As we continue to successfully serve our mission of adding equitably distributed parkland to the greater Houston area, we have joined several other public and private partners to embark upon a bold initiative focusing on Houston’s bayous, specifically the potential of connected greenways and park spaces along ten of our major bayous. As early as 1912, the bayou system was envisioned as the backbone of an equitable, accessible park system in Houston. Almost 100 years later, Houston Bayou Greenways is a long-range project to achieve that vision. This unique project, made possible by Houston’s natural landscape of bayous, will elevate the city’s standing as one of the top “quality of place” cities in the nation, and demonstrate our commitment to the invaluable ecological capital in the midst of our large metroplex.
Bayou Greenways is an approximately $480 million project that will be tackled by many public and private stakeholders in several phases over ten to fifteen years. When complete, the greater Houston area will have 4,900 acres of new and equitably distributed greenspaces that can also serve the function of flood control and storm water quality enhancement. 300 miles of continuous all-weather hike and bike trails will meander through those greenways — an amenity unparalleled in the nation. We anticipate the program will build upon and leverage City, County, State, and Federal water quality, flood control, and environmental investments to help create a world-class parks and trail system.
Houston Bayou Greenways addresses a significant challenge the greater Houston area has with its park system. The Greater Houston area needs more equitably distributed parkland and recreation amenities. Luckily, our City is uniquely positioned with numerous bayous that criss-cross the urban fabric, connect diverse neighborhoods, represent significant ecological capital, and would greatly benefit from porous land along the bayou corridors. Therefore, developing connected green corridors with hike and bike trails along the bayous brings a smart and sustainable resolution to alleviate our greenspace and flooding challenges.
There are numerous other opportunities associated with utilizing our bayou corridors for greenspace and recreation:
- Reduced doctor visits due to increased access to recreation opportunities;
- Increase in use of alternative transportation for commuting along the hike and bike trails;
- Increase in property values along the corridor resulting in increased revenue to the city;
- Increased flood prevention due to the opportunity for wet-bottom detention areas in the newly created green spaces;
- Increased water quality due to the simple plantings located strategically along the bayous, the wet-bottom detention ponds, and reduced runoff;
- Increased air quality due to increased CO2 sequestration by newly planted trees, and use of trails for alternative transportation; and
- Change in Houston’s image to attract the best and brightest to our city.
Benefits Analysis
The value proposition of the Bayou Greenways Program is remarkable. While only some of the benefits can be measured reliably in dollar terms, the resulting totals are impressive. They demonstrate that there is unlikely to be any other investment in the greater Houston area that will have a significant impact on the quality of place, transform its park system, contribute to the health of Houstonians and the natural environment, and reposition the City for the 21st century – while also returning annual benefits conservatively valued at $117 million a year.
Benefits Analysis Report
Bayou Greenway Video
Bayou Greenway Map
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery - TIGER IV Proposal
 
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