Sims Bayou Recreation

Sims Bayou, Houston, Texas Recreation Plan

Sims Bayou Recreation Open House 9 August 2004

View the release pamphlet here (pdf).

Sims Bayou Flood Damage Reduction Project, Houston, Texas, provides flood damage reduction for the extensively developed urban area along Sims Bayou in southern Harris County and Houston, Texas. The plan of improvement consists of an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally sensitive design beginning at the mouth of the bayou at the Houston Ship Channel. The plan includes 19.3 miles of channel enlargement, rectification, and erosion control. Environmental quality measures include saving and transplanting many trees, planting new trees, creating wetlands, and developing in-channel ponds. The flood control project is currently under construction, and it involves eleven major contracts and relocation requirements for two railroads. The estimated total project cost is $344 million. It is scheduled to be completed in 2010. Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) is the non-Federal sponsor.

Authorization
The Sims Bayou Recreation Plan was authorized with the Sims Bayou Flood Damage Reduction Project by the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (WRDA '86), Public Law (PL) 99-662, Section 401(a), and was subsequently amended for cost growth by the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 1990, PL 101-101, Section 103. The authorization has been further modified by the Water Resources Development Act of 1992, (WRDA '92), PL 102-580, Section 102(bb), to include, to the extent practicable, measures to improve environmental quality and riparian habitat. The authorizing document for the recreation plan is the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries, Texas, Flood Damage Prevention, Interim Report on Sims Bayou (1982), later updated in the Sims Bayou General Design Memorandum, Channel Improvements Mile 0.0 to 19.3 (1989).

The plan has not yet been implemented due to lack of sponsorship. The City of Houston (COH), by letter of April 8, 1999, reinitiated its coordination activities with the COE (initiated in 1993) for sponsorship of the recreation plan and discussions have been ongoing to establish an agreement for design and construction.

Since a period of 10 years passed since project authorization a limited reevaluation study was initiated to reestablish recreation plan viability. The limited reevaluation report (LRR) describes study activities for revalidating the Sims Bayou Recreation Plan, and it will serve as supporting documentation for the Project Cooperation Agreement with the COH Department of Public Works and Engineering. The LRR evaluates the recreation plan for compliance with current policies, updates costs and benefits, and specifies trail alignment and plan features in light of current Flood Damage Reduction project information and non-Federal sponsor funding limitations.

Description of the Authorized Plan
The recreation plan authorized for Sims Bayou, Flood Damage Prevention in the 1989 General Design Memorandum, Channel Improvements Mile 0.0 to 19.3, consists of 22 miles of hike and bike trails within the channel rights-of-way, with the trails connecting to seven existing city parks along the bayou. The facility designs were based on criteria established in EM 1110-2-400 and ER 1120-2-400. In addition to the features specified below, the above documents provide guidance concerning minimum quantities of trash receptacles, water fountains and parking areas for picnic areas. Recreational features include:

• 22 miles of multi-purpose trails
• 3 pedestrian bridges across improved bayou and lateral drainage
• Trail alignment begins at Milby Park and extends in a westerly direction within the channel right-of-way (ROW) to the eastern boundary of Glenbrook Golf Course. The City proposed to build the trail around the golf course and through Charlton Park. The trail resumes at the western side of the golf course and extends west to the Gulf Freeway. The trail continues on both sides of the bayou to Telephone Road. Harris County Precinct 1 proposed a trail along the south side of the channel from Telephone Road to Scott Street. The Federal channel would run along the north bank from the Gulf Freeway to Scott Street. From Scott Street to Almeda Road, the trail continues along the north bank. West from Almeda Road, the trail runs along both sides of the bayou, incorporating two Harris County Precinct 1 trail segments from Townwood Park to White Heather Street and Post Oak Road to Croquet Street.
• 124 picnic tables and cooking grills for Milby (30), Reveille (10), Law (30), Sims Bayou (20), Scottcrest (20), Stewart (10), and Townwood (4) Parks.
• 3 Playgrounds with swings, seesaws, whirls, and multi-play structures for Law, Sims Bayou, and Stewart Parks. Fifty benches and landscaping would be provided in conjunction with play areas.
• Restroom facilities for Milby Park.
• Parking areas for Milby, Law, Stewart, and Scottcrest Parks. Existing parking at Sims Bayou Park to be enlarged.
• Signs and lighting: Identification signs to be located at the entrance to each recreational area. Standard directional signs to be placed along major arteries to provide access information. Parking areas, restrooms, and recreational facilities within park areas will have security lighting. Lighting would be provided under the I-45 bridge as well.
  
  

THE UPDATED PLAN

Design Changes
The main differences between the authorized plan and the updated plan include changes in trail length and alignment, and an overall reduction in facilities. These changes reflect current real estate, safety and funding conditions.

The authorized trail length was 22 miles. The updated trail length is 14 miles. The authorized plan assumed that HCFCD would obtain real estate fee title on both sides of the bayou, and that the multi-purpose trail would follow on both sides. As construction of the flood control project progressed, HCFCD obtained fee on one side of the bayou only. Since Federal regulation prohibits placement of a multi-purpose trail without fee, the alignment of the trail in the updated plan is along one side of the bayou only. The trail is further reduced in length by a change in the location of the downstream trailhead. Authorized at Milby Park, the updated downstream trailhead is at I-45. After conducting a field survey during this reevaluation, the design team observed several design and safety issues that prompted the relocation of the trailhead to I-45 rather than Milby Park. First, the flood control project terminates further upstream, near Glenbrook Golf Course. The bank from Milby Park to Glenbrook Golf Course is covered with thick brush making construction more costly. Also, there are significant health and safety issues along this reach, which include a wastewater treatment facility on the north bank of the bayou, and a refinery on the other. At Glenbrook Golf Course, the trail would have to go through the golf course, which could subject the City to public safety and liability issues. For these reasons, it was decided that a trail from Milby Park to I-45 would not be recommended. The non-Federal recreation sponsor, the City of Houston, actively participated in the decision process.

The estimated general facility quantities for both the authorized and updated plans can be found on table 1 below. The facilities are quantified by estimated construction reach. New facilities have been added in parks by the City of Houston since the plan was authorized, therefore some quantities may be less than originally estimated, other quantities (lighting, signage) will be specified later in the design process. Facilities incorporated into the updated Recreation Plan are based on guidance established in ER 1165-2-400 "Recreational Planning, Development, and Management Policies."

The proposed recreation development plan provides a safe, cost effective design based on the health, welfare, and enjoyment of the public. Each area and associated facilities were designed with anticipated usage and maintenance requirements. Equal access was also a priority. Preservation of the natural environment and incorporation of existing facilities were also significant criteria in the layout of the plan.

The plan is compatible with existing park facilities and with long-range plans of the City of Houston and Harris County. Accessible links to both the City of Houston's Bikeway Network and proposed "The Hill at Sims Greenway" Biking Facility have been incorporated into the updated plan.

The updated plan includes 14 miles of new multi-purpose trails along the banks of the improved Sims Bayou channel, with the trails connecting to six existing park sites along the bayou. Harris County Precinct 1 has constructed about 2.5 miles of trail. The existing and proposed trails are integral parts of the continuous trail plan. Additional features in parks will serve as rest stops (sitting areas) and activity nodes for the greenbelt trail system.

The trail system also includes pedestrian bridges for access across the improved bayou and lateral drainage facilities. In addition to providing a recreational facility, the multi-purpose trail will provide a link between parks, schools and neighborhoods. Jogging, walking and bicycling are popular activities, which will be greatly enhanced by this trail system since it is protected from vehicular traffic.

Facilities Layout
The multi-purpose trail and associated facilities have been located on fee-owned properties only. The trail will meander up and down the channel slopes from the top of bank down to the flood benches and further down to the maintenance berm in some areas such as when crossing under bridges. Facilities have been designed to accommodate handicapped persons.

The multi-purpose trail begins at a proposed new trailhead located within the project rights-of-way on the east side of I-45, on the north bank just upstream of Glenbrook Golf Course. At this point, the trail connects to the City of Houston's on-road Bikeway Network and continues on to other non-federal designated routes downstream of I-45.

The proposed downstream trailhead will include numerous parking spaces, signage with recreation descriptions and trail route maps, picnic areas, trash receptacles, benches, exercise stations and a water fountain. From the proposed trailhead, the trail crosses under I-45 and continues upstream on the north bank to Reveille Park.

The facilities at Reveille Park have been supplemented with exercise stations, picnic areas, benches, trash receptacles, and a water fountain. The trail will tie into the existing trail within the park. From Reveille Park, a single trail is proposed along the north bank of the bayou all the way to Stewart Park.

The trail will tie into the City of Houston's proposed trail in Stewart Park. New facilities proposed will include parking spaces, benches, trash receptacles, picnic areas and a water fountain. From Stewart Park, the trail continues upstream going under a railroad bridge and Mykawa Road. The trail continues on the north bank only until it reaches the ball fields at Law Park.

The facilities proposed for addition to Law Park include benches, exercise stations, picnic areas, a trash receptacle, and a water fountain. At Law Park the trail will cross the bayou over a proposed HCFCD pedestrian bridge. The trail will then proceed through the park's ball fields and connect to the sidewalk on Airport Blvd. The trail alignment shifts to Airport Blvd. because of a settlement between HCFCD and the property owner that denies use of property for recreational purposes. The trail will continue on Airport Blvd., until running back into the bayou right-of-way just downstream of the MLK Bridge. Continuing on along the south side of the bayou, the trail will cross over a lateral via an existing pedestrian bridge near Leitrim Road. The trail will continue on the south side where it will cross over Airport Blvd., and Scott Street.

Just upstream of Scott Street, the trail will tie into Scottcrest Park on the north side of the bayou via a proposed pedestrian bridge. The trail will continue on the south side of the bayou where it will eventually connect with the proposed City of Houston biking facility, "The Hill at Sims Greenway", just downstream of SH-288.

The trail intersection connecting "The Hill at Sims Greenway" will be enhanced with additional signage, benches, and picnic areas. Continuing on, the trail will cross under SH-288 and will maintain its location on the south side until reaching Almeda Road, where the trail will cross the bayou to the north side.

After crossing two laterals, the trail will reach Townwood Park where it will tie into the existing park trail. New facilities proposed for Townwood Park include exercise stations, picnic areas, benches, and a water fountain. From Townwood Park, the trail will continue on the north side of the bayou where it will tie into two separate segments of Precinct 1 trails already existing along the bayou. From Post Oak Street, the existing trails line both sides of the bayou until reaching Croquet Street where the trail system terminates.

The proposed new features for this upstream trailhead include signage, numerous picnic areas, benches, trash receptacles, exercise stations, a water fountain and additional parking spaces.