Before the pandemic, my bike didn’t really get that much use. I bought it years ago and rode quite a bit at first, then it sat in the garage for a long while. The pandemic has changed that. I’ve put more miles on my bike in the past six months than ever before. I am outside so much more right now and I’m really enjoying that. My family is, too—I take my wife, who is currently pregnant with our fourth child, and my three boys to explore new parks.

I work for City Council Member Robert Gallegos as the Director of Public Affairs, so it’s my job to know the ins and outs of the community. But it’s also my passion. I live here, too, and I want to see thriving, vibrant parks in my neighborhood. So do my neighbors. Because I’m part of this community, I get to hear all their ideas and help them get involved to make them a reality. Like the bridge at Mason Park.

I’ve been going to Mason Park since I was a kid and I love taking my kids there now. It has everything a park should have—trails, running paths, and a new pedestrian bridge that connects one side of the park to the other. Prior to this new addition, you had to walk along the narrow sidewalk of a busy road and it felt a bit dangerous. I’ve done it a few times while pushing a stroller and it was scary. Now, you can walk, run, or cycle across the bayou without missing a beat.

When I talk to my neighbors about getting involved to improve our local parks, I ask them, “What role can you play in making your community better?” There are so many ways to be part of a greener vision of Houston’s future. For me, that means talking to the people around me and advocating for positive change wherever there’s a need. 

As a former City of Houston planner, I’ve had a front-row seat for all the ways that parks and public spaces have served as places to show the historical value of a community. MacGregor Park, which is near my home, has the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and Park Plaza created by the Black Heritage Society. I think many of our parks can show the history, art, or other culturally significant parts of the communities they’re located in.  

I’m a member of Friends of MacGregor Park and I’m proud to be involved in the places that matter to me. I encourage my neighbors to get involved also. If people understand that their collective actions can lead to big and positive change, we can work together to create places for everyone to enjoy. 

I’m privileged. I’m lucky to work at Bank of America, which has workout facility that’s always open, with a bicycle entrance and storage room. The reality is that many people have been walking or biking to work without these paths for years and years. These new trails create a safer, healthier lifestyle for everyone. 

I ride without headphones or earbuds because I want to enjoy nature. You can’t really enjoy it in a car, even if you have a convertible. You don’t hear nature the way you do when you’re bicycling or running. It’s about noticing the little things—people in the neighborhood enjoying the outdoors throughout the year—exercising, walking with their children, spending time at the softball fields. 

It’s something that we don’t see because we live in a car culture, so it gives you a different perspective of the real city we live in. Unless you’re riding or walking, you don’t see these spaces everywhere—from the Centennial Gardens at Hermann Park to Mason Park along Brays Bayou—an oasis along the bayou with a nice bridge you can walk or ride across. 

And on White Oak Bayou, north of 43rd, there is some green space you won’t see from a car—ever. It’s hard to imagine that you’re in the 4th largest city with 6 million people because there’s so much green space out here. It’s beautiful. It takes you away from your daily worries. 

Thank you to David for sharing his story!

This story is a part of a new initiative by Houston Parks Board to share stories about Houstonians' most meaningful park moments across our city. Because parks are a place for all of us. Parks are where we celebrate the things that matter. This is just the start—we will be showcasing the experiences of as many people in as many neighborhoods through as many winding pathways as possible. 

This effort is in celebration of Bayou Greenways 2020 which is bringing together neighborhoods like never before–connecting 150 miles of trails and 3,000 acres of green space. Houston Parks Board is proud to share the experiences of individuals in neighborhoods across our city. These are #ParksByYou. 

Riding without headphones

The leader of the running club invited me to join and said, “Just walk with us.” I went from walking to running and now I’m doing marathons. Our group started by running around the neighborhood, then we branched out to parks. It was a breath of fresh air.

There’s this one place over at White Oak Bayou on the top of the bridge, where downtown is behind you. When we go out there early in the morning, with the color of the sky and the way the buildings look, it’s really beautiful. When I run on Sundays, my 13-year-old son follows us on his bike. Running isn’t cool to him because mom does it, you know? But he loves his bike and the trails. He was having challenges with his weight and now he’s healthier and happier. We have a great time out there. We train all over—White Oak Bayou, Memorial Park, Buffalo Bayou, and others. Terry Hershey. That one is home to me. 

If you want to run, you can run. If you want to walk, you can walk. It’s not like any other running club. It’s really like a family. We get together all the time.

We have a GroupMe and someone will mention they’re going out and someone else will respond. We’re never alone. I don’t know if it’s because we’re all different ages and from different parts of the world, but we encourage each other and that’s something you don’t often find these days. After Chevron, our running leader came up with our current challenge: to partner up with someone and hit 2019 miles collectively. And we’re doing that. We’re showing up for each other.

Thank you to Aisha for sharing her story!

Walking, running, marathons—our group does it all. We've been exploring each of the Houston bayous and we, kids and adults included, are much happier and healthier.

Finding My Houston Running Group and Showing Up

I’m 80: the oldest by only 2 weeks. The youngest is 72. When we started out, some of us weren’t in the best health and we could go little more than half a mile. Now we’ve worked up to 2 miles a day. It’s nice to know there’s a world out there that can be enjoyed and you don’t just have to sit at home in your rocking chair. It has been one of the best things that has happened to us. We have the greatest time on the trails at Herman Brown Park. We laugh so much. 

Walking in the park has really opened up a whole world for all us. We’ve made so many friends along the way that if we have to skip a day, people say, “Where have y’all been? We miss you!” One day when we were walking, we discovered a community garden maintained by the City of Houston and Furr High School. They needed volunteers so we adopted 3 plant beds. We’ve gotten to know the instructors and the students. It’s been a joy to grow vegetables and share a fresh harvest with the community.

That can be nothing but good for you. Once you start doing it, you’ll never regret it. Life is good.

Walking in the gardens has opened up a new world for us. Even in the Houston heat, we go out and walk. We've grown fresh vegetables and shared them with the communities.

Walking and Gardening with the Girls

It’s encouraging those who don’t frequent the park to see how nice it is and enjoying the amenities that are available to the entire community.  

When I first heard about Houston Parks Board’s plan to create miles of continuous bayou pathways, my first thought was, “How will that impact my community, and will my community get their share of those dollars and trails?” When Lisa of Houston Parks Board came to our civic association, she showed us a grand plan that was inclusive of our community, and we still weren’t sure if it would happen. But they followed through. They delivered. There were places where trails were put years ago that were in disrepair, and they put maintenance on it to make sure that, 6 months later, there aren’t overgrown weeds and a trail no one will use again. It gave everybody in the community a sense that they were serious about connecting citizens to the Bayou Greenways projects.

We’ve seen a big difference since the trails were put in. My grandkids are 7 and 9. These trails are clean, safe and wide—there’s so much space for them to ride around in. Our community has gotten the sense that this is a project that is inclusive of everyone. They said what they were gonna do, they did it, they delivered it, and it was as good as they said it was going to be. And they’re going to continue with that work with this new resting area at Martin Luther King Boulevard. It’s going to be a nook park with trees and benches. They bought the land there and took the initiative to enhance the trail and put this little park in. We’re really excited about it. 

Thank you to Charles for sharing his story!

The trails and parks with new trees and benches are impacting our Houston communily. My grandkids are able to ride these clean and safe green spaces nearby.

Get Moving & Feeling Good Stories

What a Ride

Small actions. Big change.

Mornings at Brock Park

Nature, in balance

Riding Without Headphones

Showing Up

Sassy Silver Steppers

Trails For Everyone