America’s Great Public Spaces in Houston

Buffalo Bayou flows over 53 miles from Katy to Galveston – and just south of Montrose at Allen Parkway- passing by several major parks and numerous smaller neighborhood ones.  The Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s jurisdiction officially begins when Buffalo Bayou hits Shepherd Drive and includes 10-square miles of the bayou corridor. The bayou flows through Buffalo Bayou Park along Allen Parkway, through the northern part of downtown.  And last week, our not-s0-little waterway gained media attention when Mayor Parker sideswiped San Antonio’s riverwalk. But that’s not the story …

The news is: Buffalo Bayou was just named one of the 10 Great Public Spaces for 2012 by the American Planning Association! From their website, “Great Places in America are places of exemplary character, quality, and planning. Great Streets, Great Neighborhoods, and Great Public Spaces are selected annually and announced in October.”

ABC-13 KTRK quotes Mayor Parker as saying, “”After 176 years, it’s great that not just Houstonians are re-acquainting themselves with Buffalo Bayou but we are getting national attention as well.” And “The city says Buffalo Bayou remains a work in progress with a multi-million dollar renovation project that is expected to be completed in 2015.”

With fall upon us, where do you spend your outdoor time? Have you taken advantage of one of America’s greatest public spaces … in your own backyard?

Take a stroll this weekend with Buffalo Bayou Partnership‘s FREE Native Plants and Prairie Tour or make your reservation for their Oktoberfest Brews Cruise on Buffalo Bayou on Oct 16th. Details, reservations and tickets available at www.buffalobayou.org/eventsrec.html.