Houston Parks

Houston Parks Board and the Bayou Greenways Project

This $220 million public-private partnership project has created 150 miles of trails and 3,000 acres of greenspace in Houston to expand equitable access to nature for all Houstonians.

Where people live play a role in accessibility to green spaces. Jay Maddock, PhD, from Texas A&M and Khurram Nasir, MD, from Houston Methodist have collaborated with the Houston Parks Board to show that with a population of one million Houstonians, residents of zip codes containing an accessible greenway trail had a lower likelihood of being admitted to the hospital for certain health conditions compared to those living in zip codes without a trail.

However, social disparity continues to play a role in access to green spaces. Findings indicate people of higher socioeconomic status more often choose to live in areas with access to these spaces, while people of lower socioeconomic statuses with access to green spaces are less likely to utilize them. The underlying factors are still being investigated. Access to bicycles, which has economic implications, in green spaces is one measure already in place.

Additional studies are needed to further clarify the relationship between the health benefit of walking trails and health. The next step is to directly survey users of the trails to determine how individuals use the trails and the perceived health benefits of the users as well as whether increased access to green spaces would be beneficial.

In a related study conducted at the center and lead by Omar Elsayed, researchers studied whether a more walkable environment is associated with a cardiovascular risk factor burden irrespective of a cardiovascular disease among a large, diverse population within an integrated health system.

These findings show that civic investments in greenspace and walkable parks and neighborhoods as a viable tool for improving our community cardiovascular health.

Main Findings

Residents living in zip codes with a greenway trail had a lower likelihood of being admitted to the hospital for certain health conditions compared to those living in zip codes without a trail.

93%

REDUCTION

Obesity-Related Admissions

77%

REDUCTION

Heart Disease Admissions

71%

REDUCTION

Heart Attack Admissions

What does this mean for you?

• Living within a 10 min walk of a Bayou Greenways trail can lead to opportunities for better health. • Living in a zip code with long-term access to a Bayou Greenways trail can lead to better health outcomes. • These findings can guide officials to develop healthier neighborhoods and communities for all.