New Bike and Walking Trail Opens in Houston, With Promises of More

The new Spring Branch Trail in northwest Houston is a 'harbinger' of more bike and pedestrian infrastructure to come.

1 minute read

December 13, 2020, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The city of Houston has recently added a bike trail to connect northwest Houston with the region's growing trail system, according to an article by Dug Begley.

The Spring Branch Trail is 2.4-miles long, "[connecting] neighborhoods to shopping centers along major streets and [passing] by local schools, as well as Schwartz Park," reports Begley.

As noted by Begley, a pair of gaps in the trail will require future work, but the trail is being touted as a boon to local residents looking for ways to get outside for exercise and fresh air during the pandemic. According to sources cited in the article, a lot of people in the area began using the trail before the official opening.

The Spring Branch Management District funded the project with $1.7 million and the Houston Parks Board and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department developed the trail. The Spring Branch Trail is part of Houston Parks Board’s Beyond the Bayous initiative, "a shared vision to bring more parks and trails to Houston so that everyone can enjoy equitable access to green spaces," according to the project website.

Friday, December 11, 2020 in Houston Chronicle

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

A group of officials stand in a patch of dirt holding golden shovels and white hardhats.

California city breaks ground on transit connector

The project includes three mobility hubs and a pedestrian bridge.

4 hours ago - Mass Transit

People walking by a brick school in Cambridge.

After public outcry, Massachusetts city releases housing development tracker

Cambridge’s tracker currently shows 250 housing projects in various stages of development.

5 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

A rendering of the park, with green grass and a bass sculpture that looks like several tall arches in a row.

40 years after approval, Chicago breaks ground on new park

The park honors Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the city’s first permanent non-native settler.

6 hours ago - Block Club Chicago