HOUSTON, April 19, 2019 – The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center announced today that the newly-designed Ravine Trail, part of the nonprofit’s Master Plan, is now open to the public. The Ravine boasts a true riparian ecosystem with elevation changes not typically seen in the Houston area. Due to flooding, erosion, washout and other disturbances, access to the Ravine and its trail system were closed for three years while the Arboretum and several partners developed resilient solutions.
Ravine-N-after-heavy-rainfall-11.1.18_Christina-Spade-photo
Ravine Bridge
The landscape now features two new bridges spanning the Ravine to allow the flow of flood waters; a winding switchback concrete trail provides ADA accessibility to the north bridge and expansive views across the Ravine. The updated area also has a boardwalk system which brings visitors into the heart of the Ravine and native plantings which increase bio-diversity and prevent erosion of the Ravine slopes.
“We are ecstatic to see the re-opening of the Ravine and to invite the community to enjoy its beauty once again,” says Debbie Markey, executive director. “The Ravine was closed for the safety of our visitors, but we can now unveil this stunning natural landscape that will appeal to walkers, hikers, photographers and anyone who loves nature. I’m thankful to all of the donors who helped us see this project to completion.”
In 2012, the Arboretum embarked on a Master Plan for the nature sanctuary in order to restore the acreage to resilient and sustainable native ecosystems. During the well-attended public outreach portion, stakeholders identified the Ravine landscape as the most cherished area of the Arboretum.
Located in the northwest corner of the site, the Ravine is an old tributary of Buffalo Bayou providing visitors with a shaded hike through a native riparian ecosystem. The Arboretum worked with Design Workshop, Inc., an internationally-recognized landscape architecture, planning and urban design firm, to lead the design process.
“It has been a great honor to work with the Arboretum team to develop a revitalized landscape that focuses on long-term resiliency for the Ravine,” says Conners Lander, an associate with Design Workshop. “The resulting design would not have been possible without our Landscape Architect partner, Reed|Hilderbrand, or without the expertise of Walter P. Moore, Hydrogeo Designs, Frayre Engineering and Consulting, and Forney Construction.”
The Arboretum is located at 4501 Woodway Dr., Houston, 77024. For more information visit houstonarboretum.org or call 713-681-4833
About
The mission of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is to provide education about the natural environment to people of all ages and to protect and enhance the Arboretum as a haven and as a sanctuary for native plants and animals. The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center (HANC), one of the first nature education facilities for children in the state of Texas, provides services to nearly 200,000 visitors annually. The Arboretum also provides nature education for more than 10,000 children annually. For more information about the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center and levels of membership, visit houstonarboretum.org.