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Harris County Flood Control District and Harris County Precinct 3 Preserve 24 Acres of Old Oak Trees in Developing Area
June 4, 2003
Approximately 24 acres of old oak trees were preserved when the Arthur Storey Park project (including the adjacent detention basins) along Brays Bayou at Beltway 8 was planned and constructed. These oak trees exist on a tract of land that many believe would have been particularly susceptible to land development, as the park is located along the Beltway 8 frontage road immediately south of a major intersection (Bellaire) and new development is occurring all around it.
Arthur Storey Park is an excellent example of how partnerships between multiple governmental agencies can produce a project that is better than one that could be accomplished by a single entity on its own. The park area consists of traditional park facilities, as well as several large stormwater detention basins still being constructed, that significantly reduce flood risks along Brays Bayou. As stormwater detention basin construction continues, the completed basins are added to the park by including passive recreational features, including trails, trees, shrubs and created habitats.
When the flood damage reduction project was first conceived by the Harris County Flood Control District, all individuals involved agreed that excavation of the detention basins should be done in a way that minimizes disturbance to the beautiful old oak trees existing on the land. The location of the 24 acres for "traditional" park features (i.e. the land that will not be excavated) was selected due to its density of the old oak trees along the historic alignment of Brays Bayou. Harris County Precinct 3 entered into an agreement with the District and built park features around the existing trees in a manner that did not adversely impact tree health.
The overall project is the result of another successful partnership between Harris County Precinct 3 and the Harris County Flood Control District. The Harris County Flood Control District is the landowner and the entity that is implementing the flood damage reduction components of the project. Harris County Precinct 3 is the entity responsible for construction and maintenance of the recreational components of the project on District land.
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