In Houston, bayous are as ubiquitous as good tacos and Astros caps. Aside from flooding, most people rarely think of them as anything other than something to build a bridge over. The Houston Parks Board's Bayou Greenways project aims to return these waterways to what they were during the city's early days: a way to get people somewhere they want to go.

"I know people who live 10 miles outside of downtown that bike down the trails next to White Oak Bayou because it's a faster way to work," said Trent Rondot, conservation and maintenance director for the board, during a tour on Friday, April 4. "It's not just about getting people places to recreate, but using them as an alternative transportation route."

The Bayou Greenways project is currently building concrete, 10-foot, all-purpose paths along many of the waterways that crisscross Houston, including Sims Bayou and Brays Bayou. Roughly 150 miles of trails have been constructed so far. These paths will make walking, running, or biking along the bayous easier, connecting them both to major surface roads and other trails across the city. Many of these will run under street level so that travelers can avoid potentially dangerous crossings with motor vehicles.

The final vision of the project is a "green spine" of trails that hug the bayous and allow Houstonians to walk or bike from, say, Sunnyside all the way to downtown, with access to shopping, work, and entertainment. It offers an environmentally friendly alternative to Houston's reputation as a car-first city with lengthy traffic delays. Even better, many of the trails are being built east of downtown in neighborhoods that are changing due to increased real estate development. It's a recreation of the time when a bayou was the lifeblood of Houston, moving people from place to place freely.

Another innovation is the distribution of emergency markers along the route. These have designations in local emergency services databases that let them dispatch personnel to injured travelers away from the main roads. According to Rondot, the markers even have specific directions for dispatchers to navigate to the spots, hopefully speeding up response time for emergency calls. Markers were already installed along White Oak, and are being added to the new greenways as they are constructed.

Any large-scale project involving the bayous is going to run into different regulatory jurisdictions. In this case, the Houston Parks Board is collaborating with Harris County Flood District to build pathways around a large artificial hill made of the dirt that was dug up to build a massive detention pond on Sims Bayou. Once the Bayou Greenway is completed, visitors will be able to climb the six-story-high hill and see all the way to the Texas Medical Center from the lookout, which includes a small pavilion and seating for picnics and other gatherings. Elevated walkways will allow easy access to the hill from across the bayou. In perpetually flat Houston, an accessible elevated natural space will be a unique attraction.

"We're creating a beautiful greenspace, immersed in trees and water, just south of the loop," said Rondot.

A rendering previews the changes come to McGregor ParkCourtesy of Houston Parks Board

In March, Houston Park Board in partnership with the City of Houston’s Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) and with support from Kinder Foundation, unveiled concept drawings for a revitalized MacGregor Park. These include a central promenade and a natural amphitheater that will be usable during the day and night. The new landscaping is done by Hood Design Studio, who incorporated Houston's native prairie and post oak savannah heritage into the design to and add a naturalistic flare in keeping with the park board's focus on preserving habitats.

“Houston Parks Board is deeply grateful for the community’s support and for working with the team to help craft the park’s design,” said Beth White, President and CEO, Houston Parks Board, in a press release. “We’re proud that the design will enhance and enable easier access to the amenities and features that have made the park the historic space it is today. While there is much work ahead, we are excited to continue working alongside all stakeholders to create a reimagined MacGregor Park that will be cherished for years to come.”

Courtesy of Houston Parks Board

Once complete, the hill will have a view of the Texas Medical Center.