“The Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan will transform the East Sector and over time, touch the lives of all Houstonians,” BBP President Anne Olson said in a news release. “It will pay tribute to Houston’s industrial roots, celebrate culturally rich neighborhoods, and serve as an important symbol for the city’s continuing commitment to accessible park space for all.”
In addition to the park expansion, the master plan calls for tying in the Fifth Ward and Greater East End neighborhoods. The East Sector master plan stretches from U.S. 59 to the Port of Houston Turning Basin.
“This project will play a major role in the City of Houston’s Complete Communities initiative, which seeks to improve neighborhoods so that all of Houston’s residents and business owners can have access to quality services and amenities,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in the release.
The Houston Endowment grant is being targeted for key infrastructure projects to pave the way for future work, including the design of new destinations, land acquisition, Japhet Creek improvements and community engagement resources.
The full plan ultimately calls for improvements throughout the East Sector, including new boat landings and bridges; a "Downtown Gateway" that will link to northeastern downtown; a 20-acre expansion of Tony Marron Park; rehabilitation of industrial sites; the creation of an eastern trailhead; and the development of a mixed-income housing project at Lockwood Drive and the bayou.
The endowment previously funded the development of the master plan with a $500,000 grant in 2015.
