

Established in 1937, Houston Endowment advances equity of opportunity for the people of Greater Houston and enhances the vibrancy of our community so that our region and its people thrive. In 2020, the Endowment will grant more than $80 million to the area in support of our community and advancing our mission. 

About Buffalo Bayou Partnership

Established in 1986, Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) is the non-profit transforming and revitalizing Buffalo Bayou, Houston’s most significant natural resource.  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 onto the Port of Houston Turning Basin.  Thanks to the generous support of foundations, corporations, individuals and government agencies, BBP has implemented more than $200 million in improvements for the redevelopment and stewardship of the waterfront – spearheading award-winning projects such as Buffalo Bayou Park, planning for new parks and green space east of downtown, constructing hike and bike trails, and operating comprehensive clean-up and maintenance programs. Buffalo Bayou Partnership also activates the waterway through pedestrian, boating and biking amenities; volunteer activities; and wide-ranging tours and programs that engage tens of thousands of visitors each year. 

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