Vogel Creek Greenway is the first phase of the Inwood Detention Recreation Plan, enhancing flood resilience with trails, parklets, and native landscaping in Houston’s Inwood neighborhood.
The project integrates flood control with recreation, transforming a flood-prone area into a sustainable greenway that enhances ecological and community resilience.
With nearly 12 miles of planned trails and links to White Oak Bayou Greenway, the project improves neighborhood connectivity and access to regional green infrastructure.
The greenway balances flood mitigation, recreation, and ecology, serving as a model for sustainable community spaces.
This transformative project, led by Houston Parks Board in collaboration with the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) and the City of Houston, repurposes a former 226-acre golf course into a resilient greenway that integrates flood control, recreation, and ecological restoration.
Asakura Robinson provided landscape architecture services, focusing on the design of a 1-mile greenway along Vogel Creek that balances flood mitigation with community-oriented spaces. Our team developed flood-adaptive landscapes featuring strategic grading, rainwater filtration systems, and native plantings to support groundwater recharge and biodiversity. The design also incorporates multi-use trails, shaded parklets, and recreational amenities that enhance access to nature and encourage active lifestyles.
Future phases, supported by our planning efforts, will include pedestrian bridges, disc golf courses, six gateway parklets, and over 2.7 million square feet of native landscaping. Our approach ensures that these elements not only enhance recreational opportunities but also strengthen flood resilience and ecological function.
Community engagement was central to our process. Asakura Robinson facilitated public meetings and worked closely with stakeholders to incorporate resident feedback, prioritizing safety, accessibility, and connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods and transit. This collaborative effort resulted in a greenway that reflects community needs while providing essential infrastructure for flood-prone areas.
Houston Parks Board is currently conducting feasibility studies for the next three segments of the plan, which will extend the trail network by an additional five miles and connect to White Oak Bayou Greenway in two locations. Once completed, the system will provide seamless connectivity from Inwood to Downtown Houston.
The Vogel Creek Greenway demonstrates Asakura Robinson’s commitment to designing resilient, community-driven landscapes that balance environmental sustainability with public health and social equity, setting a precedent for urban green infrastructure projects.
