Houston, Texas, United States, located on the far west side of the city. Situated entirely within Barker Reservoir, a large flood control structure, the park covers 7,800 acres (32 km2), most of which is undeveloped forest used for the storage of floodwater.[2] A variety of public recreation facilities are located along Westheimer Parkway, which bisects the park, including soccer and baseball field complexes, a shooting range, and a dog park. Named in honor of former Houston-area U.S. Representative and President George H. W. Bush, the park was known as Cullen–Barker Park until 1997.[3]
Overview
The large park, located on the far west side of Houston, serves as an attraction and nature reserve for the Buffalo Bayou, a major water source in the park. Since the park is entirely located within the normally dry Barker Reservoir, it is subject to routine flooding and closure during times of high rainfall.
Most of the attractions are located on Westheimer Parkway
Before the area was known as part of Houston, the marsh was part of the Stephen F. Austin colony. After settlers in the area moved out of the park, much of its land was sold to ranchers.
In the 1880s, a railway named the Texas Western Narrow Gauge Railroad ran trains from Houston to surrounding areas. Barely lasting one decade, the line was forced to shut down due to bankruptcy, yet still the park considers it a heritage.[5]
Cattle and farms occupied the area throughout the early 1900s, until it became parkland in the mid-1940s.
The park stayed under the name Cullen–Barker Park until January 1997, when Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack proposed the name George Bush Park in honor of the 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush. In May of that year, the former president attended the opening ceremony, and the park received its new name.[3]
On September 13, 2011, during the
2010–13 Southern United States and Mexico drought, a significant wildfire broke out within the park. At its zenith, the fire was 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, consuming over 1,500 acres (610 hectares) of reservoir grassland.[6] Shortly afterward, a man was arrested in connection with the blaze, but charges were dropped and the arson investigation was inconclusive.[7]