Spring Creek Greenway

[ChannelTwoNews]

https://communityimpact.com/houston/spring-klein/development/2023/05/11/precinct-3-nears-completion-on-37m-cypress-creek-greenway-trail-additions/

"One of the projects—Loop 2—was completed in the first quarter of 2023, said Jeannie Peng, senior communications specialist for Harris County Precinct 3, in a May 9 email. The project consisted of added boardwalks for pedestrian use.

The other project—Loop 1—is expected to be finished at the end of May. This project, which is currently underway, will include pedestrian undercrossings at Hwy. 249. Loop 1 is designed to improve pedestrian usage and safety, according to Precinct 3’s website.

Trails connecting both loops will be completed this summer, Peng said. A small playground and picnic area will also be added."

[springcityparts]

Not sure if we have a topic already for Spring Creek. Wanted to get a sense of how much of Spring Creek currently has trails. Google Maps is not updated and the Houston Bike Plan Map does not include it because most of it is outside of CoH limits.

I know the longest completed section is from I45 to US-59 (~16.5 miles)

there are approximately 5 miles of trails west of 45 but I’m not sure how far they go.

what about Tomball? 

[004n063]

37 minutes ago, emmanume said:

Not sure if we have a topic already for Spring Creek. Wanted to get a sense of how much of Spring Creek currently has trails. Google Maps is not updated and the Houston Bike Plan Map does not include it because most of it is outside of CoH limits.

I know the longest completed section is from I45 to US-59 (~16.5 miles)

there are approximately 5 miles of trails west of 45 but I’m not sure how far they go.

what about Tomball? 

I don't have an answer for you, but I remember making the trip up there last summer to go for a ride with a friend. I was impressed with the trail - smooth and, most importantly, well-shaded pretty much the whole way. 

But it also felt like it started and ended in the middle of nowhere? Like literally right on a highway at both ends. Which felt weird because I knew that it goes from pretty much The Woodlands to pretty much Kingwood - two communities with a good amount of bicycle infrastructure. Yes, they're quite far apart, but I'd have to imagine that there'd be at least *some* utility in connecting them directly?

(Though to be fair, the SCGT did seem to have a bit of a "no e-bikes" vibe, so I don't know how realistic of a commuting option it really is...)

[ChannelTwoNews]

Good news for efforts to mitigate flooding within the watershed.

T.C. Jester Stormwater Detention Basin K500-23-00 (hcfcd.org)

More than $23 million committed to stormwater detention in Houston area’s Cypress Creek watershed – Houston Public Media

"A study from the flood control district indicates most flooding along Cypress Creek is caused by stormwater backing into rivers or streams, which then overflow into neighborhoods. According to the district, the T.C Jester Stormwater Detention Basin will be developed on around 171.5 acres, with construction expected to start in early 2024.

Peterson said some other stormwater detention basin projects in the Cypress Creek watershed will start construction in the next six to nine months, and the remainder of them will be in construction no later than 2024."

[ChannelTwoNews]

Here are a couple of threads that refer to the development of the Greenway over the years, but you'd have to search for a mention of the phrase to know what either was about. Maybe they could be merged into this one?

Here is a page for the Greenway

https://www.bayoulandconservancy.org/spring-creek-greenway

There's also an article from the Chronicle from 2021 that discusses the expansion from someone who chose to hike it. It covers both the Greenway Trail & Nature Trails.

https://www.chron.com/life/wildlife/article/spring-creek-greenway-trail-houston-hiking-16500163.php

and some photos

Portions of the greenway offer white sand beach along the creek.

Courtesy of Harris County Pct 4

An aerial view of the Panther Branch waterway in the Montgomery County preserve.

Courtesy of Bayou Land Conservancy

A paved path connects the parking lot to the trail.

Courtesy of Harris County Pct 4

This map of the Spring Creek Greenway shows the forest's planned path from Humble to Tomball. 

Courtesy of Harris County Pct 4

Harris County has opened a new trailhead for Spring Creek Greenway Trail at Rothwood Park. It is not connected to other parts of the trail.

Courtesy of Harris County Pct 4

Beaver Pond on the western side of the nature trail boasts an active beaver dam.

Courtesy of Bayou Land Conservancy

The 7,000-acre Spring Creek Greenway is considered the longest connected urban forest in the nation.

Courtesy of Harris County Pct 4

Some ponds in the greenway contain fish and even active beaver dams.

Courtesy of Harris County Pct 4

Ponds make for a beautiful stop while hiking or biking.

Courtesy of Harris County Pct 4

[strickn]

Maybe we could expand this topic to assess the bigger picture beyond active threads like those and this one:  

Since the main feature of these woodland corridors is their proximity to their creeks and bayous, I have a recent offline personal "Southeast Texas Blueways" collection of notes I will be happy to dump into this thread if there is interest.

[strickn]

No taxpayer dollars were wasted investigating whether anybody has actually regarded a little-known and incomplete greenway as the nation’s longest connected urban forest but dude what a long forest 

“For Your Consideration”

[strickn]

To walk back my disrespectful snarking, we can still easily see that this urban forest is longer, even though the trail doesn't take on a forest character until a few linear miles south of downtown:

link: https://www.cleveland.com/resizer/fBfuHB8uc7-x24YAXrhGinZpDqA=/700x0/smart/advancelocal-adapter-image-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/expo.advance.net/img/091cb4eabb/width2048/ade_screenshot20190614at31732pm.jpeg