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H- TOWN PARKS
One of the biggest reasons that some people fall off with a health and fitness plan is boredom. This can happen in the gym and outside the gym. Walking or running the same trail in the same park all the time can sap your motivation just as easily as performing the same workout routine day in and day out.
The Just Tammy A H-Town Parks page presents my personal park reviews for Houston, Texas and the surrounding area. I don’t want anyone to quit prioritizing their health because they found themselves feeling uninspired or bored with the scenery. I will add to these reviews steadily; to stay in the loop on new park reviews be sure to follow Just Tammy A on Facebook and Instagram. If there is a park you’d like to suggest for review, send me an email at liftsomethingbih@justtammya.com with “Park Suggestion” and the name of the park in the title. If I select your park for review, I’ll let you know so we can meet up for a one-on-one in the park!
So, keep reading for a look at my takeaways for the below parks and then get out and get moving to check them out for yourself!
#LiftSomethingBih
Levy Park
Alief Sand Canyon Park
Alief Sand Canyon Park is new development by the county and is located at 14101 Laterna Lane, Houston, TX 77083. Construction of the park was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The park sits on just over 23 acres between Renn Road, Howell Sugar Land Road, Sand Canyon Drive and Rustling Leaves Drive.
There are three paved covered party areas that are first come first serve, no reservations. I did not see any electrical outlets. There is a larger paved area for bigger parties and this one is lighted, the others are not. The park has some mature trees but is mostly saplings. The clusters of mature trees provide enough shade for a pic-nic or an outdoor workout that won’t have you in the sun. The largest cluster of trees is perfect for hanging up several hammocks in the shade.
The outer loop of the park is .75 miles and the entire trail is paved. There are exercise stations for dips and pull-up/chin ups along the outer loop. The paved trail that runs through the center of the park has an exercise station for crunches.
The facilities are clean and adequately maintained. There are pic-nic tables through out the park grounds. There are two play grounds with fun activities for older kids as well as toddlers. There are two parking lots with entrances on Sand Canyon Drive and Renn Road. The parking lot at Sand Canyon Drive is closest to the play ground and the parking lot at Renn Road is closest to the covered party areas.
Personal Note: I find the chosen address of this park confusing. As I said, it sits on 23 acres between Renn Road, Howell Sugar Land Road, Sand Canyon Drive and Rustling Leaves Drive. It is not on Laterna Lane. Laterna intersects but does not cross Howell Sugarland Road and is on the other side of Howell Sugarland Road from the park. There is no a park entrance on Howell Sugarland Road or Laterna Lane.
I am super excited about this park because I can now run from home on a completely paved run route that does not require me to run in the street. The traffic is light. If you don’t like dogs, be warned that some walkers are on the trail with large dogs.
The best feature at this park is the outdoor fitness pavilion. Body weight machines provide an excellent full-body workout with the added pleasure of being outdoors. The pavilion is shaded and is within view of one of the two playgrounds this park offers.
Arch Bishop Fiorenza Park
Arch Bishop Fiorenza Park is located at 4025 Eldridge Pkwy, Houston, TX 77082. This picturesque park covers over 360 acres and offers a peaceful space away from the city without leaving the city.
There are two easy running trails that are fully paved and have been recently lined with young trees. The loop that runs along Eldridge Parkway is 1.4 miles and the loop that runs along Hwy 6 and West Park Tollway is 4.6 miles. The loops connect and can be ran as one large loop.
Both loops encircle large rainwater retention ponds and have workout stations along the trails. The smaller loop has a chin up bar with three different heights and a dip bench. The larger loop has a decline crunch bench (body curl), a step-up platform, a hanging knee lift station, a sit up bench and a push up bar.
All of the workout stations have how-to instructional signage with pictures and explanations beside each apparatus.
There are two large hills along the 5-mile loop for uphill sprints/endurance runs.
There is a playground with fun activities for toddlers and kids. Three single picnic tables sit on three sides of the playground and the large area behind the playground is covered in mature trees and ample shade.
There are walkers, runners, roller bladers, cyclists, skateboarders and etc. on these trails and everyone shares and enjoys the space with consideration.
The facilities are beside the playground and are clean and adequately maintained. There are water fountains for people and pets.
Personal Note: This is one of my favorite parks. It is never crowded but it isn’t deserted either. You will run into singles and couples of all ages and families on either of the trails.
Levy Park
Levy Park is the place want to be! Levy Park (www.levyparkhouston.org) is a newly improved development that is located at 3801 Eastside, Houston, TX 77098. This is in the Upper Kirby District of the city. The Upper Kirby Redevelopment Authority and the Upper Kirby District Foundation have funded a $15 million transformation to this tucked away oasis that now provides just under 6 acres of outdoor fun and activity from 8am to 10pm daily.
The main attraction is the colorful, artistic and adventurous gated kids’ area. There is a 150 ft ramp that goes up and around the lower tree branches of mature oak trees. There is a large jungle gym, grassy bridges, a splash pad, a small merry-go-round, tunnels, hills and a miniature wall climb.
While this park does not provide a significant running trail, what is lacks in distance, it more than makes up for in scenery and family engagement. There is a large pavilion that can easily hold a large group with room for dancing, yoga and group workouts for up to least 40 people.
Levy Park has a curated event schedule so be sure to give them a call before making large group plans in the park - 713-522-7275. There are interloping short paved walking trails, small hills, and dog park with areas specifically for large dogs and small dogs. There are two large open grounds for group meet ups impromptu games of catch, flag football and etc. as well as giant foam tinker-toys for kids and ping pong tables for adults.
There is seating throughout the park. Some seating areas have tables to enjoy an outdoor lunch and other seating areas offer smaller lower tables perfect for enjoying a good book, a coffee or a smoothie from one of the vendors.
You can find food trucks along the side walk serving coffee, tacos (Houstonians LOVE our tacos), nachos, smoothies and etc. The facilities are clean. The grounds are patrolled by roving plain-clothes security details. There are lanterns in the trees that come on in the evening and add to the picturesque lay out.
Personal Note: I loved that the children’s area was gated and the posted sign advises that adults are not allowed in the children’s area without an accompanying minor child. At 10am on a Sunday morning, the park is bustling but not to the point of being crowded. As mentioned, there is a dog park area but if you don’t like dogs, be warned that some walkers are on the trails with large dogs.
There is free parking along the side of the street, but it fills up pretty quickly. There is a parking garage across the street from the large covered pavilion. Parking in this garage is $1 per 30 minutes.