Stairs
Parking
B-cycle Station
houston.bcycle.com
METRORail Station
Hiking & Biking Trail
Future Trail
Pedestrian Bridge
Nature Trail
Trail Segment
0.45 Distances (approx mi)
0.1 miles
Key to the bayou’s restoration is the hike and
bike trail that winds its way from Shepherd
Drive through parts of the East End. Plans
call for extending the trail east all the way
to the Port of Houston Turning Basin. This
map will guide you as you walk, run or cycle
along the waterway. Key parks, historic sites,
public artworks and amenities such as canoe
launches, pedestrian bridges and parking are
highlighted for your reference.
Enjoy exploring and discovering all the natural
beauty Buffalo Bayou has to offer.
westsector
1 waugh bridge bat colony
Every evening at sunset, more than 250,000 Mexican free-tailed
bats emerge from crevices found in the Waugh Drive Bridge.
These creatures are non-migratory and the majority call the
bayou home year-round. You can learn more about the bats
through interpretive signage found at the site. Stop by any night
and view this amazing sight!
2 green tree nature trail
Unless you know it’s there, Green Tree Nature Trail may be
difficult to find. Located just south of Memorial Drive at Waugh
Drive, the heavily forested trail is a nature-lover’s delight. On
any given day, you will find birds, squirrels and even a rabbit or
two. Buffalo Bayou Partnership and volunteers have been restoring this wild natural area by removing invasive species and
restoring the nature preserve with native trees and vegetation.
4 dog park
One of Buffalo Bayou’s most popular destinations is the dog
park. On any given day, you will see dogs and their owners
congregating in the large open meadow. Plans are underway
to incorporate infrastructure (making this park “official”) and
amenities to be completed in 2015.
5 rosemont bridge
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 of
Memorial Drive, as well as to Spotts and Cleveland parks to
the west.
7 glenwood cemetery
No other site takes advantage of the bayou’s natural beauty
more than 18-acre Glenwood Cemetery. Designed as one of
Houston’s first public spaces, Glenwood continues to delight
its visitors with its lush gardens and ornately decorated
headstones. Perhaps the most famous person buried at this
site is the late billionaire Howard Hughes. A walk through
Glenwood definitely takes you back in time!
8 spindle sculpture
Henry Moore, 1979
Located on a prominent knoll is British sculptor Henry Moore’s
Spindle piece. The cast bronze abstract sculpture was originally
part of Moore’s Spindle series which was placed in London’s
Hyde Park.
10 passage inachevé—house sculpture
Linnea Glatt and Francis Thompson, 1990
This sculpture is a 28’ × 28’ piece constructed of galvanized
steel set in a concrete slab. The seating and visual images reflect
issues of human rights, freedom of expression and historic
and contemporary concerns. It has the form of a house but is
completely open to the elements and viewing from all sides.
11 tapley tributary
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
by Buffalo Bayou Partnership, include a wetland, native Texas
prairie and small pedestrian bridge. Besides being a place to
picnic and to view the downtown skyline, Tapley and other nearby
tributaries have become wonderful outdoor learning centers.
Matthew Geller, 2009
Open Channel Flow features a public outdoor shower activated
by a hand pump. A nearby skatepark ensures that a steady flow
of skaters and passersby will indulge in a refreshing spritz on
Houston’s infamously humid afternoons.
14 lee & joe jamail skatepark
Riding bowls, grinding rails and cutting through the largest
“cradle” in the world are just some of the fancy footwork you will
see at the Lee & Joe Jamail Skatepark. The 30,000 square foot
facility is designed for beginners and seasoned professionals.
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15 sabine promenade
The 23-acre waterfront park features hike and bike trails, lush
landscaping, and a pedestrian bridge. Unique blue and white
lighting corresponding with the phases of the moon was
designed by New York artists Hervé Descottes (L’Observatoire
International) and Stephen Korns. Stainless steel boat
sculptures by Houston artist John Runnels greet visitors at
major park entrances. A boat landing serves as the launch site for pontoon boat
tours led by Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Sabine Promenade has been recognized
with 12 international and local awards since it opened in 2006.
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13 open channel flow
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Jesus Bautista Moroles, 1991
Visit Texas artist Jesus Moroles’ Police Memorial and pay your
respects to more than 80 policemen whose lives were lost in
the line of duty. Shaped like a pyramid, the sculpture symbolizes
a royal tomb. The Police Memorial and surrounding grounds,
guarded 24 hours a day, are the site of an annual procession and
wreath-laying ceremony.
ArCH
Hobby
Center
Ba
Taft St
9 houston police officers’ memorial
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17
Bayou Place
sabine
promenade
0.23
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sesquicentennial
park
Houston
Hobby Center
Pedestrian Bridge
City Hall
Annex
Named in honor of the late City Councilmember and civic
activist Eleanor Tinsley, the park is home to our city’s annual
Fourth of July celebration and other large-scale festivals and
events. The Jane Gregory Garden (just west of the Henry
Moore sculpture) offers a welcome urban getaway while a
boat dock provides easy access for canoeists and kayakers.
With its sloping hills and deep ravines, Eleanor Tinsley Park is one of Houston’s
most popular outdoor spaces for recreation and relaxation. A major hike and bike
trail winds its way through the park’s 20 acres.
5
I-4
th
Jaume Plensa, 2011
At the base of the Rosemont Bridge are Spanish artist Jaume
Plensa’s Tolerance sculptures. The seven human figures
representing the world’s seven continents are composed
of stainless steel alphabet letters from many languages.
Resting on large boulders, the figures glow at night, creating
a constellation of beacons. The sculptures encourage joggers and bicyclists to
pause and consider our city’s dynamic diversity.
Federal Reserve Bank
12
Sabine St
Studemont St
Houston Ave
Memorial Heights Dr
Allen Pkwy
sculptures
6 tolerance sculptures
eleanor
tinsley park
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William Cannady, 1978
The Wortham Fountain is a favorite meeting spot. Affectionately
known as the Dandelion, the fountain’s brass starburst of pipes
sprays joggers, cyclists and dog walkers offering a cool respite
from Houston’s heat.
6
plensa
8
lee & joe jamail
skate park
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3 gus s. wortham memorial fountain
wortham
fountain
spindle
sculpture
Jane Gregory
Garden
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Sabine Street Lofts
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Wortham Theater
Center
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university of
houston—downtown
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Handicap Access
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dog park
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tapley
tributary
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Jim Mozola Memorial
Disc Golf Course
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Aquarium
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Boat Launch
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Recreation
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open channel
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waugh bridge
bat colony
rosemont
bridge
Montrose Blvd
Drinking Water
Jackson Hill Bridge
Waugh Dr
legend
Buffalo Bayou has been a focal point in
Houston’s history since the Allen brothers
founded the city in 1836. Today, the bayou is
once again the centerpiece of its development.
Since issuing the 20-year master plan, Buffalo
Bayou and Beyond in 2002, Buffalo Bayou
Partnership has been committed to creating
a regional amenity that offers opportunities
for recreation, entertainment and livability.
New destinations and natural amenities are
revitalizing the once neglected bayou into an
active and vibrant waterfront.
1
Memorial Dr
Dunlavy St
trail guide
to
Memorial
Park
rd D r
/ b ik in g
0.18
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I-
house
sculpture
police memorial
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Shephe
h ik in g
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glenwood
cemetery
St. Thomas
High School
Pr
Memorial Dr
7
Cleveland
Park
boc
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Heiner St
0.40
l Dr
Gillette St
green tree
nature trail
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Carruth
Bridge
St
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Washington
Cemetery
ye r
Mem
Glenwood
Tributary
Lub
Municipal
Courts
S aw
Jackson Hill St
O Reilly St
Gira to White Oak Park
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St
« Waugh Dr
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Spotts
Park
Dickson St
Dickson St
Snover St
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Feagan St
Feagan St
Willia St
16 sam houston park
In 1899, Mayor Sam Brashear purchased 20 acres of property
on the edge of downtown to create Sam Houston Park.
Landscaped into a Victorian village, the park included an old
mill, rustic bridge, stream, and even a zoo. Today, the park
is home to The Heritage Society, an organization devoted to
preserving and interpreting the park’s historic structures.
17 sesquicentennial park
Twenty two-acre Sesquicentennial Park is the centerpiece
of downtown’s Theater District. Among the outstanding
features located in the park, which commemorates Houston’s
150th birthday in 1986, are: 24-foot promenade, amphitheater,
250-foot boat dock and gardens. Public art in the park includes
artist Mel Chin’s stainless steel pillars Seven Wonders and Dean
Ruck’s ceramic history photos, sound installation and Big Bubble. Travel up on the
Preston Avenue Bridge, press the red button, and see the bubble emerge in the
bayou’s waters. The 8-foot-tall bronze statue of Secretary of State James Baker
gazes across Buffalo Bayou at a similar artwork of former President George H.W.
Bush. Both statues were created by North Carolina sculptor Chas Fagan.
18 university of houston—downtown
Since 1974, University of Houston—Downtown (UHD) has
enjoyed a prime location at the confluence of Buffalo and White
Oak bayous. UHD’s main campus is housed in the historic
Merchants and Manufacturers Building (commonly referred to
as the M&M Building) built in 1930. Students and faculty alike
take advantage of all the bayou waterfront has to offer.
19 allen’s landing
As Houston’s founding place and original port, Allen’s Landing
has unique historical significance. Buffalo Bayou Partnership has
revitalized the park with an entry plaza, wharf, and public text
art designed by local artist team ttweak. John Runnels’ stainless
steel boats also grace the entrances and a lunar trail lighting
system, like that at Sabine Promenade, adds to the splendor of
this historic area. The Sunset Coffee Building, built in 1910, is under renovation. A
boating and bicycle rental facility, event space, BBP’s office and a rooftop terrace are
among the amenities that will be included in this historic building.
Steeped in Houston history, James Bute Park is the original
site of Germantown and Frost Town, two early immigrant
neighborhoods. In the 1970s, Houston artist Kirk Farris
transformed the once abandoned site into a park. A Texas
Historical Marker displayed in the park officially designates
Frost Town as an historic site. The park is named for the late
James Bute, a Houston entrepreneur and nearby park resident.
24 brick smokestacks
Located halfway between Jensen Drive and North York Street,
you will come across two brick chimneys. These are the
remnants of a City of Houston incinerator built in 1925.
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port of houston
turning basin
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27 northside sewage treatment facility
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historic
gazebo
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northside sewage
facility
27 treatment
Sunset
Rail Trail
a
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vy
Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc.,
registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of
Apple Inc. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc.
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the Google Play™ Store app.
Sam Houston
Boat Tour
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The Buffalo Bayou Guide app is available on the App Store­
for iPhone® and iPod touch® and for Android™ devices using
japhet creek
Named after East End activist Tony Marron, this 19-acre site is
comprised of soccer fields, children’s playground, fountain plaza,
picnic area and hike and bike trails.
Decommissioned over 20 years ago, much of the Northside
Sewage Treatment Facility’s infrastructure remains. Aeration
and settling tanks, compressor rooms as well as original pipes
and valves are intact. Buffalo Bayou Partnership plans to
redevelop the site into a unique ecological park.
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W Hedrick
Several remnants of the East End’s industrial past can be found
along the hike and bike trails. Just east of Jensen Drive you will
discover massive concrete gravel silos. These tall structures
not only are important interpretive landscape elements, but the
canvas for imaginative public art events.
revitalizing and transforming Buffalo Bayou, Houston’s
most significant natural resource.
buffalo bend
nature park
25 tony marron park
This tributary is being restored to provide Fifth Ward
neighborhood residents access to Buffalo Bayou. Volunteers
from Japhet Creek Civic Association have worked tirelessly
to remove trash and debris from the creek while planting
wildflowers and native trees. Eventually paths on both sides
of the tributary will be created.
construction is underway to transform the
shepherd to sabine stretch of buffalo bayou
into one of houston’s premier park spaces.
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Mariachi and salsa music, ballet folklorico, and seasonal
festivals are among the sights and sounds that fill Guadalupe
Plaza Park. Besides a performance area, the park includes hike
and bike trails and a boating dock. Located nearby is Talento
Bilingue de Houston, a performing arts organization.
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Talento Bilingue
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guadalupe
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Buffalo Bayou Partnership is the non-profit organization
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21 james bute park
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lto
Cl
To learn more about the 160-acre Buffalo Bayou Park that
od
Painted aquamarine, purple and lavender, McKee Street Bridge
adds a splash of color to the bayou landscape. Built in 1932, the
structure is the longest unreinforced concrete bridge in the
world. Local artist Kirk Farris is responsible for transforming the
bridge into a piece of public art.
els
Zo
will be complete in 2015, visit buffalobayoupark.org.
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Buffalo Bayou Partnership has purchased property and developed hike and bike
trails that eventually will extend all the way to the Port of Houston. Also underway
are the development of parks, boating activities and other open space amenities.
Perhaps the finest example of textured concrete artistry in
Houston, Hidalgo Park’s gazebo was completed in 1934. Vidal
Lozano, its designer and builder, fashioned concrete columns
and railings to look like tree timbers, the roof to represent
shingles, and the ceiling thatch. The gazebo is a landmark in
the Buffalo Bayou landscape.
re
wo
»
Traveling east along Buffalo Bayou’s hike and bike trails, visitors will enter the
East End, one of our city’s most historic areas. In 1914, the Houston Ship Channel
opened to deep water navigation. The channel, in combination with the railroads,
transformed the East End into the industrial heart of our city.
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Built in 1932, Hidalgo Park is a popular East End site for
Sunday picnics, birthday parties and baseball games.
Neighborhood children also enjoy the park’s creative wooden
playground and water play station. Among the park’s
treasures is a statue of Father Miguel Hidalgo, a gift from the
government of Jalisco, Mexico.
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Clinton Dr
Bayou St
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21
Roanoke
Elysia
McKee St
mckee street
bridge
Looking north from Hidalgo Park you will see a beautiful section
of Buffalo Bayou. In 1837, the Allen brothers arranged for the
Constitution, a 150-foot steamboat to visit Houston to dispel
doubts about the bayou’s navigability. Not being able to turn
around once it reached its destination, the boat backed down the
bayou until it reached a wide enough bend. Dubbed Constitution
Bend, the site is now the Port of Houston Turning Basin.
Baron
Bayou St
20
turningbasin
port of houston
31 turning basin
Buffalo Bend Nature Park is a 10-acre site that will ultimately
offer an area to educate visitors about wetland ecosystems.
Learning stations, exhibits and interpretive displays will be
strategically located throughout the park.
Cline St
Sydnor St
Jensen Dr
0.3
Meadow St
Swiney Park
28 buffalo bend nature park
Emile St
Gillespie St
0.1 miles
1113 Vine Street, Suite 215
Houston, TX 77002
t : 713.752.0314 f : 713.223.3500
buffalobayou.org
stay connected
[email protected]
fb.com/buffalobayou
@buffalobayou
Design by CORE Design Studio
Cover photo by Jim Olive/stockyard.com
Printing courtesy of METRO
Printed November 2013
trail guide