In a city as large as Houston, it is no surprise that the variety of Houston parks is vast and unique. In this month’s edition of Neighborhood Tours, we showcased a few Houston Parks we love at Nan and Company Properties. With 366 parks in the city, we narrowed our list down to highlight the following: Buffalo Bayou, Gerald D Hines Waterwall Park, Memorial Park, and Levy Park.
Buffalo Bayou
Buffalo Bayou is a 160-acre park that runs from Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street and is situated in the middle of Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive. With amazing views of the Downtown Houston skyline, Buffalo Bayou is the quintessential Houston park. Notable points include The Cistern, located at The Water Works and formerly a water reservoir; it now serves as a location for history and art exhibits. Currently, The Cistern houses the exhibition titled “Time No Longer,” which is an art installation that incorporates film and sound on display until December 12, 2021. Finally, a spot to check out in Buffalo Bayou is the Lost Lake located at 3501 Allen Parkway. Are you looking for a bite to eat? The Dunlavy overlooks this serene location that is the result of a lake that was lost in 1970 after a dam broke nearby.
Gerald D Hines WaterWall Park
Located in the heart of the Galleria area, Gerald D Hines Waterwall is named after Houston developer, Gerald D Hines and features a 64-foot fountain surrounded by live oaks trees. While you are in the area, take advantage of The Galleria mall, named the largest mall in the state of Texas with over 400 stores. Next, try any of the famous restaurants in the area, from La Table to Caracol. The Galleria area offers something for every foodie and has plenty of restaurants you do not want to miss.
Memorial Park
Next on the list of Houston Parks is Houston’s largest urban-center park, Memorial Park. Located inside the loop, Memorial Park offers a wide range of activities for lovers of the outdoors. Start with the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center located on the edge of Memorial Park. The Arboretum and Nature center take up 155 acres of the park and provide a serene nature escape for Houstonians and tourists. The goal of the center is to protect native plants and animals and also educate visitors. The trails of Memorial Park are not to be missed and vary in levels from easy to moderate. For golf fans, check out the Golf Course and Driving Range, named a PGA-certified, municipally-owned course.
Levy Park
Last but not least, we visited Levy Park, located in the Upper Kirby area of Houston. This park offers a vibrant experience for all ages with amenities including a community garden, a children’s playground, and a dog park. Stop for a bite to eat at Love Shack Restaurant and Side Dough, both from famous chef Tim Love. The children’s playground has recently been opened after the pandemic and features a climbing wall, slide, climbing sphere, lighted tunnels, and a water feature perfect for the warm weather.
In addition to numerous parks, Houston has so much to offer, from restaurants to museums.
If you are considering making a move to Houston, please do not hesitate to contact us Nan and Company Properties! Make sure to follow Nan on Instagram @ nanproperties to keep up with all of our neighborhood tours.