Buffalo Bayou Park

Buffalo Bayou Park

Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street, between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive

Open daily, lighted areas: 6:00 am – 11:00 pm; other areas: dawn to dusk

Wortham Insurance Visitor Center at The Water Works

105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX 77007

Hours: Open daily from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (and until 8:00 p.m. on Fridays)

Restroom Hours: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm

Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern

105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX 77007

Wednesday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Thursday – Sunday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Tickets must be purchased in advance. Click here for a complete tour schedule.

Johnny Steele Dog Park

2929 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019

Open daily, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm

FLORA Restaurant at Lost Lake and Frida Private Dining Room

Please visit the FLORA website for information and reservations

3422 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area

Open daily, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm

Lee & Joe Jamail Skatepark

103 Sabine Street, Houston, TX 77007

Open daily, 9:00 am – 10:00 pm

• Scooters and skateboards are prohibited.
• Glass containers are prohibited.
• Alcohol consumption is prohibited.
• Littering is prohibited; use trash receptacles.
• Hammocks are prohibited.
• No unauthorized sales activites.
• The use of barbeque grills is prohibited within park grounds.
• Motorized vehicles prohibited off roadways & beyond parking areas.
• Improperly parked vehicles will be towed.
• Two-hour parking for patrons only.
• Vending or sales prohibited without permit.
• Hunting or use of firearms is prohibited.
• Fishing is prohibited within the park. (Article II, Sec. 32-35)
• No smoking in city parks.
• Dogs are to remain on leash at all times. (Dog Park Rules & Regulations)
• Pet owners required to pick up after pets. (Ord. 2003-1275, Sec. 6-24)
• Plants & animals are protected – do not remove or disturb.
• Control noise levels – please respect others.
• Destroying public property is prohibited. (Title 19, Chapt. 191 of the Government Code of Texas)
• No swimming.

Questions or concerns – Dial 311
Emergencies – Dial 911

There are public parking areas available at Lost Lake, Eleanor Tinsley Park and The Water Works, as well as along Allen Parkway, Memorial Drive, and city streets surrounding Buffalo Bayou Park. When parking along city streets, please pay close attention to signage, be neighborly and use the pedestrian bridges to safely access the park. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

Restricted & Temporary Parking Options:

• City of Houston Lot H – Over 400 spaces available for public parking. Pricing may vary by day of the week. Buffalo Bayou Park trails can be accessed from Sabine Promenade.
• Parking on Allen Parkway – Parking is available 9 am – 7 pm Monday-Sunday. There are 140 parking spots between Sabine and Taft streets with pricing at $1 for 3-hours, 3-hour maximum. (including Saturday and Sunday).

Parking to view the Waugh Bridge Bat Colony:

Because there is limited parking along Allen Parkway, we recommend parking along the Memorial Drive area at Jackson Hill and Scotland Street.  Please refer to the map here.

Once parked, walk to the pedestrian bridge over Memorial Drive and continue south towards Allen Parkway, over Buffalo Bayou. Then head east towards Waugh Drive Bridge.

Visitors can rent bicycles, kayaks and canoes from Buffalo Bayou Park, weather permitting. Reservations can be made in-person or online. Please visit the concessionaires’ respective websites for more information about rentals and hours of operation.

• Bicycle rentals from Bike Barn at The Water Works (105 Sabine Street) and Houston BCycle (Houston Bike Share)
  
• Kayak/canoe rentals from Bayou City Adventures under Sabine Street Bridge

The Water Works

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The Water Works at Sabine Street is a major destination and park entry point made possible by reclaiming a four-acre abandoned City of Houston water system site. Atop a partially buried water reservoir is The Brown Foundation Lawn, a grassy plateau framed by trees with a stunning view of the downtown skyline. With the Hobby Family Pavilion, this elevated site is popular for performances and events. The Wortham Insurance Visitor Center and Terrace houses restrooms and a bike rental facility, while an entry court hosts food trucks on weekends. The Water Works has spaces available for event rentals. Find out more here.

The Cistern was one of the City of Houston’s first underground drinking-water reservoirs. Built in 1926, it provided decades of service until it was decommissioned in 2007 due to an irreparable leak. The 87,500-square-foot expanse includes 25-foot tall concrete columns set row upon row, hovering over two inches of water on the reservoir’s floor. Recognizing the significance of the highly unusual space and with generous support from The Brown Foundation, Buffalo Bayou Partnership repurposed the Cistern into a magnificent public space. In addition to tours highlighting the history and architecture of this unique industrial site, the Cistern houses periodic art installations.

Reservations required. Click here for complete tour schedule and to purchase tickets.

Buffalo Bayou Partnership is working with a committee of Houston-area arts professionals and community leaders to develop and guide programming for the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.  At this time, BBP is not accepting unsolicited ideas/proposals for programming of the Cistern.  Please join BBP’s email list to stay up to date on future plans.

Watch a 3-D flythrough of the Cistern captured by SmartGeometrics.

Lee & Joe Jamail Skatepark

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The Lee & Joe Jamail Skatepark is a 30,000 square-foot in-ground facility overlooking Buffalo Bayou. Skaters of all levels welcome. The park is free and open to the public. Helmets are required.

Skatepark Hours and Info

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

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Near The Water Works and the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark, the Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion is one of the park’s most popular destinations. Designed to inspire a love of nature within children, features of the play area include: a boulder rock scramble, a rolling lawn, a stream and waterfall, climbing logs and stones, and a 33-foot slide. The most compelling component is a tri-level tree house/boat deck with climbing net.

Parents have easy access to parking, restrooms, park staff and the option of renting the play area’s picnic pavilion for special events and birthday parties.

Eleanor Tinsley Park

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Named in honor of the late City Councilmember and civic activist, Eleanor Tinsley, this park is one of Houston’s most popular outdoor spaces for recreation and relaxation. Recent improvements include the signature lawn named the Bud Light Amphitheater, the open-air Nau Family Pavilion, and a trail providing a direct connection to Sabine Promenade. Other points of interest are: sand volleyball court, Eleanor Tinsley Garden and Jane Gregory Garden.

Tapley Tributary

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Late Houston landscape architect Charles Tapley designed this inspirational site in the late 1970s to feature a bayou tributary, riparian plantings, granite steps and seating areas. Recent improvements include a wetland, native Texas prairie and a footbridge. Besides being a place to picnic and to view the downtown skyline, Tapley and other nearby tributaries have become wonderful outdoor learning centers.

Houston Police Officers’ Memorial

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Late Texas artist Jesús Bautista Moroles’ Houston Police Officers’ Memorial commemorates the 113 Houston Police Department officers whose lives were lost in the line of duty. Shaped like a pyramid, the sculpture symbolizes a royal tomb. The Police Officers’ Memorial and surrounding grounds are guarded 24 hours a day. Each year, this is the site of an annual procession and wreath-laying ceremony.

Johnny Steele Dog Park

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One of Buffalo Bayou Park’s most active destinations is the Johnny Steele Dog Park, a two-acre site located near Allen Parkway and Montrose Boulevard. Features include a pond, shade structures, dog washing areas, benches, and drinking fountains complete with spigots for dogs. Limited parking for the dog park is available along the frontage road of Allen Parkway.

• Dog Park Regulations

  Hours:      7:00 am to 8:00 pm
                     The dog park may be closed during bad weather or for maintenance.

  • Owners are liable for damage or injury inflicted by their dog(s). This means owners are legally and financially responsible for their dog’s behavior. Buffalo Bayou Partnership and the City of Houston have no liability or responsibility for injuries in the dog park.
  • Limit of two dogs per person per visit and one hour for each dog.
  • Dogs taller than 15 inches may not use the small dog area.
  • Dogs must be properly licensed and vaccinated with City of Houston registration and rabies tags displayed on each dog’s collar.
  • Dogs must be leashed before entering and upon leaving the dog park and must be leashed in the transition area.  Owners must have a visible leash for each dog at all times.
  • Owners must have disposable pet waste materials visible at all times and must pick up their dog’s fecal matter and dispose of it in a trash receptacle.
  • Owners must have verbal and sight control of their dog(s) at all times and prevent aggressive behavior, fighting, biting and aggressive barking. Never leave your dog(s) unattended.
  • Dogs with a known history of dangerous behavior are prohibited. Immediately leash your dog and leave the park if your dog(s) behaves aggressively.
  • No puppies under four months of age are allowed in the dog park.
  • No female dogs in heat are allowed in the dog park.
  • No children age 12 or under are allowed in the dog park. Children ages 13 through 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Permitted children must be supervised by the adult and behave appropriately. No running, shouting, chasing dogs or petting other people’s dogs without their permission.
  • No dog or people food are allowed in the dog park.
  • No smoking in the dog park or elsewhere in the park.
  • Violation of City Code results in fines and no further use of the dog park.

Affectionately known as the “Dandelion,” the Gus S. Wortham Memorial Fountain’s brass starburst of pipes sprays joggers, cyclists, and dog walkers offering a cool respite from the Houston heat. The setting has been enhanced with a semi-circular grove of trees shading benches, site lighting, and open-air shelters surrounded by lush native perennial gardens. Please note that dogs are not permitted in the fountain.

Waugh Bridge Bat Colony

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Every evening at sunset, more than 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from crevices found in the Waugh Drive Bridge. A large portion of the bat colony remains through the winter months, providing viewing opportunities on warm nights. Stop by and witness this amazing sight, and learn more about the bats through interpretive signage found at the viewing platform.

Bat Chats are held on the first and third Friday of each month, year-round. To learn about bats in general and the Waugh Bridge Bat Colony, please arrive 30 minutes before sunset and meet at the viewing platform at the corner of Waugh Drive and Allen Parkway. Houston Area Bat Team volunteers will be available to answer questions and assist with viewing.

Lost Lake

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Lost Lake is on the site of a former pond that was lost in the 1970s when its dam across a natural ravine broke. The pond was restored and is situated near a visitor center housing restrooms and a restaurant, FLORA.

The Sandy Reed Memorial Trail, the ten-foot wide concrete trail located on both sides of the bayou, accommodates cyclists, walkers and joggers. The five-foot wide asphalt Kinder Footpath, located along the bayou’s banks, is designed to accommodate park visitors who want to enjoy a walk or jog.

Download: Buffalo Bayou Trail Guide

View Trail Closures and HCFCD repair work here.

• Safety Tips

  Walkers/runners should:

  • Always keep to the right on trails to avoid faster moving traffic.
  • Do your best to anticipate the actions of other users and know the limits of your own abilities.
  • Keep pets on a short leash.

  Bikers should:

  • Announce “passing on left” or ring a bell when trying to get around someone in front of you.
  • Look ahead and behind you before turning around on the trail.
  • Pull over to the right or completely off the trail when stopping for any reason.
  • ALWAYS wear a helmet.
  • Watch speeds on bicycles and keep at least a three-foot distance from pedestrians at all times.

  Everyone:

  • Use of headphones/ear buds is discouraged, but if you do, consider removing the device from one side so you are aware of the sounds around you.
  • Watch children carefully – don’t allow young children on trails without supervision.
  • When in a group, stay in a single file line.
  • Obey all traffic signals when crossing major intersections.  Never cross at an area without a designated pedestrian traffic signal.
  • Look both ways before crossing or merging with another trail.

Pedestrian bridges have been constructed throughout the park, providing improved safety and important connectivity to nearby neighborhoods and park amenities.

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  Shepherd Bridge

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  A project of Texas Department of Transportation and the City of Houston, this pedestrian connection was installed below the existing Shepherd Drive Bridge.

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  Rosemont Bridge

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  You can cross this unique pedestrian bridge at two levels. Be sure to pause and enjoy the dramatic view of the bayou and downtown skyline. The bridge provides a valuable pedestrian connection to trails and neighborhoods to the north at Studemont Street, as well as to Spotts and Cleveland Parks to the west.

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  Jackson Hill Bridge

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  Soaring a dramatic 40 feet above the bayou, this 345-foot-long pedestrian bridge near Jackson Hill Street connects with the existing bridge over Memorial Drive, providing access to Allen Parkway.

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  Carruth Bridge

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  The Carruth Bridge allows park users to access the Houston Police Officers’ Memorial from other areas of the park.

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