San Jacinto Greenway

You’re Invited: San Jacinto Greenway Ribbon Cutting Saturday 11-1

Come to the Forest Cove Community Center this Saturday, April 15, from 11 AM to 1 PM at 1025 Marina Drive to celebrate the newest segment of San Jacinto Bayou Greenway!

RSVP at bit.ly/SanJacBayouGreenway to confirm your attendance. Please share this invitation with your friends, neighbors, and family. The whole community is invited.

Event Details

Enjoy:

  • Free tacos from local restaurant El Jimador
  • A guided bicycle ride along the new greenway (BYOB – bring your own bike)
  • DJ Waynehead spinning tunes throughout the event.

Schedule:

  • 11:00 AM: Festivities begin
  • 11:30 AM: Speakers and Ribbon Cutting with Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Martin
  • 12:15 PM: Group bike ride (20-minute roundtrip)
  • 01:00 PM: End

Park along the street and on the tennis courts behind the community center. 

Officials in attendance will include:

  • City of Houston Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Martin, District E
  • State Representative Charles Cunningham, District 127
  • Lawrence Bell, Harris County Precinct Three 
  • Dr. Tina Peterson, Director, Harris County Flood Control District
  • Chris Carroll, Interim Deputy Director, Greenspace Management, H.P.A.R.D.
  • Matt Tielkemeijer, Vice President, Forest Cove Property Owners Association
  • Beth White, President & CEO, Houston Parks Board

Project Information

Houston Parks Board started construction of this 2.5-mile Bayou Greenway segment from Woodland Hills Drive to Hamblen Road in January 2021 and completed it in March 2023. The trail does not yet stretch all the way to US59, but it’s getting close.

Screen Capture from Houston Parks Board website

Features of the San Jacinto Bayou Greenway include:

  • New off-street trails, as well as the use of existing residential streets for the trail system
  • Trail connection for Kingwood residents at Woodland Hills Drive to access the Bayou Greenway
  • Planting of native trees, meadows, and wildflowers
  • Benches, seating areas and overlooks
  • Interpretive and directional signage
  • Trash cans and recycling containers 

Recreation Enhancement, Flood-Damage Reduction

This project brings recreational amenities to the Forest Cove/Kingwood area and removes people from repetitive, devastating flooding. 

Houston Parks Board

Houston Parks Board partnered with Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) to purchase land and convert it to greenspace. A portion of the greenway goes through the now-demolished Riverview Townhome complex, which HCFCD acquired with a combination of FEMA funding and flood-bond funds.

I interviewed one family that had flooded eight times in five years. Hurricane Harvey dealt the death blow to the once-proud townhomes but it took almost another six years to obtain funding, demolish what remained of them, and build this trail system.

Forest Cove Townhomes waiting for demolition
Forest Cove Townhomes waiting for demolition in February of 2022

San Jacinto Bayou Greenway is part of a citywide initiative called Bayou Greenways. Houston Parks Board leads the initiative. Partners include: the City of Houston, its Parks and Recreation Department, and the Harris County Flood Control District.

Bayou Greenways creates a continuous linear park system along Houston’s major waterways, transforms more than 3,000 underutilized acres along the bayous into accessible greenspace, and connects 150 miles of hike-and-bike trails. 

Photos Taken on 4/14, Day Before Ribbon Cutting

Below are some photos of the Greenway taken one day before the ribbon cutting as final preparations were underway.

Looking west from Forest Cove Pool toward the UP railroad bridge over the San Jacinto West Fork. New trail snakes from middle left along river.
Still looking east toward railroad bridge at point where trail turns north toward Hamblen Road at Burning Tree Court.
Looking SE toward Forest Cove baseball fields along Forest Cove Drive.
Another view looking SE along Forest Cove Drive. where trail winds near one of many river inlets.
Looking back NW toward Forest Cove Community Center.
Hike and bike paths are concrete and wide enough to easily accommodate traffic in both directions.

Entrance to the segment that connects to the Kingwood trail system at the east end of Hamblen road. Shaded rest stops with benches dot the entire Greenway.

Hope to see you at the ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow. Don’t forget to RSVP. It will help them plan quantities for the free food. Bring the family, your bikes, and your helmets. The transformation in this area from Harvey to today is remarkable to see! It’s beautiful again!

Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/14/23

2054 Days since Hurricane Harvey