Westchase District is home to some of the nation's largest corporations: Xerox, Phillips 66 and Jacob Engineering, to name a few. Great for the local economy, but big business has created a concrete jungle of highways, side streets, towering commercial buildings and rows of residential homes.
Starting in late 2016 and early 2017, the jungle will get a bit greener with the expansion of the Westchase District Trail System. Soon, locals will be able to navigate the city safely on foot because of ongoing progress to the Brays Bayou Connector Trail portion of the system that started in March of this year.
The latest piece of the trail scheduled for completion by the end of 2016, said Irma Sanchez, project manager for the trail system, are two underpasses at Westpark Tollway and Harwin Drive.
The foot paths spanning north to south will provide a place for hikers and bikers to safely bypass busy streets.
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"It's 100 percent off road," said Sanchez.
Brays Bayou Connector Trail, when completed, will extend 2.2 miles, and connect Richmond Avenue to Bellaire Boulevard and terminate at Arthur Storey Park.
So far, the only completed area of the trail is the 1.35 mile-long Library Loop Trail - named for the Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library - which was finished in 2012. It runs east to west between Wilcrest and Rogerdale, and has an access point to the soon-to-be completed trail at Richmond Avenue.
The trail is a much-needed green break for the urban residents, said Sherry Fox, vice president of communications for the Westchase District.
"Trails and parks are things everybody wants in their neighborhoods," said Fox. "Our area of town is park-poor."
The project is funded by the Westchase District, a group tasked with economic development, public safety and beautification of the area. Although the project is being developed by The Westchase District, the ownership of the land is divided between the property owners whose homes abut the trail and the Harris County Flood Control District.
Use of the land has been, "granted to us (Westchase District) in perpetuity," said Sanchez.
Fox said the trail system, which will total just less than four miles when all parcels have been completed, fills two niches for the urban community. It serves as a transit system for people who need to get from point A to point B and prefer to walk or bike, and for those who can't afford a vehicle.
Future plans slated for 2017 are the completion of the Houston Community College Campus Trail, which will allow on-street access from Richmond Avenue and connect to the HCC Alief campus - all without ever crossing a busy intersection.
The second niche, Fox said, is the need for more natural areas in the middle of a heavily developed city.
"Any master-planned community under way today would plan the parks and trails first, and build the office and residential assets around those trails," said Jim Murphy, Westchase District general manager. "We're trying to build trails in an already developed urban community, using existing resources."
Fox calls it a "linear park," because, not only does the trail system provide walking and running paths, but the Library Loop Trail includes a small, freestanding book depository that hikers can borrow from and donate to, an exercise station and a butterfly garden. As the trail begins to take shape, Fox said they will add the same amenities to the new portion as well.
The exercise site has five pieces of equipment; some for push-ups, another for ab work. The Westchase District website has posted videos with an exercise trainer demonstrating how to use the various pieces of equipment in order to help residents add to their fitness routines as they walk, jog or bike the trail.
Alongside the fitness stations are shrubs and flowers specifically chosen to attract the Monarch butterfly as they pass through Texas on their way to Mexico during their migration season.
All the extras seem to be attracting more than the Monarch Butterfly.
Fox says that even though the project isn't finished yet, a number of people are hopping on the trail as soon as the cement dries on the path.
She says she sees running groups out there, and even non-traditional trail runners and hikers that are taking advantage of the new outdoor space.
Future plans include spikes that will line the trail with information about the local wildlife, animals and history of the Westchase area that trail-goers can read as they make their way through the bustling west-Houston borough.
"Having these trails present a great new amenity for the employees and residents of Westchase District," said Murphy.
For more information about the trail and the Westchase District, visit westchasedistrict.com.
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