Dish-Houston

Buffalo Bayou Partnership today announced a $2 million gift from Silver Eagle Distributors, the nation's largest Anheuser-Busch distributor and one of the largest Grupo Modelo distributors in the country, in support of the Buffalo Bayou Park – Shepherd to Sabine project. The 160-acre, 2.3 mile park west of downtown Houston is currently undergoing a $58 million renovation and the gift from Silver Eagle will be dedicated to improvements to the event meadow, or the main “bowl” where events occur inside Eleanor Tinsley Park.

“Silver Eagle is a long-time community partner and generous supporter of citywide festivals along Buffalo Bayou,” said Anne Olson, president of Buffalo Bayou Partnership. “Their support of Buffalo Bayou Park reiterates their commitment to the active and passive use of this green space.”

The improvements are to be made in the area between Taft Street and Sabine Street include upgraded infrastructure for special events at the park, trails and stairs for easier pedestrian access, and upgraded landscaping. A large temporary stage can be placed in a flat grassy area below an improved parking lot during events. The gift also will fund the Skyline Overlook, redesigned parking spaces and an improved garden area. In recognition of this gift, the event meadow area will be the Bud Light Amphitheater and the Skyline Overlook will be the Nau Family Pavilion. The Eleanor Tinsley Park name will be retained.

Construction on these improvements is expected to start in August 2013 and be complete by Spring 2014, therefore having no significant effect on major events such as Summer Fest and Freedom Over Texas at Eleanor Tinsley Park. The Shady Grove sculpture, art benches and Houston Victim’s Memorial, which were dedicated in 2002 and located in the park, will be preserved and reinstalled in a redesigned and expanded garden. Pavers installed by Leadership Houston will be preserved and reinstalled near their current location.

In addition to these enhancements inside Eleanor Tinsley Park, Buffalo Bayou Partnership is also overseeing additional improvements to Buffalo Bayou Park between Shepherd Drive and Sabine Street that include adding trails, pedestrian bridges, a dog park, destinations like The Water Works and Lost Lake, lighting, amenities such as kayak and bike rentals, and overall improvements to the park’s landscape. The entire Buffalo Bayou Park – Shepherd to Sabine project is expected to be complete in mid-2015.

Buffalo Bayou Park – Shepherd to Sabine is a collaboration of Buffalo Bayou Partnership, the City of Houston through Houston Parks & Recreation Department and Harris County Flood Control District. For the first 30 years after the park opens, Downtown TIRZ #3 will contribute $2 million per year for the park's maintenance and operations. The Kinder Foundation has committed a $30 million catalyst gift for the project, and Buffalo Bayou Partnership has committed to raise the remaining $23 million needed. For more information about the park improvements, please visit www.buffalobayoupark.org.

Eleanor Tinsley Park during an event (looking east toward downtown). Rendering by SWA Group.

Eleanor Tinsley Park daily use (looking east toward downtown). Rendering by SWA Group.

Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership and KBR for the 6^th year anniversary of KBR Kids Day on Buffalo Bayou.  A day filled with FREE family fun, hands-on educational activities, music, food, park performers, and kayak demonstrations on the bayou!
 

Activity stations will include numerous hands-on activities from over 30 Houston non-profit organizations partners, rock climbing wall, kayak and skateboarding demonstrations, Art Cars on display (Jeannie Bottle by Kelly Blakley, Hen-a-Tron by Drew Bettge, Mr. Green by Mark Bradford and Sentrasauraus by Perri Harper), local entertainment, face painters and balloon artists. 

Additionally, there will be a Halloween Costume Parade, so come dressed in your favorite costume!

It's all happening Saturday, October 20, 2012 from 11am-3pm, so mark your schedules today!

All performances will take place at the Children’s Memorial Hermann Stage

11-11:30am
DJ Bill and his Bag of Tricks and
Chick-fil-A Herd of Cows

11:30am-12:30pm
Leah White performing her Houston Hits

FREE grass-roots, all day event connecting the dots between, skateboarding, music, art, and science
Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark

12:30pm
Halloween Costume Parade led by
Whole Foods Market Veggie Salute

1pm
Captain Kale with Whole Foods Market
Healthy Eating Games

1:30pm
Break Free Crew/ Break Dancing

2-3pm
Allegro West Academy
Dance Zone
Emotion Dance Company
Mixteco Ballet Folklorico
North Harris Performing Arts
Planet Funk
Vitacca Dance Project
Houston Dance Showcase Presented by Vitacca Productions & Company

Want to know how much all of this wonderful entertainment costs?? It's DISH'S favorite price!! It is FREE and everyone is welcome!

Food and drink will be available for purchase (including food trucks – It’s a Wrap, Luchi & Joey’s, Monster PB&J, Porch Swing Desserts and Snow Cone Angels)

Put on your favorite Halloween costume and join us at Downtown’s Sabine Promenade – (150 Sabine Street, 77007) between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive. 

Parking is so easy! Parking is available at City Lot H (next to Fonde Recreation Center at Sabine Street and Memorial Drive) and Lot C (Memorial Drive and Houston Avenue).

Of course none of this could happen without some amazing sponsors!

Lead sponsor KBR with additional support from Children’s Memorial Hermann, City of Houston Mayor's Office of Special Events, Downtown District, The Greensheet, Houston Family Magazine, Houston First Corporation, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, IKEA, KHOU-Channel 11, Orange Show for Visionary Arts, Texas Children’s Health Plan, United Airlines, Watermill Express and Whole Foods Market

Would you like to know a little bit more about Buffalo Bayou Partnership? It is, after all, the entire reason the city of Houston exists! Buffalo Bayou Partnership is the non-profit organization revitalizing and transforming Buffalo Bayou, Houston’s most significant natural resource.
The Partnership coordinates the integration of major amenities into the bayou greenbelt and seeks ways to increase community involvement through pedestrian, boating and biking amenities, permanent and temporary art installations, and other natural and built attractions.

For more information CLICK HERE

See you on the Bayou, DISHIES!

Dish runs the Buffalo Bayou everyday so needless to say it's crazy obvious to us that there is A LOT of changing going on and it's all really neat! If you are wanting to know what's happening, why, how and when...you can get the skinny at the Buffalo Bayou Partnership preliminary Master Plan for the Shepherd to Sabine stretch of Buffalo Bayou. The community meetings will take place:

United Way of Greater Houston Community Resource Center
50 Waugh Drive, Houston 77007 from 6-8 pm

The October 14th meeting follows a series of gatherings held in Junewhere the public shared their ideas and recommendations for enhancing the Shepherd to Sabine parkland, one of Houston's most iconic landscapes.

 "We have listened to the public input that we received at our earlier community meetings and have incorporated many of the ideas into the preliminary master plan," explains Anne Olson,Buffalo Bayou Partnership President."The upcoming meetings will give the public the opportunity to review the preliminary design and provide additional feedback."

In addition to seeking the public's input on the preliminary master plan, Buffalo Bayou Partnership representatives will be providing updates on numerous projects recently completed or currently underway along the Shepherd to Sabine segment, including:

· Harris County Flood Control District "pilot project" that has restored a small stretch of the bayou channel to a more natural condition

· Construction of a new pedestrian bridge and trails connecting to nearby neighborhoods

· City of Houston and TxDOT rebuilding of the three-decades-old bike trails that have fallen into disrepair

To review the summary from the June community meetings, click here.

For a history of the Shepherd to Sabine project, click here.

 See you tonight!

Help Steer Us in the Right Direction...

Due to a serious arson incident, Buffalo Bayou Partnership will be suspending pontoon boat tours until The Osprey can be replaced.

On Tuesday, July 6^th at 2:00 am, the Houston Fire Department responded to a fire at BBP's Drennan Field Office. Two boats were impacted by the fire: The Osprey, our pontoon tour boat, was destroyed and the Bio-Vac, a boat used to clean trash and debris from the bayou, was damaged. Because the pontoon boat is an integral bayou educational tool, as well as a much-needed revenue source for Buffalo Bayou Partnership's operating budget, the organization hopes to replace the vessel as soon as possible. While The Osprey was ins! ured, fu nds are needed to help cover the cost of the deductible, loss of income, and the new boat cost variance.

Many of our bayou friends have toured Buffalo Bayou on The Osprey in the past year. Each month hundreds of Houstonians and visitors enjoy history, bat, and private tours along Houston's historic waterway and most significant natural resource.

As little as $10 will help replace The Osprey.

We are deeply saddened by this loss and we appreciate your support and patience while we work to overcome this unfortunate setback.

DONATE ONLINE - Please note "The Osprey Fund" in the comment box.

or

BY MAIL:

Buffalo Bayou Partnership

ATTN: The Osprey Fund

1113 Vine Street, Suite 200

Houston, Texas 77002

DONATE NOW TO REPLACE THE OSPREY

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!


Buffalo Bayou Partnership is the non-profit organization revitalizing and transforming Buffalo Bayou, Houston's most significant natural resource.

www.buffalobayou.org
www.facebook/buffalobayou