Through the construction of an extensive trail system and additional parks, Precinct 4 is creating connectivity along Cypress and Little Cypress creeks. The future Cypress Creek Greenway will connect a series of parks that will stretch from west of Hwy. 290 to the east where it will connect with the Spring Creek Greenway at Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center near Hwy. 59. As will the Spring Creek Greenway Project, this greenway will create natural floodplain buffer zones, contiguous trail connectivity, and linear wildlife habitat.
Cypress Creek Greenway Map (PDF)
Greenway Construction
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Gourley Nature Trail Map (PDF) |
The first completed piece of the Cypress Creek Greenway, the Gourley Nature Trail, was dedicated by Commissioner Jerry Eversole in honor of Genevieve and Robert Gourley who donated the easement. The trail connects Collins Park with Meyer Park, and is approximately 2,850 feet long and 10 feet wide. The Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition (CCFCC) provided funding for benches and signage located along the trail through a $10,000 grant they received from REI.
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Precinct 4 partnered with the Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association (GHORBA) to create Cypresswood Trail (see image on left side), a single-track, natural-surface mountain bike trail from east of Collins Park’s baseball fields to T. C. Jester Blvd. Mountain bicyclists have access to the trailhead access, parking lot, rest room, and water fountains in Collins Park.
The precinct also worked with local leaders to secure property once owned by Hewlett-Packard off of Chasewood and SH 249 (north of Cypresswood and south of Louetta). The Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve is a pristine piece of parkland that features a 40-acre lake with natural-surface walking trails.
The Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve is expected to open late in 2009, after an access road is built off of Chasewood.
Land acquisitions and future development will connect the Spring Creek Greenway to the Cypress Creek Greenway through 52 miles of equestrian trails* from Bush Intercontinental Airport to a 7.5-mile corridor along the Spring Creek Greenway (SCG). This connectivity project will provide a launch site for a new pedestrian bridge across Cypress Creek into the SCG.
*The 52 miles of equestrian trails may only be accessed and used by certified Airport Rangers in the George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) Airport Rangers program.
Funding
Project funding for the Cypress Creek Greenway comes from the Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition (CCFCC), Harris County Precinct 3, Harris County Precinct 4, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, municipal utility districts (MUDs), and other foundations.
Photos by Jim Robertson of CCFCC
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Canoeing on Cypress Creek |
Cypress Creek |
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Faulkey Gully Hike & Bike Trail |
V&W Partners LTD tract |
Cypress Creek Greenway Brochure (PDF)