Relax and enjoy the green vistas and network of trails providing safe crossing for people and wildlife on top of Kinder Land Bridge.
An ambitious project of the visionary Master Plan, Kinder Land Bridge transformed Memorial Park when it opened in 2023.
Creating two dynamic connections over Memorial Drive, Kinder Land Bridge reunites the north and south sides of Memorial Park while expanding the existing network of trail systems and providing increased connectivity throughout.
A Memorial Park Master Plan and Ten-Year Plan Project
What To See
MEMORIAL DRIVE TUNNELS
One of the most important aspects of Kinder Land Bridge are the tunnels that run through the mounds. Each tunnel is lit by natural light in the day as well as an overhead lighting strip that runs the length of each tunnel. These lights remain on 24-hours a day and respond to the natural light conditions to maintain an optimal field of vision.
Two massive tunnels—measuring 400 and 560 feet long—have been built side by side over the Memorial Drive roadway. On top of the 35-foot-tall Land Bridge, you’ll find two unique greenspaces that each offer a serene setting with unmatched views of Houston’s Uptown and Downtown skylines and Cyvia & Melvyn Wolff Prairie.
EAST & WEST MOUNDS
While the Land Bridge provides connectivity for wildlife over Memorial Drive, a stream corridor constructed through the Prairie and a tunnel provides connectivity under Memorial Drive. Together, these corridors provide much-needed wildlife connectivity within Houston’s largest urban wilderness park and to the natural Buffalo Bayou corridor. The peaceful surroundings make it easy to forget a bustling urban city is thriving around you.
Visitors can access Kinder Land Bridge from entry points on both the north and south sides of the mounds. Lighted pathways guide users to the top of each greenspace and down the other side.
WEST MOUND
On the West Mound, guests can enjoy a vast lawn, ideal for picnics, relaxation, and unwinding. While on top, be sure to spot the Equinox and Solstice markers, interpretive elements that truly make this space one of a kind.
EAST MOUND
On the East Mound, you’ll find a more intimate greenspace immersed in etched footprints representing the animals, from coyotes to raccoons, that inhabit this land.
Keep in mind, bicyclists are not allowed on the eastern mound of Kinder Land Bridge.
SOLSTICE MARKERS
From time immemorial, people have tracked the sun’s movement and celebrated the seasonal changes it brings. From ancient North American Indigenous cultures to those of Asia, Africa, and Europe, solar gatherings and rituals have centered around four annual solar events—the summer solstice, the autumnal equinox, the winter solstice, and the venral equinox. This ancient human impulse to understand and mark our place in the greater universe persists. In honoring this impulse, Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW) designed the Land Bridge and Prairie at Memorial Park in Houston as a space where such celestial celebrations can continue for generations to come.
From the center of the lawn, visitors can view three tall fixtures to the east—marking the precise locations where the sun will touch the horizon at sunrise on the solstices and equinoxes. The sun’s position is reinforced at these events by the bands of dark stone embedded in the pathways and benches. The solar “compass” function of the Land Bridge encourages an awareness of changing seasons and inspires gatherings throughout the year, especially on and around these four celestial occasions.
As visitors climb up two arcing paths that traverse the western mound, they will notice graphics and words inscribed under their feet that reveal the history of this space. One describes the Coastal Prairie ecology—plant and animal species and their inter-relationships—while the second reveals the histories of past millennia and the vast array of human and non-human forces that have shaped and continue to shape this land. At the top, the solar compass nestled in the center of this pathway of time and stories, reminds us that we are all connected by forces much larger than ourselves.
EMILY CLAY FAMILY SCRAMBLE
On your trip to the East Mound of Kinder Land Bridge, be sure to visit the Emily Clay Family Scramble, located on the north side. Made from upcycled pavement from the previous Memorial Drive, the Scramble forms an impressive stairway leading to the bridge above Memorial Drive.
CYVIA & MELVYN WOLFF PRAIRIE
Encompassing 45 acres in the heart of Memorial Park, Cyvia & Melvyn Wolff Prairie was created to re-establish native Gulf Coast Prairie in the Park. Native grasses and wildflowers have been reintroduced, creating a sanctuary for a diverse range of Texas wildlife, including migratory birds, butterflies, and small mammals.
OVERLOOK PAVILION
The Overlook Pavilion provides a distinctive viewpoint of Cyvia & Melvyn Wolff Prairie, allowing you to immerse yourself in the native flora and fauna that inhabit this section of Memorial Park. During sunset, animals frequently congregate in the wet prairie surrounding the pavilion, offering a unique sight amidst the urban landscape.
PRAIRIE OBSERVATION DESTINATIONS
These beautifully designed prairie observation destinations, located on the southern edge of Cyvia & Melvyn Wolff Prairie, provide an intimate experience for observing prairie animals. With strategically placed viewing slots and comfortable seating, these destinations offer a perfect vantage point to observe a diverse array of wildlife in their natural habitat. Whether you’re an avid birdwatcher or simply someone seeking a moment of peace, the wildlife destinations promise an unforgettable experience amidst the beauty of the Prairie.
RALLY PAVILION
Rally Pavilion
The Rally Pavilion, located in the southwest side of the Park, is nestled between the Cullen Timing Track and the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Prairie. The Rally Pavilion has electrical access, and is very accessible with an adjacent parking lot and restrooms conveniently located nearby. At this time, eight picnic table are available for use. Guests may bring their own tables and chairs.
Maximum Capacity: 75 persons
Electrical Access: Yes
Grill: No
Learn more about Memorial Park’s past, present & future
More Information
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Kinder Land Bridge and Cyvia & Melvyn Wolff Prairie is a transformative, nearly 100-acre project that was completed in February 2023. In addition to reuniting the north and south sides of the Park by creating a land bridge over Memorial Drive, the project introduces a dynamic new community space and enhances recreation opportunities for Park users.
Highlights and benefits of Kinder Land Bridge and Cyvia & Melvyn Wolff Prairie include:
Greater safety and connectivity: Swaths of greenspace on top of the Bridge provide places to relax and enjoy new vistas of the Park and the city beyond, and also serve as a hub for socializing and events. This “new” parkland is an innovative approach to green infrastructure, healing the divide cut by Memorial Drive through the middle of this treasured urban wilderness park half a century ago. Views from the crests of the Land Bridge highlight the Park’s unique vantage point as an oasis of greenspace nestled between the urban skylines of downtown to the east and Uptown to the west.
Restoration of nearly 45 acres of native coastal prairie: The Prairie, which adjoins the Land Bridge to the north and the south, re-introduces endangered native Gulf Coast prairie and additional wetlands. New walking and biking trails also expand the contiguous trail network available within the Park.
New iconic destination for visitors: Together, the Land Bridge and Prairie distinguish Memorial Park and Houston, serving as an icon for a greener and more resilient future.
Improved stormwater management: A restored network of native prairie and savanna ecologies promotes regional biodiversity of flora and fauna and act as a green sponge, helping to absorb and clean stormwater.
The Memorial Park Master Plan is a visionary plan for the future of Houston’s largest urban wilderness and recreation park. The Master Plan focuses on: restoring the Park’s ecological systems and creating greater resiliency; reconnecting the Park’s land, waterways, trails, and people; consolidating compatible uses together in appropriate areas; tending to the land and the Park’s cultural history, maintaining balance through responsible management; and enhancing the overall Park experience and amenities. It includes capital improvements, long-term conservation, and an operations and maintenance plan for the Park.
The Ten-Year Plan enables the design and construction of significant components of the Memorial Park Master Plan and was made possible by a catalyst gift from Kinder Foundation, which leveraged public funding through the Uptown Development Authority and by the generosity of other donors. Execution of the Ten-Year Plan is overseen by the Memorial Park Standards Committee, a partnership comprised of Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Memorial Park Conservancy, Kinder Foundation, and Uptown Development Authority.
KINDER LAND BRIDGE FAQ
PARKING & RESTROOMS
Both free and paid parking are available along West Memorial Loop Drive, Clay Family Eastern Glades, the Running Complex Parking lots, and Picnic Loop. The closest restrooms and hydration stations are located at the Running Complex and Picnic Loop.
ACCESSIBILITY
The Kinder Land Bridge is wheelchair accessible. Strollers and on-leash dogs are permitted. Bikes, scooters and skateboards are prohibited. Bicycles are not allowed on the East Mound of the Kinder Land Bridge.
PARK UPDATES & ALERTS
Please be aware: The parking lots at the Running Complex and Picnic Loop will close each night at 9:00 p.m. and will reopen the following morning at 4:30 a.m.
The automatic gates allow free exit, meaning that any park user still in the lot after closing time can leave once the lot is closed.
The western portion of Outer Loop Trail will remain closed until 2027 for the construction of Memorial Groves.
