Today, Saturday, April 15, 2023, marked a milestone in the recovery of the Lake Houston Area from Hurricane Harvey.
The San Jacinto Greenway, a gorgeous linear park with hike and bike trails, has replaced the Riverview Townhome complex so utterly destroyed by floodwaters in Forest Cove. At exactly 12:16 and 21 seconds, more than a dozen City, County, State, Federal, School Board, Houston Parks Board, Flood Control and Forest Cove officials officially cut a symbolic bright green ribbon to open the first 2.5 mile segment of the new San Jacinto West Fork Greenway.
The event had something for just about everyone:
Speakers who put the event in perspective
Free tacos from El Jimador, a local restaurant on Hamblen Road.
Refreshments
A DJ spinning tunes
The award-winning Riverwood Middle School cheer squad
Shaded picnic tables
Abundant sunshine
It had the feeling of a cross between a small-town festival and a Hallmark movie.
Neighbors greeted old friends. Proud parents showed off babies. Officials up for re-election pressed the flesh. And everyone, it seemed, took selfies with everyone else.
People Refusing to Accept Defeat
An almost audible sigh of relief hung in the air. Today was about people who refused to accept defeat. Who fought together to rebuild their community after 240,000 cubic feet per second swept some entire townhome complexes off their foundations.
Photo of townhome one year after Harvey in 2018. Imagine this times 80.
There were dark days during the seemingly endless buyout phase of the project when everything felt so hopeless. What remained of the townhomes became a magnet for arson, drug dealing, illegal dumping and graffiti.
At times it felt like the blight might never go away. But it did. Beautiful triumphed over bleak. And this morning, despite overnight thunderstorms, not a leaf was out of place and a community stood tall once again.
Award-Winning Riverwood Middle School Cheer TeamCrowd mingling among booths early in the event.HoustonMayor Pro Tem Dave Martin (left) and Humble ISD School Board Member Robert ScarfoBeth White, President & CEO, Houston Parks Board, introduced speakers and explained how the project came to be, including a hefty grant from the Kinder Foundation.No chairs? No problem! Just pull up some pavement.Dr. Tina Petersen, Executive Director of Harris County Flood Control District talked about the buyouts, FEMA, and how this area will remain green in perpetuity.A guided bicycle tour of the trail system attracted families, teens and retirees.Meanwhile, some people decided to explore the new San Jacinto Greenway on their own in the other direction.
Harris County Precinct 3 will reportedly finish pushing the San Jacinto Greenway through to Edgewater Park at US59, but has not announced a timetable yet. More news to follow when that becomes available.
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.
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.
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 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!
On 4/13/23 at 8 A.M. sharp, Northpark Drive expansion started after 10 years of planning. Dignitaries gathered in the parking lot of a local business for the groundbreaking ceremony even as surveyors were already working father east and Harper Brothers Construction started prepositioning equipment.
This project will make Kingwood safer in the next big flood. It will also make the Livable Forest more livable by reducing traffic congestion.
Ceremonial Kickoff
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin, Council Member-at-Large Sally Alcorn, the board of the Lake Houston Area Redevelopment Authority, and Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray all grabbed shovels for the ceremonial kickoff.
Gray will coordinate with the City on this project. Even though it is within the City, Phase One falls entirely in Montgomery County.
Martin acted as master of ceremonies and reminded everyone of the work the late TIRZ Chairman Stan Sarman did to keep this project moving through the years.
How Project Began
Martin called this the first major infrastructure project in Kingwood since the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge was built between 1990 and 1992. He also provided a brief history of the project. More than a decade ago, the City considered expanding Kingwood Drive.
Traffic studies showed that Kingwood Drive ranked as the most congested thoroughfare in the City and was among the most dangerous. However, the community’s desire to preserve the trees along Kingwood Drive – one of the signature attractions of the community – put that project on indefinite hold.
The City then began looking at Northpark Drive as an alternative. It was ranked the fifth most congested thoroughfare in the City and also one of the most dangerous.
Benefits of Project
Martin emphasized the benefits of the project during emergencies, such as Hurricane Harvey, which virtually turned Kingwood into an island. He also talked about the increasing length of trains and how they could block Kingwood Drive, Northpark and Ford Road simultaneously.
Martin said that the Northpark Drive expansion will provide a bridge over the railroad tracks and Loop 494 that lets citizens, firetrucks and ambulances enter and exit Kingwood 24/7/365 without delay. The City will also raise Northpark in places that frequently flood, i.e., at the diversion ditch and over Bens Branch.
Culverts will replace the ditch now down the center of Northpark Drive so the thoroughfare can expand to six lanes.
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin
The first phase of the project from 59 to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch should take about two years to complete. Traffic frequently backs up most of this distance, especially when trains pass through the area.
Pictures of Groundbreaking
Below are pictures that show today’s ceremony and scope of the project.
Martin (left) and Turner (right) kicked off the ceremony by talking about the need for the project and thanking all those present for their support.Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who has only eight and a half months left in office, drew a laugh from the crowd when he quipped that residents could complain to someone else about traffic delays during construction.First shovels in a two year project. Gray, Martin and Turner are fourth, fifth and sixth from left respectively.Traffic backed up in backgroundunderscores need for project.Looking SW.Drone shot taken as event (bottom middle) was breaking up also shows where bridge will go over UP railroad tracks and Loop 494 in upper right.Looking west. Another drone shot taken on previous afternoon at 3PM shows inbound traffic backed up all the way to 59 in background .Looking east toward Kingwood. First phase of project will go to end of ditch at top of frame.
Construction always entails some pain. But the benefits will far outweigh any inconvenience. I can’t wait to be one of the first to drive over the bridge that will alleviate the perpetual congestion at the intersection above.
San Jacinto Greenway Officially Opens
Today, Saturday, April 15, 2023, marked a milestone in the recovery of the Lake Houston Area from Hurricane Harvey.
The San Jacinto Greenway, a gorgeous linear park with hike and bike trails, has replaced the Riverview Townhome complex so utterly destroyed by floodwaters in Forest Cove. At exactly 12:16 and 21 seconds, more than a dozen City, County, State, Federal, School Board, Houston Parks Board, Flood Control and Forest Cove officials officially cut a symbolic bright green ribbon to open the first 2.5 mile segment of the new San Jacinto West Fork Greenway.
The event had something for just about everyone:
Neighbors greeted old friends. Proud parents showed off babies. Officials up for re-election pressed the flesh. And everyone, it seemed, took selfies with everyone else.
People Refusing to Accept Defeat
An almost audible sigh of relief hung in the air. Today was about people who refused to accept defeat. Who fought together to rebuild their community after 240,000 cubic feet per second swept some entire townhome complexes off their foundations.
There were dark days during the seemingly endless buyout phase of the project when everything felt so hopeless. What remained of the townhomes became a magnet for arson, drug dealing, illegal dumping and graffiti.
At times it felt like the blight might never go away. But it did. Beautiful triumphed over bleak. And this morning, despite overnight thunderstorms, not a leaf was out of place and a community stood tall once again.
Harris County Precinct 3 will reportedly finish pushing the San Jacinto Greenway through to Edgewater Park at US59, but has not announced a timetable yet. More news to follow when that becomes available.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/15/2023
2055 Days since Hurricane Harvey
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:
Schedule:
Park along the street and on the tennis courts behind the community center.
Officials in attendance will include:
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.
Features of the San Jacinto Bayou Greenway include:
Recreation Enhancement, Flood-Damage Reduction
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.
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.
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
Northpark Drive Expansion Starting Today
On 4/13/23 at 8 A.M. sharp, Northpark Drive expansion started after 10 years of planning. Dignitaries gathered in the parking lot of a local business for the groundbreaking ceremony even as surveyors were already working father east and Harper Brothers Construction started prepositioning equipment.
This project will make Kingwood safer in the next big flood. It will also make the Livable Forest more livable by reducing traffic congestion.
Ceremonial Kickoff
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin, Council Member-at-Large Sally Alcorn, the board of the Lake Houston Area Redevelopment Authority, and Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray all grabbed shovels for the ceremonial kickoff.
Gray will coordinate with the City on this project. Even though it is within the City, Phase One falls entirely in Montgomery County.
Martin acted as master of ceremonies and reminded everyone of the work the late TIRZ Chairman Stan Sarman did to keep this project moving through the years.
How Project Began
Martin called this the first major infrastructure project in Kingwood since the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge was built between 1990 and 1992. He also provided a brief history of the project. More than a decade ago, the City considered expanding Kingwood Drive.
Traffic studies showed that Kingwood Drive ranked as the most congested thoroughfare in the City and was among the most dangerous. However, the community’s desire to preserve the trees along Kingwood Drive – one of the signature attractions of the community – put that project on indefinite hold.
The City then began looking at Northpark Drive as an alternative. It was ranked the fifth most congested thoroughfare in the City and also one of the most dangerous.
Benefits of Project
Martin emphasized the benefits of the project during emergencies, such as Hurricane Harvey, which virtually turned Kingwood into an island. He also talked about the increasing length of trains and how they could block Kingwood Drive, Northpark and Ford Road simultaneously.
Martin said that the Northpark Drive expansion will provide a bridge over the railroad tracks and Loop 494 that lets citizens, firetrucks and ambulances enter and exit Kingwood 24/7/365 without delay. The City will also raise Northpark in places that frequently flood, i.e., at the diversion ditch and over Bens Branch.
The first phase of the project from 59 to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch should take about two years to complete. Traffic frequently backs up most of this distance, especially when trains pass through the area.
Pictures of Groundbreaking
Below are pictures that show today’s ceremony and scope of the project.
Construction always entails some pain. But the benefits will far outweigh any inconvenience. I can’t wait to be one of the first to drive over the bridge that will alleviate the perpetual congestion at the intersection above.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/13/2023
2053 Days since Hurricane Harvey