Memorial Park — Attraction in Houston

My favorite parts of Memorial Park are the backwoods hiking and biking trails. It is fun to disappear into the woods for a few hours and escape city life. If you do and you are on foot, stay alert so you can hear the cyclists coming and step out of the way.

There is a wheelchair-accessible playground on the north side of the park that is perfect for children.

I would give Memorial Park 5 stars, but renovations over the last few years have significantly diminished the experience. Much of the forest, sports fields, and parking areas were destroyed to create two multi-million-dollar land bridges over the streets, a giant lawn area, and some ponds. In the heat of Houston, the last thing we need is more open grassy sunny areas. The plan is meant to give wildlife safe passage over the roads, but it also destroyed many of their habitats, so the actual benefits remain to be seen.

The construction also included some new picnic shelters and fire pit areas which are quite nice, but the other picnic areas are now severely neglected.

The park construction was supposed to be fully funded but it seems they underestimated by a couple of million dollars, so they have been having country club-style galas and events in the park to raise money. Combined with the newly installed paid parking at about $5 per day, the park is no longer truly accessible to all members of the public. There are a few free parking areas still available, but getting a spot is like a lottery. If you are not able to snag one, you might as well get an elite gym membership instead. These financial barriers to access are the biggest disappointment of all.

I hope that there is a plan to reforest the areas that were removed for construction, provide maintenance and repair to the picnic lane area and trails, rebuild the sports fields, and ensure that this beautiful public park stays accessible to all members...

One of the best parks in the city. I’ve been going to this park since I was a kid and it has grown so much. It’s great for a day with family and friends, or even if you want to go by yourself. So let me tell you a little bit about this park: The main trail is a 3 mile loop that goes around memorial park. There are plenty of public restrooms, portable restrooms, water fountains, seating areas, paid and free parking. On the north side of the park you can find a work out area, tennis courts, volleyball courts, soccer field, running track, EV charging stations, and an outdoor shower station if you need a quick rinse. On the east side of the park you can find baseball fields, soccer field, golf course entrance, a Becks Prime restaurant, a church, a playground for kids, a swimming pool, and the Eastern Glades, which has a trail of its own with lots of picnic areas. On the south side of the park is the land bridge that connects 2 above-ground lawns. This part of the park has a big prairie that has its own trail, which also connects to hiking/biking trails known as the “Buffalo Wilds” that are on the south end of it. On the west side of the park, is where you can find, in my opinion, the most accessible parking. There’s also a decent size field where lots of dog owners like to take theirs dogs to give them a break from the leash. There’s also an additional trail across the street which tends to be less crowded compared to the main trail.

This park is a place you must visit, especially if you’re visiting the Galleria area. Easily one of my top 5 favorite parks in the city of Houston. Hope you like it as much as I do. 😊

Fun fact: Bunnies come out after midnight, and armadillo come out every...

This is the "Central Park" of Houston and doesn't disappoint! The list of amenities is vast. From tennis courts, to baseball/softball fields, a golf course and driving range, a 3 mile crushed granite running track, running center, picnic areas, miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, a swimming pool, playgrounds, reflecting pond, and even a Beck's Prime steak and burger joint! My favorite reason to visit is the mountain bike trails, though. The trail system is vast with 10+ miles of trails with windy, technical bits, the ups and downs of the area by the bayou, and it's all well maintained by the city and our own group of volunteers from GHORBA, the Greater Houston Off Road Biking Association. It's a great place to take your family for a weekend grill out and picnic, for a run after work (there are lights on the trail), a round of golf, or just about anything outdoors. The city is on the process of creating a land bridge over Memorial Dr so the southern area near the road is temporarily a mess, but completion is imminent. There have also been plenty of improvements to the running and walking trail system on the north side with reflection ponds, quiet area for seating and watching the sunset. A true oasis in this big bustling...