GENERAL INFO

Under the civic leadership of the non-profit Buffalo Bayou Partnership, this new park for Houston was generously funded by the City of Houston, the Harris County Flood Control District, Texas Department of Transportation, The Brown Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment Inc., The Wortham Foundation, Inc., and The Margaret and James A. Elkins, Jr. Foundation.

The project team includes: The Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Boyer, Inc., the City of Houston, PSI, Inc., The SWA Group, and United Engineers, Inc.

Dramatic Lighting
An innovative lighting program, designed for the entire Buffalo Bayou greenway, is unveiled at the Sabine-to-Bagby Promenade. Diverse lighting treatments identify Buffalo Bayou as the spine of the city and a major destination for night-time activity. The lights, designed by artist Stephen Korns (Amherst, MA) and international lighting firm L'Observatoire (New York), brighten the bridges, trails and water of the park with a blue-to-white color scheme changing in tandem with the phases of the moon.

Winding Hike and Bike Trails
Two miles of new hiking and biking trails link the Allen Parkway/Memorial Drive bayou trails to Sesquicentennial Park behind Wortham Center and the Northside Trail at the University of Houston-Downtown.

Outstanding Civic Art
Elegant stainless steel boat sculptures, created by Houston artist John Runnels, serve as bayou landmarks, welcoming visitors to the park's major entryways. Text-based artwork etched into the structures througout the park will highlight Buffalo Bayou's and Houston's history.

Convenient Street-to-Bayou Access
Greater visual and pedestrian access to the bayou shores is provided by twelve new street-to-bayou access points. These entryways include stairs, decorative lighting, landscaping and sculptural art pieces.

Buffalo Bayou Pedestrian Bridge
A one-of-a-kind pedestrian bridge provides access to both banks of the promenade, linking park users with nearby parking at the Hobby Center. The bridge will also allow pedestrians to walk a complete loop around the bayou without having to cross any busy yrban streets. Adorning the elegant steel and concrete bridge is dramatic lighting and etched artwork.

Advanced Channel Edge Construction
Along with flood control benefits, a new bank edge allows the inherently steep bayou banks to be graded back for greater visibility, increased space for recreation and safety for paddle craft.

Canoe and Kayak Launches
Two new walk-down canoe and kayak launches invite visitors to enjoy the beauty of Buffalo Bayou from the water. These launches are easily accessed from Sabine Street Bridge and City Lot H.

Lush Landscaping
Abundant native perennials flank the park's stairways. A variety of trees shade the hike and bike trails. Sun and shade gardens are placed throughout the promenade to blanket the bayou with continual color.