Willow Waterhole Greenway, located in southwest Houston just south of Meyerland, is a 291-acre drainage system of interconnected lakes and open spaces that absorbs rainwater runoff from the Willow Waterhole Bayou, a tributary of the much larger Brays Bayou. Built in 2004 by the Harris County Flood Control District as both a park and flood-control site, the greenway was later expanded to include six lakes that can hold up to 600 million gallons of stormwater, providing valuable runoff control as well as essential environmental protection for the greenway’s unique wildlife and plant inhabitants. Thanks to generous donors and committed community volunteers working together for more than 40 years, today the Willow Waterhole Greenway is a beautiful enclave of lakes, rolling hills, prairie, marsh, islands, native plants and wildlife surrounded by Houston’s concrete jungle.

M2L is the landscape architect and arborist assisting Gauge Engineers in routing the eight-mile trail system through the detention basins to preserve and protect existing trees, wildlife habitats and the site’s unique environment. The project is the first phase of a hike and bikeway trail system that will ultimately connect the Willow Waterhole’s six lakes. Thanks to generous foundation grants and matching funds, trails will be augmented with additional trees, plantings, lighting and hardscape.

Photo credits:
      Fog on the water, Brett Byers
      Sunrise landscape, Laura Lutes Gomez
      Bluebonnets, Elizabeth Marti
      White egret, Mark Meyer
      Tree planting, Trees for Houston, Bill Burhans