• Visit
  • Cistern
  • Events & Tours
  • Support
  • Donate
  • Plans & Programs
  • About Us
  • Public Art
  • Rentals & Permits
  • Calendar
Menu
donate trail map
Buffalo Bayou Partnership
  • Visit
    • Buffalo Bayou Park
    • Cistern
    • Allen’s Landing
    • Buffalo Bend Nature Park
    • Public Art along Buffalo Bayou
    • Trail Closures
  • Events & Tours
    • Calendar
    • Cistern Tours
    • Boat Tours
    • Walking Tours
    • Programación en Español
    • Breakfast on Buffalo Bayou
    • NIGHT LIGHT 2023
  • Rentals & Permits
    • Sunset Coffee Building
    • The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park
    • Eleanor Tinsley Park
    • Barbara Fish Daniel Picnic Pavilion
    • Permits
  • Support
    • Join as a Member
    • Become a BBP Patron
    • Volunteer with Buffalo Bayou Partnership
    • Donate
    • The Currents
    • Buffalo Bayou Boutique
  • Plans & Programs
    • Buffalo Bayou East
    • “Deeper Dive” Virtual Presentation Series
    • Waterway Clean Up
  • About Us
  • News
    • Press
    • Newsletters

News

Find the latest news about Buffalo Bayou Partnership and all the doings along Buffalo Bayou.

May 17

Your dog park questions, answered

Why has the Johnny Steele Dog Park been closed since the Tax Day Flood?

The dog park has remained closed because of the release of water from the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs, which were built to prevent downstream flooding along Buffalo Bayou. The release of water being held at these reservoirs can take several weeks after a major flood.

The dog park is in a lower-lying area of Buffalo Bayou Park but has the infrastructure that allows it to be able to withstand high water, silt and debris that comes after a major rain event. For example, the dog ponds have paved bottoms.

Buffalo Bayou Park experiences high water about a half dozen times per year. It also floods, which means water rises to the roadways, which is the official flood stage for Buffalo Bayou. (Water lower than this is not a flood, it is a high water event.)

 

If the dog park floods often, is that a design flaw?

The dog park has been open for 16 months and in that time we’ve had one of the rainiest years on record. The park overall is designed with high water flooding in mind and that’s why we have our procedures in place.

 

What are the procedures after a flood before the Johnny Steele Dog Park is open to the public?

As the water recedes after a high water or flood event, the Maintenance and Operations Team at Buffalo Bayou Partnership will begin assessing areas of the park and trails for any damage. Our priority is the safety of our park visitors. So, our crew begins working on clearing and removing silt from the hike and bike trails as soon as feasibly possible. We then move on to clearing tree debris, trash, assessing and repairing electrical units, assessing and repairing irrigation, inspecting the children’s play area, and cleaning out the dog park ONCE the high water has receded. This entails draining the dog park ponds, and then manually removing sediment from the dog ponds and water pumps. Note that other areas of Buffalo Bayou Park remain open as this goes on.

 

Where else can I find out the status of the dog park?

We post notifications of dog park closures on the homepage of our website (www.buffalobayou.org) and Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

If you are near the dog park, look for the red flag (see question below).

 

What does the red flag mean at Johnny Steele Dog Park mean?

Buffalo Bayou Partnership has installed a flagpole near the dog park to communicate whether or not the dog park is closed. If the dog park is closed, a red flag is raised. This flagpole is visible from both Studemont Street and Allen Parkway.

 

What does BBP do to clean and filter the dog park ponds?

The dog ponds are “cleansed” using an ecological filtration system:

  • Water is pumped from a nearby wetland into the small dog pond.
  • From the small dog pond, the water flows down and aerates in a channel to the large dog pond.
  • From there, the water flows back into the wetland (where it is cleansed) and then circulated back to the small dog pond.

As with any dog park, we highly recommend using the dog washing areas to rinse off before leaving!

For press inquiries, email Karen Farber, BBP VP of External Affairs, or call 713.752.0314 ext. 353.

News Coverage

  • The Bats and Boats are Back at Houston's Waugh Drive Bridge Houston Chronicle, March 15, 2023
  • The Coolest Houston Playgrounds Every Parent Should Know About Chron.com, March 13, 2023
  • Buffalo Bayou Regatta, St. Patricks Day Parade, top family fun picks Houston Chronicle, March 9. 2023
  • Texas' Largest Canoe and Kayak Race and Regatta Paddles Back to Buffalo Bayou with Whole-new Route Culture Map, March 7, 2023
  • Houston parks hosting free "Jazzy Sundays" concerts from March through May Houston Public Media, March 3, 2023
  • HIDDEN GEM: Lost Lake KHOU 11, February 7, 2023
  • 15 Major Developments Headed for Houston in 2023 and Beyond Houston Chronicle, January 24, 2023
  • Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern Offers Inspiration and Reflection Beneath Houston Texas Highways Magazine, January 24, 2023
  • 36 Hours in Houston: Things to Do and See The New York Times, January 19, 2023
  • 11 Things You Must Do at Houston's Buffalo Bayou Park Chron.com, January 14, 2023
more

Press Releases

  • NIGHT LIGHT Returns to Buffalo Bayou East March 8, 2023
  • Three Houston Parks Team Up to Bring Back Jazzy Sundays in the Parks January 31, 2023
  • Buffalo Bayou Partnership Announces Kinder Foundation’s $100M Catalyst Gift to Accelerate Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan September 26, 2022
  • Buffalo Bayou Partnership Unveils New Cleanup Boat August 3, 2022
  • East Downtown Trail Opens to the Public June 14, 2022
  • Light Up the Night Along Buffalo Bayou East March 15, 2022
  • Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s Time No Longer Wins International Art Award September 22, 2021
  • Three Houston Parks Team Up to Celebrate the Legacy of Jazz in Houston with Free Concerts and a Series Spectacular Featuring Mavis Staples August 6, 2021
  • Houston Endowment Awards Buffalo Bayou Partnership $10M Grant December 9, 2020
  • Immersive Installation by Anri Sala in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern November 23, 2020
more

Monthly Newsletters

  • Buffalo Bayou eNewsletter - February 2023 February 2, 2023
  • Buffalo Bayou eNewsletter - January 2023 January 12, 2023
  • Buffalo Bayou eNewsletter - December 2022 December 1, 2022
  • Buffalo Bayou eNewsletter - November 2022 November 4, 2022
  • Buffalo Bayou eNewsletter - October 2022 October 6, 2022
  • Buffalo Bayou eNewsletter - September 2022 August 31, 2022
  • Buffalo Bayou eNewsletter - August 2022 August 4, 2022
  • Buffalo Bayou eNewsletter - July 2022 July 1, 2022
  • Buffalo Bayou eNewsletter - June 2022 June 2, 2022
  • Buffalo Bayou eNewsletter - May 2022 May 4, 2022
more

Banking on Buffalo Bayou

  • Banking on Buffalo Bayou - Summer 2021 June 2021
  • Banking on Buffalo Bayou - Winter 2020 January 2020
  • Banking on Buffalo Bayou - Spring 2019 May 2019
  • Banking on Buffalo Bayou - Winter 2019 January 2019
  • Banking on Buffalo Bayou - Summer 2018 July 2018
  • Banking on Buffalo Bayou - Summer 2017 August 2017
  • Banking on Buffalo Bayou - Spring 2017 March 2017
  • Banking on Buffalo Bayou - Winter 2016 December 2016
  • Banking on Buffalo Bayou - Summer 2016 July 2016
  • Banking on Buffalo Bayou - Spring 2016 March 2016
more

Categories

  • Art
  • Awards
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Board Members
  • Buffalo Bayou Park
  • Construction
  • East Sector
  • Español
  • Johnny Steele Dog Park
  • KBR Kids Day
  • Other Nations: A Naturalist's Blog
  • Press Releases
  • Staff
  • Uncategorized
  • Updates

Archives

Calendar

March 2023
M T W T F S S
« Feb    
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

Get Involved

There are plenty of ways to get involved with keeping our parks and trails growing and the bayou flowing! Check out our Volunteer Opportunities or become a Buffalo Bayou Partnership Member today.

Membership Volunteer

Stay Connected

Buffalo Bayou Boutique

Looking for a unique gift? Shop our Buffalo Bayou Boutique!
Shop Now
  • Home
  • Visit
  • Support
  • Plans & Programs
  • About Us
  • News

1019 Commerce Street, Suite 200
Houston, TX 77002

t : 713.752.0314    f : 713.223.3500
info@buffalobayou.org

© 2023 Buffalo Bayou Partnership.
website by CORE Design Studio. Log in

Back to Top Events & Tours