The Eastern Glades are an addition to Memorial Park featuring a large lake with wetland habitat and grassy lawns for people to enjoy. With walking trails and picnic facilities the expansion to the park has many amenities to enjoy while spending time in nature.
A Walking Tour of the Eastern Glades Expansion of Memorial Park in Houston, Texas.
You’ll wish you packed a picnic when you see the soft grass in the middle of the park. Listen to the soft noises of distant conversations as we walk along the crunchy gravel path. Airplanes fly overhead as they make their way over this urban park to one of the two major airports in Houston. See dragonflies dart over the water as the water birds hunt for food amongst the reeds. People are working out along the trails or walking their dogs as others enjoy a nice book in the sunshine.
Memorial Park is one of the biggest parks in the United States and is located within the 610 loop between the Galleria area and downtown Houston. It is located in a prime location that allows many Houstonians to run its almost three mile running trail in the evening after work. Adventure seekers can also ride mountain bikes on the bike trails and nature lovers can observe many types of plants and wildlife in the park including snakes, turtles, and armadillos. Everything is bigger in Texas, and Memorial Park is no exception.
The Eastern Glades is just a small section of Memorial Park, which in total spreads out over 1,500 acres and is almost double the size of Central Park in New York City. The Eastern Glades is part of a redevelopment plan that that is still ongoing in other parts of the park.
Memorial Park is nearly 100 years old, and is the former site of Camp Logan, which was used as a military facility during World War 1. The shape of the structures in the picnic areas give homage to the buildings that existed at Camp Logan where soldiers were trained. According to the Memorial Park Conservancy over 70,000 soldiers trained at Camp Logan before going on to fight in World War 1.
The Eastern Glades project was completed and opened to the public in summer of 2020. During the Covid-19 pandemic many people were very happy to have a location to exercise outside.
The Eastern Glades celebrates the unique habitat of the Texas Gulf Coast. The lake in the center of the park is called Hines Lake and it is over 5 acres big. The lake is home to many types of aquatic wildlife and plants.
The trails through the Eastern Glade in Memorial Park is a pleasant walk along a wetlands habitat.
Visiting Memorial Park
Parking
Unfortunately most of the parking at Memorial Park Eastern Glades is paid parking. There is a paid parking lot on the side of the Eastern Glades, but it does fill up. Parking costs $1 for every three hours. You pay for the parking at the meter, which is run by the City of Houston. The parking meter accepts cash, credit cards, and the PayHouston app. Parking meters from from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Restrooms
The Eastern Glades expansion has restrooms available to the public. They are designed to resemble the structures that existed at Camp Logan.
Drinking Fountains
There are drinking fountains available. They have water bottle filling stations as well as dog drinking fountains.
Estern Glades Hours
The park is open from 5 am – 11 pm every day of the year.
Dogs at Eastern Glades
Dogs are allowed in Memorial Park and the Eastern Glades area. Pet owners are required to keep their dog on a leash at all times. Pet owners are also required to clean up after their dogs. Failure to clean up after a dog is punishable by a fine. There are drinking fountains available for dogs.