It was a colorful opening for Buffalo Bayou Park on Oct. 3. Rich and Nancy Kinder and their family joined dignitaries and the public at the recently-complete Water Works, the new park gateway on Sabine Street, for some colorful salutes. Mayor Annise Parker remarked that Nancy Kinder was a “tough negotiator” in the partnership with the City. And on a personal note, Rich Kinder said that he hoped his grandchildren, and all Houstonians, would continue to enjoy the park until his age and beyond.

With a dramatic drumroll by Batala and an explosion of colorful confetti, the ribbon was cut and the festivities ramped up. Throughout the day, thousands of park goers enjoyed and explored the new destinations in the 160-acre park. The $58 million Buffalo Bayou Park project is a public-private partnership led by Buffalo Bayou Partnership, the City of Houston through the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the Harris County Flood Control District and the Kinder Foundation. In the short four years of construction, improvements to the park include new hike and bike trails, pedestrian bridges, lighting, public art work, gardens and overall improvements to the landscape, as well as major destinations like the Johnny Steele Dog Park, Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area, and The Water Works. Read more and explore Buffalo Bayou Park with audio tours by Houston Public Media.