Work on Terry Hershey Trail Extension from Katy Fwy North to Addicks Dam underway (July 2012)

Terry Hershey Park & Trail parking lot located just South of I-10 provides access to Memorial Loop segment of Terry Hershey Trail, playgrounds, and future trail extension running North to Addicks Reservoir, which can be reached through underpass under Katy Freeway and feeder roads.

The underpass under Katy Freeway (Interstate 10) has been available for a while, but there was no trail
to speak of to continue on North to the Addicks Dam Road and Reservoir

Clearing work is underway on the segment North of I-10 running along Langham Creek
up to the flow control gate at Addicks Reservoir 

Meadow in the power line corridor making way for new trail

The gate house at the flow control gate on top of Addicks Dam

Clouds and high voltage pylons make for an awesome vista

Greater than normal water-release from Addicks Reservoir  into
Langham Creek, which will join up with Buffalo Bayou further down in Terry Hershey Trail
near Memorial Drive (7/25/2012)

The spillway at the Langham Creek flow control gate/weir at Addicks Dam
The rotten smell is awful! (July 25, 2012)

Addicks Dam Road and Hike and Bike Trail remains closed due to ongoing repair work

The Extension of the Terry Hershey Hike & Bike Trail North to Addicks Dam remains off limits for hikers and bikers as repair work continues at the outlet structure and elsewhere along the earthen dam, which has been rated righ-risk, but successfully held back record-breaking amounts of water during the heavy rains earlier in the year. The high water level in the reservoir led to the closure of both North Eldridge and Highway 6 for weeks, and turned Bear Creek Pioneers Park into a lake.   

 This stretch of North Eldridge behind the Dam was closed for weeks during the flooding 

earlier this year.

PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES PROHIBITED 

Trail Extension to Addicks Dam and West to Highway 6 (Jan 2013 construction pic update)

NEW COMMUTING OPTION FOR ENERGY CORRIDOR 

BICYCLE RIDERS IN THE WORKS

Construction work continues on the extension of the Terry Hershey Trail system to connect to the Addicks Dam Road, or rather to a new hike and bike trail being built at the base of the Southern (outside) slope of the dam that will continue on westward to Highway 6, and will provide a new route for bike commuters to  and from corporate campuses and energy corridor office buildings.

Here are a few pics taken this month (January 2013) illustrating the status of ongoing earth-moving and construction activity at various points between Terry Hershey Park / Memorial Loop Trail and Addicks Dam, including a panoramic view of the scene at the flow control gate where the reservoir empties into Langham Creek.  

Playgrounds and play areas for children in the Energy Corridor

Terry Hershey Park

on Memorial Drive between Eldridge and Highway 6

The enclosed playground with play equipment and the Kids Fit exercise area are part of the Terry Hershey Park and Trail System. The hike and bike trail extends to the Beltway in the East, and to George Bush Park in the West. The kid's section of Terry Hershey Park is located on Memorial Drive West of Eldridge Parkway, with parking on the South and access from the North over pedestrian bridges over Langham Creek from another parking lot adjoining Katy Freeway inbound feeder, that also serves hikers and bikers that want to use the new extension of Terry Hershey Trail to the North to Addicks Dam via Katy Freeway underpass. Watch out for cyclists on the trail, which is a rather narrow multi-use paved trail that can get very busy. The speed limit for cyclists is 10MPH, but is not always observed. 

Enclosed children's play area at Terry Hershey Park on Memorial Drive

Duck pond on corporate campus adjoining Terry Hershey Park to the West

Ray Miller Park on Eldridge Parkway

This is a small park on Eldridge surrounded by luxury apartment complexes. It features two enclosed play areas for kids of different ages; multiple pavilions, restrooms and a drinking fountain; a boardwalk is located at the center; and a walking path winds its way along the perimeters of this small recreational oasis. Picnic tables with BBQ pits are located throughout. Ray Miller Park is small but very popular with neighborhood residents. The parking lot off Eldridge is often filled to capacity. Dogs and bikes are not allowed in this park.

Playground at Ray Miller Park on Eldridge Parkway across from Eclipse Apartments at Crescent Circle.

Denise's Playground and Gazebo at Miller Park

Drinking water fountain at Ray Miller Park near playground area at pavilion

George Bush Park South of Westheimer Parkway

This section of George Bush Park (named for first President Bush, who played a role in Buffalo Bayou wetlands preservation as then-congressman from Houston) is located South of Westheimer Parkway and accessible via South Barker-Cypress Boulevard. This is a large public park with vast surrounding fields. It has running water and restroom facilities and can accommodate large groups in pavilions for weekend get-togethers and special events. Pavilions can be reserved. Parking is not a problem here in this park, which serves all age groups and various interest, including aficionados of kite-flying. The surrounding flatlands are part of the reservoir and therefore flood after heavy rains. To the South, near the power line, is a duck pond with its own small parking lot, picnic tables and benches overlooking the lake, which is frequently visited by birds of various species throughout the year. Unlike other parts of Bush Park, such as Noble Road Trail, this area is open grassland, with only a few scattered trees, and thus exposed to the sun in the summer. 

OTHER PARKS: Cullen Park with multiple playgrounds, sports fields and facilities incl baseball and soccer; and picnic areas; velodrome; and Cullen Park Trail; Sergeant Hatch Sports Park (skateboarding and volley ball)

MAPS SHOWING PARK LOCATIONS

Duck lake and playground at George Bush Park - Westheimer Parkway / S. Barker Cypress Blvd.

Kids Fit Exercise Area at Terry Hershey Park next to former Exxon Campus
South of Katy Freeway

Aerial view of Ray Miller Park on Eldridge Parkway South of Briar Forest

New construction along Katy Freeway in the Energy Corridor

Second Office Tower emerging on Eldridge Parkway North of Memorial Drive
View from Terry Hershey Trail Extension North of Katy Freeway (Nov 2014)

Construction site North of Katy Freeway between Eldridge and SH-6
View from top of Addicks Dam 

New construction under way on North side of  I-10 near BP Campus
View from Addicks Dam Road, Hike and Bike Trail in foreground
at base of the Dam (Nov 2014 photo)

New Energy Corridor Office Buildings emerge on the Skyline

New office building on corner of I-10 and Eldridge, with a second one next to it under way
This view is from Barker Dam (July 10, 2014 photo with zoom)

New Class A Office Tower at I-10 and Eldridge

nearing completion (view from Terry Hershey Trail Extension North of Katy Freeway)

June 2014 photo

Energy Corridor Office Buildings over the Addicks Dam on approach via Eldridge Parkway south-bound

Worley Parsons and Forster Wheeler Office Towers - Terry Hershey Trail Extension Sign on the right is posted
near access point to the Addicks Dam Road (not open to the public for motor vehicle traffic, just hiking and biking)

Walkability improvements in Energy Corridor - North segment of Enclave Pkwy gets sidwalk

Walkability & Bikability get boost with sidewalk construction projects nearing completion on Enclave Parkway in Houston's Energy Corridor

  

Following completion of a sidewalk construction project in the mostly residential segment of Enclave Parkway South of Briar Forest Drive last year (2011), work is now continuing this summer on infrastructure improvement to facilitate walking and biking in the section from Briar Forest North to Eldridge Parkway, which is lined by large commercial office properties (not only energy companies), but also by acres of still undeveloped land with a nice stand of trees, giving the corporate presence a park-like feel.

The new paved (poured concrete) sidewalk will complete the connection to the Terry Hershey Hike & Bike system at the KBR office property near the Eldridge Parkway bridge over Buffalo Bayou. 

There is already a separate pedestrian/bike bridge on the East side of the two-span Buffalo Bayou bridge for motor vehicle traffic. A restroom facility with running water and hand dryer serves strollers, hikers, and bikers at an unmarked building North of the trail. It also features a drinking fountain outside. On the other side of Eldridge there is an open-air “runner’s shower”, although no one seems to ever use it. The doggie drinking fountain, by contrast, is much more popular.

Here are a few pics from the road work near 1200 Enclave Parkway, a large commercial office building, most of which was recently leased by Schlumberger, a company that already had a corporate presence nearby -- albeit not Class A like this one -- on Dairy Ashford Drive.

Sidewalk extension work under way near corporate park with fountain
(and lots of ducks) in the northern segment of Enclave Parkway
between Parkway Plaza Drive and intersection with Eldridge Parkway

A pair of ducks chattering at the existing sidewalk near the fountain

Corporate Park with lake and fountain on Enclave Parkway

The ducks are already quite accustomed to passers-by and line up to greet them
(more likely expecting to be fed)

Schlumberger's new address on Enclave Parkway - one of the large-company corporate tenants
with long-terms lease for lots of square footage of top-notch office space in this bucolic part of West Houston. No cattle anywhere to be seen, though, not to mention longhorns (but you can drive up North a few miles and gaze at some real Texas longhorn cattle at the Houston Farm & Ranch at Abercrombie Drive off  Patterson Road inside Addicks Reservoir if you are lucky)

Texas Longhorn in Bear Creek Pioneers Park
Houston Farm & Ranch / County Agricultural Extension Office