Things to Do
Willow Waterhole Greenway has become a popular community gathering place, offering park-goers opportunities to connect with nature, learn about the endangered coastal prairie habitat, participate in park development, and attend family-friendly concerts and events.
Bird Surveys
Houston’s Nature Discovery Center partners with Houston Audubon to conduct bird surveys on the third Saturday of each month except December. During the 2-hour count, the number of resident and migrant bird species identified have ranged from around 30 in the summer to more than 50 in the winter.
Conservation Workdays
Community groups, clubs, and other organizations come together regularly to help care for the ponds and green spaces through mulching, planting, tree trimming, culling of non-native vegetation, park cleanup, and other conservation-related activities. For more information or to schedule a workday, contact info@willowwaterhole.org.
Halloween “Trunk or Treat” Celebration
Held on the third or fourth Saturday in October, this family event celebrates Halloween with games, prizes, candy, and great food. A competition is held for the best Halloween costume.
MusicFEST event
The Greenway’s largest and best known event is April’s annual two-day MusicFEST — up to 20 hours of free music by professional musicians and area school bands, along with more than 40 participating artists and diverse food offerings. The April 2019 festival presented music for all tastes: R&B, Texas blues, Latin, reggae, a brass band, contemporary jazz, rock, blues, and urban contemporary.
Picnicking
Picnic tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the park under shade trees and overlooking the shimmering ponds.
Walking, Biking, and Running
Trails wind along the lakes throughout the greenway. Paved trails are designed for walking and bike riding. Crushed-granite trails are available for running and jogging.
Group Activities
Scout troops and other community organizations can find activities to fulfill group and individual goals that contribute to park maintenance and ecology. In the last few years, groups have built birdhouses, mile markers, kiosks, a chimney swift habitat, crushed-granite trails, a footbridge, bat houses, commemorative markers,a selfie stand, and tree ID signs. Clubs and organizations have also participated in landscaping, tree planting, and brush clearing. For more information, contact info@willowwaterhole.org.
Over the years, more than 50 Eagle and Gold Scout projects have been completed at the Greenway.
Click to visit Houston Audubon and learn about the next Willow Waterhole Greenway bird survey.
The Trunk or Treat event is a fun alternative to trick or treating—costumes encouraged!
In 2019, the Westbury Hight School Cross Country Classic hosted 1,400 runners, with hundreds of spectators cheering on the participants.
Willow Waterhole Greenway Trails Map
Hiking and cycling are possible around all six lakes. Trails that are not solid on the map are unpaved and may be inaccessible when covered by mud or high grass. The protected areas around Prairie Lake are fenced off.