Houston, TX – Bayou Land Conservancy (BLC), a local land trust focused on conserving land and protecting Houston’s primary water source, Lake Houston, announced that the westernmost trailhead of the Spring Creek Nature Trail, Creekside Park West, is now officially open to the public, along with four additional miles of natural surface trail. A tour of the trailhead and entry point to the 13-mile trail is scheduled for Thursday, December 20th at 11 am. The location of the Creekside Park West Trailhead is on Dr. Ann Snyder Way, off Creekside Forest Dr. (see attached map). Parking is available at this location.
The Spring Creek Nature Trail was funded by a Recreational Trails Grant of $100,000 from Texas Parks & Wildlife with matching funds provided by BLC, The Woodlands Township, REI, and the American Hiking Society. Howard Hughes Corporation is the landowner on the western extent of the trail and recently signed a lease agreement with The Woodlands Township, which allowed the trailhead to be opened to the public.
Much of the trail construction was done by volunteers trained through BLC’s Spring Creek Greenway Ambassador Program in trail building techniques. More than 2,500 hours of volunteer labor went into trail construction, which included 20 bridges and boardwalks, many of them named for volunteers who worked on the trail.
“We are delighted that the Creekside Park West Trailhead is now open to the public, along the westernmost four miles of the 13-mile trail” said Jill Boullion, Executive Director. “The opening comes at the perfect time, as families will be looking for places to get outside and enjoy nature over the holidays. We are grateful to Howard Hughes Corporation and to The Woodlands Township for their partnership in bringing this great community project to life.”
“The Spring Creek Nature Trail is one of the most unique trails in all of Texas and the country,” said Gordy Bunch, Chairman of The Woodlands Township. “This is a special place for residents of The Woodlands to enjoy the great outdoors right here just minutes from home. We appreciate the thousands of hours of volunteer time to create this new trailhead and it’s a real treasure to have an entry place in The Woodlands Township.”
About Bayou Land Conservancy: Bayou Land Conservancy is a community-sponsored land preservation organization working to permanently protect land, with a focus on the watersheds that feed Lake Houston. Bayou Land Conservancy preserves land along streams for flood control, clean water, and wildlife. More information can be found at www.bayoulandconservancy.org