Terry Hershey Park in the Spring

Pavilion at Terry Hershey Park near Playground
(North of Memorial Drive at Langham Creek) 

A pair of black-bellied whistling ducks on the adjoining pond 

A turtle on the edge of the water 

The sundial at Terry Hershey Park with cyclists passing
on paved trail 

Cardinal Trail Marker at Terry Hershey Park 

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

Playground equipment in enclosed kids area at Terry Hershey Park

Playground at Terry Hershey Park on Memorial Drive
with colorful equipment, including slides

Enclosed children's play area with equipment to climb on
at Terry Hershey Park on Memorial Dr. near Memorial Mews, Langham Creek

Playground at George Bush Park (South Barker Cypress Blvd)

George Bush Park signage with blooming shrub in July (2014 pic)

Playground equipment at George Bush Park South of Westheimer Parkway

Kites stuck in solitary tree on the open prairie land East of playground and pavilions

Pavilions available for  family gatherings and fiestas
by reservation

Cullen Park (Addicks Reservoir) in pics

Like George Bush Park, Cullen Park is a huge suburban park, more properly thought of as a cluster of parks in a wilderness area, linked by a paved hike & bike trail that runs East all the way to Highway 6, and provides a link to Bear Creek Pioneers Park via Patterson Road. Like Bear Creek Park, Cullen Park also features numerous pavilions and picnic areas with tables and benches, and sports facilities at the "Phase" located near Saums Road.

Not the mention a velodrome, which -- by contrast -- is a rather unique facility in the area. 

Playground area with sprinkling water fun for kids at Cullen Park on Saums Road.
Park pavilion with red roof in the background

City of Houston Park Regs posted at Cullen Park
The Cite of Houston leases the park from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and maintains it

Picnic table with benches in tree-shaded area of Cullen Park

Bridge over South Mayde Creek at Cullen Park with picnic table-bench set in front

Pavilion at Cullen Park - Saums Road near Barker-Cypress

Sports facility / field at Cullen Park

Sunset at Cullen Park in West Houston

The Cullen Hike and Bike Trail passes South of the West Houston Airport, where another large developed park area with amenities and playground for kids is located. There is also an expansive meadow (mowed) bordered by green wilderness (grasses, brush, small trees) with an abundance of butterflies and other insects during the warm part of the year. 

Some segments of the trail are lined by trees and shaded by the canopy. Others cross open green spaces. A trail also runs alongside South Mayde Creek, one of the waterways that feeds into the Addicks Reservoir and ultimately drains into Buffalo Bayou (and on into the ship channel further downstream).

Picture-perfect Day at Terry Hershey Park on Memorial Drive (July 2012 photos)

Memorial Drive from Terry Hershey Park parking lot. Eldridge Place office towers in the distance

Metro Bus inbound on Memorial Dr passing Terry Hershey Park, crossing Langham Creek Bridge

Children's playground at Terry Hershey Park North of Memorial Drive, South of Katy Freeway,
pavilion and restrooms nearby

Squirrel on tree stump in Terry Hershey Park

Kid Fit Park build with support from BP, which is a neighbor to the park

Exercise equipment at Kid Fit area in Terry Hershey Park

Terry Hershey Park in white, green, and blue (July 2012)

Plenty of parking space for visitors to Terry Hershey Park and Trail in the parking lot just South of the freeway,
which is accessed from inbound I-10 feeder road between Highway 6 and Eldridge Parkway