Houston, Texas

Bayou Greenways 2020 (BG2020) is a $220-million public-private initiative that, when complete, will connect 150 miles of trails and linear parks along Houston's far-reaching system of bayou waterways. BG2020 is transforming 3,000 acres of underutilized open space along the bayous into linear parks and hike-and-bike trails and adding more than 80 new miles of trails within the city limits that will ultimately put nearly 1.5 million Houstonians within 1.5 miles of a Bayou Greenway.

The project is built on a century-old vision by urban planner Arthur Comey to create a connected, equitably distributed trails and green-space network accessible to all residents that showcases the ecological and historical significance of the bayous—a system of waterways that influenced the founding of Houston. Specific objectives of the BG2020 plan include the following:

• Transform underutilized land along the bayous to create an equitable distribution of accessible public green space
• Create new places for Houstonians to connect, meet, recreate and celebrate
• Maximize the physical and visual access to the greenways
• Inspire respect for the natural setting and ecological significance of the bayou corridors

The transformative project is helping redefine Houston as a beautiful, healthy and active city of the future.

Funding for BG2020 includes $100 million in City of Houston bonds, passed by Houston voters in 2012, and $120 million in philanthropic support, raised by the Houston Parks Board.

Trail of the Month: Texas’ Brays Bayou Greenway

Trail of the Month, February 2017

Built on the longest of the BG2020 corridor projects currently under development in Houston, the Brays Bayou Greenway Trail—when complete—will provides more than 30 miles of connected parks, natural areas, museums, cultural attractions and employment centers in southwestern Houston.

By Laura Stark

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