Brays Oaks Trail South

Harris County Flood Control Location ID: D118-02-00 (3033)

Advocacy has been in progress since 2015. Continuing south from Willow Meadow Drive to West Bellfort is a 3466- foot grassy footpath on the east side of the Tributary in the Westbrae Park Subdivision. This is not the property of CenterPoint Energy, but HCFCD. Thirteen properties including single family homes, apartments, a church, and schools are along this Tributary. (Information about property ownership is available at Harris County Appraisal District, the Block Book Maps online at –http://ww.hctax.net/Property/Resources.

The trail will be an improved community asset as active transportation to retail, local schools, cultural centers, and METRO bus routes. The proposed trail will provide a safe route rather than using streets that lack sidewalks such as Offer Drive and reduced bus service in 2015 on Westbrae Parkway.

Destinations from Brays Oaks Trail South

1. YES Prep Brays Oaks Secondary School, 9000 W Bellfort St. and 12000 Westbrae Parkway. Enrollment for grades 6 through 12 is 1000 students in 2021-2022. www.yesprep.org/schools/brays-oaks

2. YES Prep Brays Oaks Elementary, 9060 Benning Dr. at Westbrae and Benning held a groundbreaking in August 2024. Students pre-k through 2nd grade will be housed there in 2025 with additional grades up to 5th grade added annually. https://www.yesprep.org/schools/elementary/braysoakses

3. Welch Middle School opened in 1979 at 11544 South Gessner Road. Welch has always been a Magnet school for grades 6 through 8 for fine arts, lifetime sports, gymnastics, and dance students. Our Magnet Academy of Sports Medicine and Fine Arts program has hosted some of Houston’s top students and we have some of the world’s most famous alumni: Beyonce Knowles – Singer, Actress, and Producer. https://www.houstonisd.org/welch

4. Houston Community College, Brays Oaks Campus (2016), 8855 West Bellfort. Potential for 2600 workforce training students. The Trail will provide pedestrian access, reduce traffic and parking spaces, limited from the opening day. https://www.hccs.edu/locations/southwest-college/brays-oaks-campus/

5. HISD Future Farmers of America Agriculture Facility at 11611 Riceville School Road. In the school year 2019 Lamar FFA celebrated 60 years at the Ag Facility. Bikes would decrease overflow street parking for events and provide bike access for students. Lamar High School and Bellaire High School each have about half of the property. Lamar.ffanow.org and https://bellaire.ffanow.org/default.aspx?ID=9944

6. India House opened in 2008 at 8888 W. Bellfort St. at 12000 Westbrae Parkway. Offers classes, after-school programs, summer camps for children and youth, and charity medical services Sareen Harris Health Medical Clinic. http://www.indiahouseinc.org/

7. Philippine Community Center opened in 2018 at 9101 W Bellfort Ave at Riceville School Rd. http://pccitx.com/community/

8. Residents at Crystal Falls Apartments (167 units) at 10950 Westbrae Parkway backs up to the existing grass foot trail. A trail will provide recreation and access to schools and shopping.

9. METRO Route 8 commutes east on West Bellfort to the Texas Medical Center and west to the West Bellfort Park and Ride at 11415 Roark Road near 59. https://www.ridemetro.org/Pages/PR-WestBellfort.aspx

10. An additional bus stop on West Bellfort at the terminus of Brays Oaks Trail South could accommodate up to 1025 students. Despite bus service from a dozen buses, many students carpool drop-off and pick up at YES Prep. Route 008 West Bellfort between 9066 – 9098 West Bellfort.

The terminus of the Brays Oaks Trail South at West Bellfort and school to the right.

11. Safety Improvements include an addition of street crossing markings from the terminus of the trail on West Bellfort (9066 West Bellfort) and Riceville School Road.