Sylvan Park

This is the second park we went to of the day. We drove through the Washburn tunnel and eventually wound up in La Porte. The park is right on Galveston Bay. We saw some large ships in the distance. Over at the boat ramp area there were a number of pelicans just sitting on some posts. The playground area was one of the largest ones I've seen at a park. All the playground equipment were blue and white. I liked the way it blended with the beach colors. The park also has a skate area. There were many kids out with skateboards. Didn't see any of them wipe out. The other main attraction to the park is the fishing pier. You have to pay four dollars to use the pier that includes just walking out. Tickets are purchased at the bait stand. We didn't want to spend eight bucks just to walk out the end of a pier. Right before we left we watched a guy launch a kayak. He had it loaded with fishing equipment etc. All the canoes/kayaks we've seen in the past few weeks makes us want to try this ourselves.

Northshore Park

We stopped off at this park first. We walked around the walking/jogging path at the front of the park. There is a very nice excercise area. They even show exercises that can be used by people in wheelchair. This was the first time I had noticed this. At the back of the park are a couple of baseball diamonds. In the middle is a very nice playground area with the usual types of toys. There is a wide slide allows for three children to slide at a time.

Lamar Park

This was another park we found while looking for the post office. We must have driven around this little park five times. It is just a nicely planted median with some benches. There is a decorative fountain across the street in the middle of an intersection that is also interesting. I'm not sure it is part of the park or not.

09/28/06 According to HPB websiteLamar park was named for Mirabeau B Lamar, 2nd president of the Republic of Texas. This was his former homestead. The fountain is the oldest in in the city

Peggy Park

We were out roaming the city. We were trying to find a post office. As luck would have it Peggy Park was right across the street from the post office. Didn't really look around the park. Just noticed the sidewalks had neat mosaics set in the concrete every so often.

Spotts Park

We went walking around this park. It is located next to a YWCA. Quite a few people were sliding down the hills around the park. There is a very nice walking/jogging path around edge of park with exercise toys scattered along the paths.

Bendwood Park

Bendwood has a very nice walking path. We walked around it twice. I even found a benchmark. The park has a playground area with wooden climbing toys. There are basketball hoops, baseball diamond, benches, and picnic tables scattered throughout the park.

Clear Lake Park

This park is on two sides of Nasa Road 1. We went to both sides. The south side I found more interesting. The pavilion looked to be inspired by the Alamo or at least the Spanish Missions. There is a nice pier and several large playground areas. We walked over to the boat launch and saw several boats using the launches. We watched and hoped to see someone drive their car into the water too far or some other catastrophe. Unfortunately neither happened. At the far end there was an area with wave runners. Apparently you can rent boats. It wasn't open today. Could be closed in the winter or maybe because it is Christmas eve? I think it would be fun to come back in the summer and check this out.

Bay Area Park

This is a little park located next to Armand Bayou. It has a nice playground area. There is a nice boardwalk. The boards appear to be recycled tires. We ate a blueberry breakfast danish while sitting out on the platform. I liked the little gazebos they had all over the park. There was one canoe being launched while we were there.

Christia V. Adair Park

We didn't spend much time in this park. All we did was walk over to the sign from the restroom parking area. We haven't spent much time at this park. We usually go to Tom Bass Park. It is located across the street.

Beeler Memorial Pocket park

A little park on the west side of Houston near Eldridge and Briar Forest. It has a small family cemetery with about 10 graves. There is also a very short trail. Looks like maybe a business will be built on the adjoining lot. We also noticed that the private security folks hangout smoking stinky cigars in the parking lot.

Paul D. Rushing Park

This is the first park we stopped at today. It is a large park with a nice playground and gazebo. There are several Baseball fields. There were many cars and tents set up at the far end of the parking area. We wondered what was happening and the a rocket was launched. We stayed and watched two more rockets. One was quite tall. It was probably 5 ft tall.
We walked around in some of the open field areas looking at the fairy rings. It appears there are plans to "build" other things at this park. Should be interesting to check back and see what develops out here.

Saums Park

This is a hard park to find. It is just some swings, a slide, and the sign. After we found it we were able to spot it from Franz as we were driving by. Not a lot here. The neighborhood park has mor toys for the kids to play on and is about a block south of this little park.

Four Seasons

Stopped off at three different parks today. This park only has baseball fields. Lots of cars in the parking lot. We didn't get out and walk around. Wanted to get home in time to watch game 4 of the Astros vs Cardinals.

Challenger 7 Memorial Park

We arrived at park early on Sunday. Looked like several groups meet there for church. We walked around on the paved pathways. There were some spots with mud and water so we stayed away from the trails. Communed with the mother earth sculpture, found one geocache site, and saw several deer.

Flag Tree Park

This was another park that was difficult to get the photo. We drove around a while before we spotted it. We parked on a side street. I had to jump a mud puddle and walk across the street just to get to the park. There are a couple of benches and just like the name implies a flag.

Carol Tree Park

We had to park on a side street and I walked back to the corner to get this photo. It is a small little space with a couple of benches. It also has a "decomposing" granite path.

Sports Park

The last park we visited today was the Sports Park. It is west of Hershey park. There are five beach volleyball court, basketball hoops, and a skate park. I watch some of the skate boarders jumping (and falling). There are several picnic tables, benches, and a gazebo. We sat around for awhile. Just as we were leaving some people arrived to play volleyball.

Katy Park

We decided to check out Katy Park after we left Mary Jo Peckham. There are many picnic tables. Today there were some youth baseball teams playing. We passed many soccer fields. No one was playing today. But I can imagine that this park can really be busy when there are games.

Mary Jo Peckham

A swimming pool, exercise room, miniature golf, and fishing pond are some of the many attractions found in this park. We sat in the shade watching several people fish. The largest fish caught was about 4 inches. We also entertained ourselves with bird watching. There were about seven buzzards fighting over a dead fish. I tried to get a photo of one guy riding his bicycle. He had on a pair of yellow shoes, black demin jeans, and patriotic western shirt. I thought it was Lance back from from France but John thought it was a cowboy in search of his horse.
We brought a ice chest with some drinks and laid on a blanket in the shade. I used my new flag picnic blanket. We decided it was a little too small. It was all the fabric that I had. Next time we will bring the others also and a pillow so we can be more comfortable.

Bishop Fiorenza Park

Went to Bishop Fiorenza park. It had just finished raining and it was really muggy. The park was filled with people. There must have been four different birthday parties. Pinatas were hanging from every tree. I guess a question I have is will they change the name of the park to Arch Bishop park?

Bane Park

The last park visited on the weekend was Bane Park. It also has a small lake. It is really more like a pond. The birds (pigeons and grackels) are very friendly. I am guessing someone must feed them often. They came right over to us without even a bit of coaxing. This park also has some nice playground toys. I noticed a nature trail marked on the far side of the pond. I did not go over and check it out. But this is a rather small park so the trail can not be too long.

Burroughs park

July 3, 2005

Went to Burroughs Park. This is a large park. At the front are several baseball and soccer fields. When you go to the back there is a small lake. There are signs that indicate there are fish in the water. (catch and release for bass and size/number limits for other fish) This park also has some nice playground equipment. It also has a maze. The hedges are short and people have made short cut thru the dead ends so the maze isn't very challenging. But I like the idea of the maze and maybe in a few years it might be more fun.
The park also has a couple of miles of trails. I enjoyed my walk until a big ole horsefly decided to bite me. It would not leave me alone. I'd shoo it away only for it to return right back to my leg and continue to bite me.

Nob Hill

July 2, 2005
Went to Nob Hill park. It is a small park in Harris county. It has a little walking/jogging path. The playground equipment are very nice. I especially like the digger. A small child can sit on the toy and raise and lower a shovel. A family were setting up for a birthday party. A Dash pinata was hanging from a tree. Children began arriving just as I was leaving.

Bear Creek Park

This is a favorite park. It has many animals. Emus, ostrich, pigs, deer, buffalo, donkeys, goats, peacocks, and several kinds of parrots are just some of the animals. The park also has a small pond with ducks and turtles. There is a two mile walking trail. This place can get really crowded especially during soccer season. I really like the pyramid shaped climbing toy. This is a big park. Over on the other side are many picnic areas and nature trails. The park can flood so sometimes the areas are closed because of high water.

Moritz Pech Family Park

This is an unusually shaped park. This park has a couple of parking spaces. There are some toys and a small walking path. We didn't stay here very long. Had to leave and find a RR.

Eisenhower Park

This park is next to Deussen Park. It is smaller. It has some very nice and shady areas to sit and fish. There are also nature trails. We didn't walk on any of them. Just sat on a bench under a shady tree and watch a bird fish (not to be confused with a catfish).

Deussen Park

Went to Deussen park. It is located in North east Harris county. It is a large park on Lake Houston. We went during the week. I bet on the weekend this can really get busy. Several boat ramps. Only one guy there trying to start his jet ski. It has a large gazebo that is over the water. There were lots of birds nesting under the roof. They had made their nest from mud. Also has some buffalo. I couldn't see them. The animals were around the back part of their enclosure. The unauthorized public are only allowed along a very weedy section at the front. You can't even park too close. We hiked over from a baseball/restroom parking area.

Spring Branch pocket park

Another little park. This one only has a bench and gazebo. I also noticed several empty little plastic bags on the ground.

Housman Park

Nice park with toys located next to a school. When we were there a group of gothic teens were playing on the toys. We didn't stay long just really took the photo and left.

Terry Hershey Park

This is another favorite. Plus it is close to home. It has miles of jogging/bike trails. You can ride all the way over to George Bush on without getting on a city street. There is a small playground, RR and sundial on the north part of the park. On the south side are some hangy bars and a dog water fountain. It is busy on the weekend. I once saw a younger woman on roller blades knock over an old woman who was just walking along. Poor old woman had her back to the girl as they both came down a hill. Gotta be careful on weekends.

Molly Pryor Memorial Orchard

This park is across from Hershey park. You may not even realize it is over there. There are many different types of trees planted. I've walked thru it a couple of times.

George Bush park

George Bush park is a very large park. There are so many interesting places and activities. There are the usual soccer, baseball fields. Some unusual places are an equestrian trail, model airplane area, shooting range to name a few. The Millie Bush (named for 41's dog) Bark Park is the best. We went in just to check it out. We don't even have a dog. There are three ponds for the dogs to play in. There is an area just for small dogs to play. Fake fire hydrants are positioned thru out the park. They even come in different sizes. There are miles of nature trails all over the large area of the park. Not sure if the area at the dam is known as George Bush park, but we like to bring a big piece of cardboard and use it to slide down the hill.

Nottingham Park

This park has had alot of new things added since it became a county park. A walking trail, playground toys, and a splash park are some of the new features. The park also has a frisbee golf course. But the new Splash park is probably the most popular attraction. Buckets of water spill onto children. A water gun, spitting chicken, and fountains of water are other parts of the wet fun.

Ray Miller Park

I have called this Bongo park because one time a guy was sitting under the gazebo playing a bongo drum. It has a walking path. There is a small area designated as a butterfly garden. There is also a raised boardwalk area. I suppose there might be a wet or standing water in this area. Any time I've ever been there it has been very dry. They have picnic tables placed randomly around the park. Too bad they didn't think about some in the shade. I guess one problem is that most of the trees are small. Bird houses, small fountain at the front, nice RR, and trees at the back are some other features of the little park.

Tom Bass Park

This is a favorite park for me when I'm in Pearland. It has a walking trail around a little lake. A floating fishing pier, frisbee golf course, and several very nice play areas are also in this large park. On the other side of the park (behind the golf course) is a nature trail. Haven't really explored the other side of the park. I did walk across the golf course on a Saturday morning, but that is another story.

Randolph park

Went to Frankie Carter Randolph park. Watched some boys playing baseball. It was the Tarhills vs the Sooners. Not really certain who was winning. Only watched one inning. Tyler was pitching and a Taylor was at bat. Really nice nature trail. I heard a very unusual noise. It was probably aircraft noises from Hobby. I don't know could have been Bigfoot for all I know.

Hermann Park

Rode the bus to downtown and then got on the light rail. Rode over to parks and museums for a day of wandering around. Went to the Japanese Gardens. We did not go to the zoo but stopped off at the Museum of Natural History.

Quebedeaux park

This is a little park right next to Harris county family court building. Didn't realize it was a county park. It is a shady area to sit. Several guys (Mormons) were sitting around. I think they were Mormons because of their clothing. They did not approach us with a book so I can only guess at their religion.

Gessner Pocket Park

Across the street from Value Village (thrift store) and almost next door to the 99 cents store. We usually stop off here when we are out shopping for bargains. Nice little park located near several apartment complexes. It is very small with a underground pipeline markers, couple of benches and some playground toys. No parking available. That is why we go to the 99 cent store also. I like the idea of pocket parks. It is much nicer than a vacant lot.

Bracher Pocket Park

A very small park with a playground. It is a neat concept. No parking. It is mainly a neighborhood play area. It is next to a bayou.