Neighborhoods to Trails
Southwest
Groundskeeping on Fondren Diversion Trail
We met Derrick this morning along the Fondren Diversion Trail between S Braeswood and Willowbend, as he performed his duties on Lesley Briones’ Harris County Precinct 4 team. Derrick is a Groundskeeper, working with a crew headquartered out of Bayland Park. Although they are assigned the care of multiple area parks, Derrick explained that he is working on the Fondren Diversion Trail at least 2 times a week, picking up trash and monitoring maintenance issues. They also mow and edge at least monthly, but twice monthly in the summer. This can be challenging, given that dozens of middle schoolers are using the trail on their walk to and from Fondren Middle School. But this morning, everything looked great.
Derrick, with his friendly and personable manner, is a very good ambassador for Precinct 4.
He grew up in Southwest Houston and his kids go to area schools. He clearly takes pride in making our parks safe and well-maintained places for his community.
Meet Marcos
Marcos works at Southwest Cyclery, located at Fondren and S Braeswood, repairing and selling bikes. We met Marcos today while he was helping 7-year-old Ruby pick out a used bike. He made sure it fit her well and that she had some room to grow.
What we really are excited about is learning that Marcos is an avid cyclist, who lives near Sims Bayou. Like all of us at NTTSW, he appreciates the importance of connecting Sims Bayou Greenways to Brays Bayou Greenway by finishing the off-road trails that aren’t yet complete. Marcos has agreed to join NTTSW and serve as a Sims Bayou Greenway Trail Advocate. He also wants to plan and participate in some group rides. We welcome other cyclists to join us in our advocacy.
Meet Bike Patrol Officers
March 2025 — Meet HPD Bike Patrol Officers Reese and Desrosiers. I got the opportunity to observe them patrolling the Columbia Tap Trail near McGowan and TSU. Their presence and friendly manner builds relationships and a sense of safety for cyclists, pedestrians and neighborhood folks. They stopped for to tell me about their work and let me know that the safety of this trail is one of their priorities.
We thank you for keeping us safe.
Meet Joe
Joe comes at least twice a week to Willow Waterhole’s Prairie Lake. He parks his truck in the parking lot along the trail. He spends the first few minutes doing some warm-up exercises, using portable equipment for speed training, strength and agility. After that, he goes for a run, with intervals of walking.
Joe lives within 2 miles of the lake, and appreciates the benefit of being out in nature while getting in his exercise.
Willow Waterhole is an important destination for people who strive to stay strong and healthy.
Go Joe!
Graduate Student Commutes Via Brays Bayou Greenway
Meet Helena, a graduate student at Baylor College of Medicine who lives in Houston and commutes by bike using the Brays Bayou Greenway. When asked why she commutes, she noted that biking saves her thousands of dollars in parking fees and fuel costs and is good exercise. She tried using METRO but finds that she has to wait at bus stops for as long as 30 minutes. Thanks, Helena, for sharing your story with Neighborhoods to Trails Southwest.
Meet Barry
Meet Barry, a Desert Storm veteran with 2 tours in Iraq. I met Barry near Chimney Rock and South Braeswood, getting ready to ride his motorized bike to the Veterans Administration Hospital. Barry is a disabled vet living on a small pension. He lives at the Life at Jackson Square apartments and does not own a car. He uses his motorized bike to get to the grocery store and to medical appointments. He also enjoys the Brays Bayou Greenway for the ability to be outdoors enjoying nature, making stops along the way to sit on a bench and relax. Barry told me that the maximum speed of his bike is 25 mph and that he is very safety conscious. Barry told me I could use his story and his photo and post to our website. He wants people to know how much he appreciates having access to the Greenway using his bike.
Neighborhoods to Trails 